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Oldsmobile Aurora: Acceleration
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Comments
I know my Autobahn-equipped '98 pulls stronger at the low end than my mother-in-law's non-Autobahn '98. However, I have also modified the airbox on my car - something that's really very easy to do (search CaddyInfo for Greg Garnes' instructions). I also put in a K&N filter. And, speaking of filters, might want to change the fuel filter, and maybe plugs and wires (with the car running, spray a little mist of water over the wires and see if you get fireworks - if so, they're bad). Of course, make sure you use only ACDelco plugs and wires, as others tend to be problematic (the Northstar is picky)...
Hope this helps,
--Robert
Have a friend (obviously a really, really good friend) drive for away and tell him to go for it once when you're not expecting it. My guess is that you just ready for the blast and it comes out underrated. Just my $0.02
John
It's just the matter of having traction off starring you in the face.
Before I left the house to hit the dragstrip, I removed the spare tire and the rear seat bench (which only weighs like 20 lbs, it's really light). I also gassed up with about 3.5 gallons of 93 at Sunoco (I thought they'd have 94) which would put me at about a 1/4 tank after the ~60 mile drive to the dragstrip.
When I got there, I didn't mess with the tire pressures, which I'd set to 33psi a few weeks back, and didn't remove the headlight or anything. Just ran it like I drove it there.
First run I was making the mental checks. But I got up there quick and forgot to put it in 2nd. So I launched about 1500 rpm, traction off, in D. The car pulled real hard, snapped the shift at 6400 rpm, and kept going. Unlike my last trip to the track, 3rd gear felt very strong. Last time 1st and 2nd felt strong but 3rd really fell flat. I smoked the guy in the Pontiac Grand Am V6 next to me on the way to a 14.97 @ 91.92 mph with a .208 RT (they don't include the clock time, so .000 is the best) and a 2.311 60' time.
I knew it was a great run, the car felt strong, but I figured maybe I'd be under 15.5, which was my big goal. When I got the time slip, I about freaked!!
My next run was my best. I was opening the hood while I waited, but surprisingly no one else ever did. I ran a 14.86 @ 92.23 mph, with a .220 RT and a 2.294 60' time against that Grand Am again. Interestingly, he didn't wait in line, they brought him over from the middle. I guess he knew the track folks or something (they'd also annouce the Grand Am V6 running in Lane 1, but say nothing of my car), and maybe he thought I'd be a good matchup for him. His best against me was a 16.38, and even by 330' I was 4/10ths of a second faster (enough to cover my longer RT). He also redlighted each run at about -.03 seconds RT.
On this second run, I remembered to toss it into 2nd. I figured it wouldn't make a diff as the car ran to 6400 anyway. Holy crap did it ever! The car charged so hard the needle crossed into the red hashes at 6500, and it jerked sideways on the shift!! It definitely felt like it broke a tire loose, though there was no audible chirp. The car definitely skipped to the side, though. It was awesome!!
Then I smoked a guy in an old-style Miata. By that time, the announcer was announcing my car as an Olds Aurora and noted that it had been running pretty strong. This run had my highest trap speed, ran a 14.89 @ 92.56 mph.
Then I took a break, ate some nachos, and watched the action with my wife. I saw a Mustang GT (the body style where it could be a 5.0 or a 4.6, both of which made about 215hp) run a 15.2, a totally pimped out Accord run a 16.3, and even saw a WRX run a 14.8 or so. So there were a few cars I was pleased to see I'd have smoked pretty badly. A pimped GTI ran a 14.2, and I can't recall the others that ran slower than me (I think a Hyundai Tiburon that was all pimped).
Then I took a last run for the heck of it and we left. It was my worst run, but the car was parked on the grass so the tires were wet and grassy. I didn't do a burnout any of the times. I ran a 15.00 @ 91.41 against some Eclipse. I think he was spraying because I took him off the line, took him to 330', and even passed the 1/8th marker first, though that was due to my better RT, but then he took off. He ran a 13.77 @ 107.85 mph. This time was the highest launch rpm, of probably 2000+ rpm. I'm not sure it helped, though it's hard to say if my poor run was due to the tires. My 60' was 2.320, my 330' was 6.376 (my best was 6.304). But launching at closer to 1500 rpm seemed to work fine and doesn't seem as bad for the car.
So there you have it, a 14.86 @ 92.22 mph... Pretty dang impressive, and much better than I was expecting. The temps were just under 50F, my gas tank was about 1/4 full, and of course this time I have the Corsa exhaust. It's a heck of a lot better than the 16.06 @ 85.77 mph best I ran the last time I was at the track!! I'm soooo happy with the car!!!
The Corsa exhaust is definitely doing something.
I've got to go to a track. That sounds too darn fun to pass. Now, what would be unbeatable is if I got to race you. Heh Heh Heh. But solid upper 14's - oh man, I don't know. That's brutal.
Thanks for sharing the other times of other stuff you saw. I doubt any of those was totally stock either. I'm sure they at least had a K&N filter. You have to wonder what that poor WRX owner is thinking when his times (under great conditions) aren't close to the magazine times. I have to laugh. I think is tested much quicker than that.
Thanks for the post. I hope mine would be close. I'd flip with low 15's.
In reality, I should have known it would do that or better. I swear, the car gets stronger and stronger all the time. It seemed like after last winter, the car maintained winter-like performance in the summer. Now that it's cooling down, it feels stronger than it's ever felt. I'm guessing it's from breaking in. The car and tires have about 27k on them now.
Grip wasn't too big an issue. I think mainly due to the real drag cars laying down pretty good rubber on the track. But it did peel out a fair bit.
