No bottom end torque, especially 1st/2nd gear VZ SV8

[Coaly69]

Getting very disappointing bottom end until about 80kph in 3rd. Off the mark I feel like I can actually blow this V8 with my Hyundai Getz

Downshifts at 80-100kph feel ok, has a decent throwback effect. A tune would be great but I don't have the $ right now. Sucks being an auto but any ideas?

Driving through town just isn't fun! My mum's old kingswood with a standard 253 3spd auto was more fun. The performance down low is worse than my old VY V6 now...

*EDIT* Also at idle it runs terribly unless I turn the aircon on, it's rough as but with the standard exhaust I can't tell if it's missing or not, new plugs maybe?

[soop]

Yep, plugs/leads and o2 sensors. Then go from there.

[VZ_commo91]

maf ? coil pack has died or dying ? Bad fuel ? could be a number of things. is it giving any error codes ?

[RiCeY]

IVe owned a VZ SV8 from new its now done 160,000kms.

Ive never changed 02 sensors or coilpacks.

I have done leads and plugs but only as a general maintenance item.

VZ V8s are renowned for a rough idle its an issue that was never resolved. Even after an aftermarket tune mine shakes a bit at idle. If its really rough make sure you dont have any vacuum leaks.

Mine was a bit lazy off the line but it now has a difillipo catback and MAF tune and it rockets off the line.

An aftermarket tune really wakes these cars up and improves fuel economy as well so in effect the tune pays for itself eventually.

[Coaly69]

Sweet, yeah not missing or giving errors. Just the poxy "Low Fuel" when you crank it over after it's been sitting for an hour. Starts sweet cold n hot, just takes ages in-between and give the fuel msg.

Ah well looks like saving some coin to go mafless and tune. Just curious I've heard Pacemaker 2 1/2" & 3" headers cause a small loss in bottom end, any truth to it? That would be the 1st $ I spend, then tune.

[Munz]

I see your from Bundy why not take it to APlus Exhaust & Mechanical and strap it on dyno I'm sure they'll know whats wrong

[Vt_vic]

if all you care is about stop start driving and low end go try y headers

[Coaly69]

if all you care is about stop start driving and low end go try y headers

Nah mate, just annoyed that the power available isn't showing in lower gears. I actually do about 1300k's per week highway driving and the performance seems ok for a stock v8 when overtaking.

I'm not looking to smoke $300 worth of treads at the lights, but knowing that the power isn't there in 1st and 2nd bugs me to no end. Sorta like having a V6 with V8 badges

Cheers Munz I'm pretty sure I spoke to Aplus a few weeks ago about a bolt-on excluding headers for $680 to get a better note out of her, they reckon Pacemaker headers would decrease bottom end slightly and waste $ without a big cam.

Just got hit with rates and rego is coming up so will stick with grabbing some new plugs and a high flow K&N filter for now. What's a good price for a decent tune for comparison when I call for a quote? Would it be worth doing now or in

a few months time when I slip in mafless exhaust, as it would need a tune after that anyway. Tempted to just get the 20 min bolt on exhaust and a tune but don't want to waste cash to go mafless later on anyway

[Cameron P]

should post a video of say 0-100km/h... v8 owners will be able to tell you if yours is really slow or not??!!

[Vt_vic]

Nah mate, just annoyed that the power available isn't showing in lower gears. I actually do about 1300k's per week highway driving and the performance seems ok for a stock v8 when overtaking.

I'm not looking to smoke $300 worth of treads at the lights, but knowing that the power isn't there in 1st and 2nd bugs me to no end. Sorta like having a V6 with V8 badges

Cheers Munz I'm pretty sure I spoke to Aplus a few weeks ago about a bolt-on excluding headers for $680 to get a better note out of her, they reckon Pacemaker headers would decrease bottom end slightly and waste $ without a big cam.

