Virtual slumming: ride along in GM junk

Aurora40 · 01-16-06, 06:39

In case any of you wanted to know what a crappy GM car from the 90's was like, you can experience it here without the fear of being seen in a V8 powered hog:

Roughly 3MB

The video is kind of jerky, but the sound is good. If you pause it you can usually read the speedo. This is from a slow roll up to about the top of 3rd gear (~115mph). Stock exhaust, paper air filter, etc. I love the sound, but I want more exhaust note. I'm concerned more exhaust will kill the aural balance of intake/exhaust, though.

WSUcommuter · 01-16-06, 04:05

Is that orange glow in the right corner a Service Engine Soon light? (It bounces in and out of frame only a few times.)

Sounds good, BTW

Aurora40 · 01-16-06, 05:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSUcommuter

Is that orange glow in the right corner a Service Engine Soon light?

1 Clean WS6 · 01-16-06, 06:04

Thank you sir...may I have another!!!!

WSUcommuter · 01-16-06, 06:22

I'm used to my idiot lights reading something wrong with my S-10, hahah.

I'm ignorant as to why you'd need that indicator light. Then again, the only Corvette I drove was a 1993 6-speed in what I was told was a special anniversary maroon-red color. Damn nice car. It was daytime, and I was too busy trying to not feel like I was in a dream to look down at the gauge cluster.

Dave N · 01-16-06, 06:25

Sounded pretty throaty for stock -- certainly more growl than my 5.3L Chebby's got

ScubaStevo · 01-16-06, 06:39

Very nice. How does the buick compare to that thing?

Aurora40 · 01-16-06, 07:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1 Clean WS6

Thank you sir...may I have another!!!!

Well, here's the one before it of me embarrassingly hitting the rev limiter. It comes on 7200 pretty quickly and I haven't quite gotten used to it:
http://members.aol.com/corvettezr119...ps/limiter.mpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSUcommuter

I'm ignorant as to why you'd need that indicator light.

It's rather specific to the model and the year, only the 1990 ZR-1 had it. It's kind of a long explanation, so I'll explain it if you are interested.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave N

Sounded pretty throaty for stock -- certainly more growl than my 5.3L Chebby's got

Thanks. I guess for stock it's kind of loud, but compared to my last 'vette it seems so quiet (it was an L98 with Flowmasters).

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScubaStevo

Very nice. How does the buick compare to that thing?

Um... hmm... Well, they both have four tires, turn with the fronts, disc brakes all around, engine up front... Aside from that, there's not much to compare. For example, in that first video, 3rd gear (of 6) carried me to about 115mph. The Regal is limited to 108.

Aurora40 · 01-16-06, 07:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1 Clean WS6

Thank you sir...may I have another!!!!

Actually Mike, here's one you'll probably like:

http://www.pnwzr1.net/Jeff/accel.AVI

This is not my car. It's a 368ci ZR-1 with long-tube headers and a Corsa exhaust. I've no idea how he could hold the camera while driving and shifting... That light on the left is the "Change Oil" light.

OneQuickGT1 · 01-17-06, 04:29

Aurora...If I recall correctly, didn't the ZR-1 have a "Valet Mode" which limited power? I am guessing that's why you have the "full engine power" light? Just a guess....

Aurora40 · 01-17-06, 08:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneQuickGT1

Aurora...If I recall correctly, didn't the ZR-1 have a "Valet Mode" which limited power? I am guessing that's why you have the "full engine power" light? Just a guess....

Yes. The car has two intake runners and two fuel injectors for each cylinder. One to feed each intake valve. The system employs a butterfly on each "secondary" intake. So under regular throttle, only one intake valve is really doing anything and only one injector is firing per cylinder. When you open it up, the 8 secondary butterflies open, bringing on 8 additional intake runners and injectors. Since it does this, it was easy to include a driver-control to disallow use of the secondary system. A "valet" key. In 1990, the key was turned left or right, in normal or power mode. So in power mode, a light came on on the center console. In 1991, the key was more of a toggle, alwasy in the middle position. You'd flick it right (and it would bounce back to center) to engage power mode, also turning on a little LED-style light above the key.

So 1990 was the only year you could leave it in "power" mode all the time, and the only year of the "Full Engine Power" light on the center console.

Setec Astronomy · 01-17-06, 08:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aurora40

In 1991, the key was more of a toggle, alwasy in the middle position. You'd flick it right (and it would bounce back to center) to engage power mode, also turning on a little LED-style light above the key.

So does that mean the Valet could put it into power mode, too?