questions, questions,questions
 

Lately, i have felt a power decrease in my 3.2. I have a chip and B&B muffler. I figured that I just got used to the power but, I dismissed that because at the same time I am experiencing some low end flat spots. The car feels more sluggish. Maybe I am just crazy but after I installed the B&B, my car was very loud and now it is much more bearable. I don't think my cat is plugged though, because I don't smell anything funny under acceleration. I don't know if this has anything to do with it but today I was fooling around on the highway with some friends and they later told me that white smoke was coming from the exhaust.
I will put the car on the dyno to compare last years figures, but in the meantime I would like to check compression-what is acceptable for a us spec 3.2?
Thanks!
p.s, I have new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, fuel filter, and cylinder head temp sensor and my 02 sensor checks out fine.
OK, that's it....

Was the smoke coming out the exhaust under accel or decel? If under accell, prbably is rings, this would mean also a loss in compression and thus less power.
One other thought on power, it is now summer and the air is siginficantly less dense versus winter, thus also less power. Also, some locallities put MTBE in their fuel in the summer months to cut air pollutants. This has been known to cut power and mileage as much as 10% in some cases.. Could also be the cause.

Scott, it's under acceleration that the smoke would come out. I'm hoping it's the rings rather than anything else. I want to do a compression check but I don't know of any specs to compare. I used to feel a little kick around 4000-4500 rpm but now I don't.
Thanks
Mike

Mike, I have experienced the same sluggishness and flat spots recently on my 86 3.2 with the stock chip and exhaust with the problem most noticeable when the engine is cold.

I was lucky enough to solve my problem by leaning out the mixture on the air flow meter one turn at a time until my performance returned and flat spots went away.

I hope this helps,

Joe Garcia

Mike,

I had a leakdown done on my 3.2 and the figures were 165-180 psi per cyl and 1-5% leakdown. The comment was that this was very good.

I'd like to know how to adjust the airflow meter to control fuel mixture!!!!!

I will do a compression check as soon as I get some time. Thanks for the info Scott, I'll let you know what happens. Joe, my car seems to have flat spots when cold also, but I'm skeptical of touching my fuel mixture- why would it go off spec? Maybe there is something else wrong that affected the mixture? Then again, maybe with time, and as all the F.I. components wear out, an adjustment is neccesary. I'll check compression and if ok, I'll play with my mixture.
Thanks guys!
Mike

Check your intake manifold nut for loosening.This is a common problem.

Lee, doo you mean the intake to head nuts? Thanks, I'll do that.
Mike