Just got hit with rates and rego is coming up so will stick with grabbing some new plugs and a high flow K&N filter for now. What's a good price for a decent tune for comparison when I call for a quote? Would it be worth doing now or in

a few months time when I slip in mafless exhaust, as it would need a tune after that anyway. Tempted to just get the 20 min bolt on exhaust and a tune but don't want to waste cash to go mafless later on anyway

fair enough what do you want out of the car ? id say buy some used ectractors and cats then save for a cam package

[Coaly69]

Got it back from the dealer and she appears to have a slow leak in one of the injectors, explains why it's hard to start when hot (They love juice when cold apparently). Gotta drop it in next week to bench-test the injectors.

Diagnostics picked up no fault codes so that's a plus. Ran a bottle of injector cleaner (Not the boost stuff, just the cleaner) through over 2 tanks and that made a marked difference when accelerating and gave more kick to downshifts.

@ Vt_vic: I just want her to run the way she was meant to. A family sedan with more stick than the VY/VZ sixes. And a bloody exhaust I can hear lol, not the poxy restrictive one they come with. It's definitely better after injector cleaner though

Does having the MAF sensor module removed require a new exhaust and headers or can I get away with just a bolt on from the flange back? I know nothing bout it so don't slap me, looking for a better note and unsure about coughing up for headers yet.

From what I've heard so far this is the best bang for buck and will be done in the following order unless someone chucks me ideas (I know farkall about anything after 1990 lol):

1-MAF sensor removed and engine tuned.
2- 1" & 3/4 to 3" Pacemaker headers then another tune (This one will be several months away so not worried unless tuning cost heaps, then will do all at once).

Chuck some ideas at me if you know of any better headers for less $ or think removing MAF sensor is retarded without headers. Also is there much difference between 1" & 3/4 and 1" & 5/8 headers? I've heard the 3" secondary gives a drone on the highway,

but havn't heard about power differences in vy/vz V8's. Any thoughts greatly appreciated lads.

[macca33]

1. Leave the MAF alone until you can pay for a PROPER MAFless tune - or you will simply end up in trouble.

2. Extractors (1 3/4" 4-1s, or Tri-Ys will work on a bolt-on car), high-flow cats and a nice cat-back exhaust (2 1/2") will make a big difference in sound, performance and economy and this will be improved, again, by getting the car tuned.

3. Up front, look at a good cold air intake - the over the radiator (OTR) style is popular for good reason.

4. There are a lot of settings within the normal tune - torque reduction, etc, that will hamper the low-end performance. They were made that way as an engine / driveline protector and so that people wouldn't abuse the car - hence the title 'Anti-abuse' settings. A tuner will be able to alter / remove the anti-abuse, thus, enabling the full potential of the engine to be utilised.

I'd definitely be trying to do it all at once as a 'package' as it will save some money. That said, though, if you put on the exhaust alone, you'd experience a good improvement.

cheers

[Coaly69]

Cheers Macca, that's the advice I was looking for mate. Bloody MAF I have no idea what that even looks like haha. 1 3/4" headers into 2 1/2" sounds like the go, what sort of $ am I looking at for a full high-flow cat back system? Can pick up the 1 3/4" to 2 /12" here for $1300 fitted,

right through to tips. Dunno bout the high flow cats though. The CAI kit I have runs next to the left headlight at the moment, couldn't be fecked modding it besides a K&N filter. Wouldn't mind altering the anti-abuse settings but at the end of the day I don't want an engine that will be too torquey for the

auto tranny or wear itself out too fast. Thanks to no end I've just gotta get a quote on the above exhaust + high flow cats and a tune, cheers mate.

-Coaly

[maysy1]

I have the VY SS Series 2 mine too was strangled by the safe settings and hoover exhaust and didnt want to spend bucket loads. So I went 1. mafless mail order tune, Higgins OTRCAI and tweaked the auto shifts thanks Oztrack, beautifull tune by the way and it flys. 2. Then fitted 2.5" stainless catback, custom job no middle mufflers finally 3. fitted pacemaker 4 into 1 long tube, 1 3/4 cermaic coated extractors and 4. am waiting on an re edit by Oztrack for the 4 into 1s should be here soon,thanks again Steve love ya work. Let me tell ya the shackles have been removed, goes good sounds bloody great. Most important as per Macca, try to maffless tune last, I didnt but the re edits are not that expensive. I did things as the money was available and along the way learnt heaps from both here and LS1 Australia