So before putting in my delete plates, the only performance mod I had was a custom dyno tune from Doug at Bamachips for my Granatelli CAI. The car pulled 281 rwhp. Not bad but not a throw yourself into the back of the seat good either.

This past weekend I installed some delete plates I've had in my garage for almost 3 years. I contacted American Muscle for an update to my tune and got to work Friday night following Tacobill's write up. This was also a time for me to put my new to me carbon fiber covered intake on. When I had received it, some of the gaskets from the bottom of the intake runners had popped off, so I took them all out with the intentions of putting them back on when I installed the intake (yes you can see where this is going). Everything was going smooth. Had the old intake off, new plates installed, and everything bolted back onto the car in no time... totally ignoring the gaskets on my workbench as my mind for some reason thought that they were for the plates, but since the plates came with them, I neglected them and went about loading my new tune and cranking her up.

First problem was poorly seated fuel injectors. I could see they were seated poorly and could hear the air being sucked in. Needless to say, the car didn't idle worth crap and died (note: put a little WD40 on the rubber gaskets on the injectors before seating them, they'll go in like butter). So having gotten the injectors seated, I fired it up again, still rough idle, and dying. It was getting late and I didn't want to keep starting it up and reving it as my neighbors would quickly not like my Stingers. Off for restless sleep and tackling it in the morning.

Morning comes, I take it all apart again, take the plates off the intake, clean them out as there was a little carbon wrap in the injector holes. Got it all cleaned up, realigned plates, got it all reinstalled (still no gaskets) and fired it up. Same ol' same ol'. Called my friend (tdbrown75) to come over and help troubleshoot. One of the first things he asked was, are there gaskets between the intake and the plates. I told him I didn't think so, think it just sits on there (d'oh moment #1 ). We try several things and load various tunes, and finally get it almost a smooth idle. We decide to try and drive it to Reedspeed here in Dallas to have them diagnose it from there. Well, several codes later, and limp-mode, it was quickly evident that it wasn't going to make a 20 mile trip to Reedspeed. We get it back to my house, and I decide I'll just call a tow truck and have it towed in.

While waiting to hear back from the tow company, Tim suggests we put the original intake and runners in the trunk, "just in case". Well, this is where the "AH HA" moment occurs. I go to pick up the old intake and notice the gaskets seated in it, look over on the workbench and see the same gaskets laying there (d'oh moment #2 ). We realize quickly there are no gaskets on the intake in the car. We set to take it apart and get it done correctly this time. In the tug needed to take out the fuel injectors on the passenger side the green gasket on it flew somewhere in the garage that we didn't see. Without that gasket, there'd be no putting it back together (d'oh moment #3 ). We searched for an hour with no luck, luckily Reedspeed came to the rescue and supplied me a replacement. Put the intake with gaskets, and plates all back together, put it back on the engine, hooked up all the wiring, made sure I had the correct tune loaded, and fired her up....

Success? Well the idle was perfect. Car seemed right. So I took it out for a 'burn in test'. Basically a lot of romping on it in first and second gear. At first everything seemed good until, wrench icon and limp-mode. No codes this time, just limp-mode when hitting it hard in first gear. After trying all the tunes I had, they all resulted in the same limp-mode in first. There was nothing else I could do, but park her and wait until Monday so I could contact American Muscle.

Got a reply from them this morning with an update tune that was to correct the limp-mode. To say it was a long day until I got home to test it out would be an understatement.

Well, for this non-mechanic weekend warrior, I can say that we have success. I loaded up the correct tune tonight, romped around the neighborhood and can say... HOLY CRAP! If you don't have delete plates, you should. The seat of the pants torque is awesome. I won't have another dyno done until after I have headers installed, so I have no numbers to offer, but that lag you normally have below 2000K RPMs is gone. Hit the gas and go.

My only problem now.... how will I afford all the gas I'm going to burn going from stop light to stop light with my foot in it?

It's not easy learning how to work on your own car, so be easy on my guys. All in all it was still an enjoyable time and I learned a lot.

Thanks Tim!
-danny

 

Awesome Danny. The adventure is part of the fun. A lot better to do it yourself and learn than pay someone else to do it and be none the wiser.

 

Wow, live and learn. Glad it worked out. BTW, which CF intake did you install?


Did it make that much of a difference?

 

That's all part of the experience. Enjoy it, learn from it, and have fun doing it.

 

I have become a good mechanic over the years by making some mistakes.

 

Awesome story. Did the tow actually show up? Just for geez whiz sakes, watch your oil consumption and check pcv tubes for excess oil being sucked in from intake.

 

I thought delete plates were for upper RPM increases, but if your seeing low-end torque increases maybe I should reconsider this mod.

 

The low end w/o CMCV's comes from the tune.

 

Well, you won't make that mistake again...

 

Well, this is gonna cost me more after all. Seems the American Muscle tune still put the car in limp-mode, so I've taken it to Reedspeed to have a custom dyno tune done for it and since I have just recently purchased some BBK ceramic coated shorties for it, they're installing those as well. Yes, it'll be great after the tune, headers, and delete plates, but my pocket book isn't liking it at all.

I'll update RWHP when it's done.

-danny

 

The car is back from the shop with a new custom dyno tune.

Before: Granatelli CAI

281 rwhp / 296 tq

After: Granatelli CAI, CMCV Delete Plates, BBK Ceramic Shorty Headers, 4:10 gears

301 rwhp @ 6500 rpm / 315 tq @ 4500 rpm

I'm finally in the 300 club. Next year will be Brenspeed Detroit Rockers, and an Aluminum Driveshaft.

-danny