Here you can see one of my better runs. Listen to the announcer (you can also listen for the sound of Corsa, though it didn't pick up that well):
http://members.aol.com/aurora402002/dragstrip/3rdrun.mpg
We'll definitely have to meet up and line 'em up one day. That would be a real blast!
John
Les
Makes me want to head to the track too. What's your elevation there? Thinking at my sea-level conditions at about 70 degrees at night, would be close to optimal. Maybe a little bit colder.
On the fifth time I watched the clip, I can't believe how remarkably close your car sounds to the STS on corsa's sound clips. The sound exactly the same to me.
If you want to hear your exhaust more, take the rear seat out for a day. It really sounded wicked. If it weren't so impractical, I might just leave it out...
The track is in the mountains, so I'd guess probably around 500'-750', I wouldn't think it's over 1000'. I guess I could call them and ask.
Greg, it could be that WRX driver was just a crappy driver, or that he just cared about his car. I suspect you really have to get it right to launch that thing well, and I also suspect that sidestepping the clutch at > 4000 rpm on an AWD car is horrifically bad for the drivetrain.
Here's another clip for you all. You can't hear my car as much, and this is the guy who ran the 13.7 against me: http://members.aol.com/aurora402002/dragstrip/4thrun.mpg
I don't think you'd notice/feel a tenth or two of a second in grab/go vs. spin, but the clock doesn't miss a thing.
However, if you are saying that the track was pretty sticky from the other cars, then maybe it would not make much difference.
Thinking wow, the old girl still gets that kind of respect. Bet he'd been pissed if he knew he was following a 95 with 112K miles lol.
Good fun but if they knew what thier cars could do I would have been blown out of the water.
all advice much apreciated
THRAK44
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
John
I put the gear selector in 2 while I am stopped/staging. I just leave it there for the whole run. What it tends to do is signal the PCM that you are serious, and it will snap off faster and firmer shifts. It also seems more willing to hold until the redline in 2. The car will still shift into 3rd gear when you top out of 2nd despite the shifter selection.
However, make sure you put it back into 3 or D before/as you slow down, or it'll jump back down to 2nd gear as soon as you are slow enough that the revs are allowed in 2nd.
Bob
On my car, though, 1 interferes with the cupholder... It does take just under 15 seconds to get down there, you might get thirsty during that time.
I dont see alot of folks using domestic power products ,are there concerns?
thanx all THRAK44
eBay has dozens of austions for products to increase hp by about 20 for $10 to $20. I think they work by fooling the PCM by changing the intake air temperature input to a lower value. I have not tried one and am not recommending. Take a look at Hypertech, but I don't think they have anything for Northstars. If you find a tuner who can reprogram 96-99 Auroras, there will be a lot of interest on this board.
Thanks :confuse:
intake - probably not, totally different generation of car, not to mention different engine
tuner/aftermarket parts - probably not much. Maybe try a K&N panel filter, if they make one for the Shortstar, or look at http://www.domesticperformance.com and see if they have any real products (not vaporware)...
--Robert
Thanks
Peter (New member) :confuse:
Don't know about the rear wheel hubs, but the fronts are a bear. Info on replacement at the link below:
http://www.howardm.net/dred98/underhood.php
Here's another site with good info common repair areas:
http://maytag87.dyndns.org:8081/rob/auroratips.htm
Hope this helps,
--Robert
--Robert
Also - clean the throttle body. At high milage with this never being done (or even once), you are losing power for sure.
In short, before looking to modify, take care of the maintenance first. It can make a difference. And yeah, a simple K&N filter and box mod can add a tad bit of power right away. You want more - then look to Corsa and an RSM throttle body.
Also, I hear a lot about using the 2nd gear position.. On my Classic (managed to buy a 1998 with 26,400 on the clock), using second firms up the shift quite a bit. It seems to cut the shift time in about half, and if you forgot you placed the shifter into 2nd, it will surprise you. I actually can hear my serpentine belt squeak during the abrupt RPM change.
I second the want to find someone who can change the PROM variables on these OBD-II cars.. moving the redline up a bit would be good (in 2nd, the Classic shifts around 6100, just before the hash marks.. but the engine doesn't feel anywhere near valve float).. it just dosen't feel out of steam at 6000. I'd buy V-rated tires if I could increase the top speed variable.. it pulls strong at 110, and the cutoff is quite abrupt.
On an extremely minor note.. does anyone else's PCV valve buzz like crazy? I've replaced with a third-party and an AC.. both rattle audibly at idle.
I haven't managed to secure a profile, etc, anywhere, but I do have some pictures I took the day after I drove it home if anyone cares
http://bymeinc.com/files/car/
It had the spoiler when I bought it -- I am impressed that a lit one was made for it. I read that it was not a factory option, but I have to assume it was dealer-installed, because I can't imagine the older couple the car belonged to jumped through hoops to get it.. I haven't seen another one to date.
Maybe a somewhat off-topic post.. oh well.
Les
The fuel pump isn't necessary to crank the engine (if the fuel pump's out, the car should crank until the batt is dead, just won't start).. Nor, if it dies when running, can we blame the starter. Lock cylinder is a possibility.. it controls lots of stuff.
Will the horn work when it's "dead?" Easiest thing to check that will always work. No computer, no logic, no ignition key position.. just a switch, relay, and battery. If the horn's dead, think battery, terminals, wiring, fusible links, fuses.. in extreme cases a short somewhere.. but enough shorted current to stop the car dead in its tracks would generate smoke somewhere.