I have a 98 lude and I just rebuilt the motor with type s piston rods and rings, and honed the block. I also have skunk 2 stage 1 cams and the complete skunk 2 valvetrain, and skunk 2 cams gears. I had the head ported and polished. I'm also running AEM cold air intake, AEM pulleys, AEm fuelpressure regulator, AEM fuel rail, DC headers, MSD 6-AL with external coil and custom 2.5 exhaust. Now to the reason that I'm posting, I haven't had the motor tuned yet, ( i.e. the cam gears or the VAFC-II) The motor just doesn't seem to pull as hard as I thought it would. The shop that built my motor is legit, I know that they didn't screw me over on the internals that were put in my motor. I've raced anohter 5th gen lude that had OBX stage 1 cams and an exhaust, and we were neck and neck the whole time up to 4th gear!! My cam gears are still set at 0 deg. and I played with the VFAC-II alittle. but I wondering is this is normal or should i have seen a big difference in my overall performance of my motors with all the internals and bolt on that I have??? and will It make a huge differance if i go to the dyno and get my motor tuned???? Feel free to voice all of your opnions!!! I need all the help I can get right now!!! Thanks!

 

Other than I would have went at least stage 2 cams, get it tuned, that's your issue. I wouldn't be racing that engine around without tuning it, you will be surprised how lean the A/F ratio is.

 

I have the AEM a/f ratio guage installed, and its running normal.......

 

ANYONE ELSE????

 

From what I've read, you shouldn't be relying on the A/F gauge unless it is hooked up to a wideband O2 sensor, that's the only way to accurately measure A/F for tuning and such.

 

Would the adj. of the cam gears make a bid diff.??

 

Yes, get it tuned. Without tuning, it's still dumping the same amount of fuel in as with a stock motor. As such, you get no performance gains, and super lean AF ratio.

Don't rely on narrowband O2, it sucks.

 

what kind of hp #'s should I be seeing with my set-up???

 

Just do yourself a favor, find a reputable place with a dyno and get it tuned. It will answer all your problems, and only cost you ~$150, which will be well worth it in the long run.

 

Any time I see a mod list that includes a ported head, IMO any guess as to the cause for lack of power is a COMPLETE guessing game.

Headwork is not a bolt in part. its just as easy to loose power as it is to gain it.