E85 chip from TT came in and I swapped the injectors over to the 60lb'ers
Took it for a drive last night (probably the most aggressive I've ever launched the setup) as the trans can actually take the power and I don't have to worry about knock retard. I actually trust this chip vs. the old 42lb injector Reds chip I had with 91 and GTP 37lb injectors cranked to 4 bar so it made them into 42lbers.
-Makes about 12-13psi so far, I got the chip burned for up to 20 psi and the stock turbo will allegedly run high 11's at 22ish psi before it runs out of breath. I don't expect it to make it that far as I have another 20 cubic inch of displacement over the 3.8. I already have an adjustable wastegate so adding boost is easy, I'll probably bump it to 15psi for now and take it to the track, if it runs good on day 2 or 3 of drag weekend I might turn the boost to 18 and see what it does
-Fueling is pretty decent, I have a Wideband and scanmaster with the stock ECU and chip with a MAF translator so 1994's best tech haha. It's 11.8-13.0 in boost according to my wideband at the 12psi setting. 130F intake air temp with the temp sensor relocated in the manifold runner. The knock sensor never sees any detonation where it used to see regular detonation in the 2-4 degree range even on 91.
-Makes about 3psi brake boosting before it spins the street tires. From an off-idle launch it squwaks the tires pretty good at about a 5mph roll. The extra displacement, good converter and 3.73's mean there is almost no turbo lag and definitely needs the drag radials.
I'm happy overall. I need to change the fluids and take it to the track for a test pass before drag weekend next month. If it runs high/mid 12's I'd be happy. I fully expect to find some issue(s). I think this setup will max out at high 11's with the stock turbo and intercooler in good air and a good track. Considering the car has never been to the track, test and tune night track prep is almost always a crap shoot, and it's August so the air is likely hot, I don't expect anything in the 11's this year.
Trying to keep the engine from detonating itself apart. It's got good spark with the LS coil on plug setup, a reliable MAF, good 525 walbro fuel pump, a decent chip, flow'ed and cleaned injectors, relatively fresh valve springs, so I basically am giving it everything I can (minus a powerlogger to monitor data) to keep it healthy.
Biggest concern I have is just overloading the pistons from boost. They are mismatched early 90's era 30 over TRW replacements. 4 came out of this engine and 2 came out of the engine that the crank came out of. It makes no significant vibration so I don't think it's out of balance but 20psi is a lot on a basic parts store replacement piston from 30 years ago. Reportedly OEM 3.8 GN pistons are really good hypereutectic AL, I can't image these TRW's are anything special. Forged 4.1 replacement pistons are basically all custom and $$$ so when I put this setup together in 2017 I was 1 year out of college and cheap/broke. I am less broke but still cheap so living with my past self haha.
Either way I am happy it runs as good as it does.
