No/Weak Power?

[evil_twin]

Alright I am running an m52 motor with a zf transmission and 373 rear end. As far as my mods, I have long tube headers, 2.5" exhaust going all the way back, turner motorsports chip, lightweight flywheel, stage3 clutch and pressure plate, OBD1 swap, electric fan, 88*C thermostat and I think thats it. It feels like there is a bad lack of power. I've been thinking of just slapping a turbo on, but I'm not sure.

Should the mods I have make good power? I know when I drive the car hard, I feel like it should at least be chirping tires, but I don't feel anything. Any ideas?

[FredK]

What kind of Turner software are you running, and what injectors are you using?

Is there any bogging at any particular RPM range?

[gazellebeigem3]

what are you comparing it to?

[m3_eater]

Peak power of a properly-tuned M52 with your mods should be approaching a stock S52 (just way down on midrange torque). Your tune might need work. Is is out an of the box Turner tune, or custom software? Much can be gained with a dyno and adjusted tune once you provide A/F ratios to the software provider.

[sharksforthecup]

something is definitely wrong if you cant chirp tires running a zf and a 3.73 with an obd1 m52. You should try to see if its throwing any codes. My m3 swap has traction issues and yours should be almost the same if not worse since your running a 3.73 with a little less power. I didn't know turner made a chip for the m52. I'm planning on ordering a racers market chip for the m52 I'm building, maybe you should check that out too.

[WADE30]

Can Vanos become defective possibly?

(sorry noob here)

[sharksforthecup]

yes it can, ask me how I know.... A simple test would be to just unplug the vanos solenoid and see how it feels.

[e30s52]

Or you can use a scan tool to see what codes are coming up.

[sharksforthecup]

You should try to see if its throwing any codes.

When my vanos went out it didn't throw a code.

[e30polak]

When my vanos went out it didn't throw a code.

Was it the solenoid or the actual unit?

[evil_twin]

What kind of Turner software are you running, and what injectors are you using?

Is there any bogging at any particular RPM range?

I'm just running their m52 chip. I believe it's Turner. My injectors are the stock pink top injectors.

what are you comparing it to?

I'm comparing to my friends e36 m52. It had much more torque with the mods that I have now.

Peak power of a properly-tuned M52 with your mods should be approaching a stock S52 (just way down on midrange torque). Your tune might need work. Is is out an of the box Turner tune, or custom software? Much can be gained with a dyno and adjusted tune once you provide A/F ratios to the software provider.

Maybe that's why it feels so weak. A lightly modified s50 still pulls on me.

something is definitely wrong if you cant chirp tires running a zf and a 3.73 with an obd1 m52. You should try to see if its throwing any codes. My m3 swap has traction issues and yours should be almost the same if not worse since your running a 3.73 with a little less power. I didn't know turner made a chip for the m52. I'm planning on ordering a racers market chip for the m52 I'm building, maybe you should check that out too.

I think the only code I'm throwing is a speedometer code. And an o2 sensor code when I sit too long because there's a small hole in the header.

[FredK]

I think the only code I'm throwing is a speedometer code.

Is it a vehicle speed sensor error? If so, this would limit the performance of your car.

What year is your car?

[evil_twin]

1989 is the body, 1996 is the motor. The check engine lamp isn't illuminated though. It only illuminates when I'm idling too long. Then when I go to check the codes, it's the o2 sensor code and the VSS code.



What would I need to have my car tuned? Maybe I'll just get someone to tune my car for the time being and turbo far later in the year.

[FredK]

People with a VSS code have the same symptoms as you have.

When there is a VSS code, the DME does not know that you are rolling down the road. As such, it does not provide optimal performance in the upper rpm range. I guess it's possible, even for late body cars, with x20 / C101 pin 14 hooked up, to have a corrupted VSS signal, as it is generated in the cluster. I'd trace the wiring carefully to make sure nothing is frayed / grounding, and inspect the internals of the cluster to make sure nothing is burned up / damaged.

[evil_twin]

Hmmm, I will have to check the code again and check all the wiring. I didn't that code mattered much because my check engine light has never illuminated because of it.