Team3S: 3000GT & Stealth   Sunday, December 22 2002   Volume 02 : Number 032
 
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Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002 14:33:27 -0600
From: "Alex Pedenko" <alex@kolosy.com>
Subject: RE: Team3S: Timing belt replacement
 
Like some people have pointed out, those numbers are unfortunately of little use. While some people have  gotten lucky with the timing belt, past 60k it's a ticking time bomb - there are just too many variables  that determine how long it will last... I changed mine at 78 and it was fine, but it's just a risk... the  question becomes not whether it will last, but whether you're willing to pay for the consequences of it  breaking, which in the case of a stock NA (with a compression ratio of what - 10:1 (?)) will be new valves +  pistons + who knows what else...
 
And btw - seeing as how the belt should be changed at 60k intervals, 140k is _really_ pushing it...
 
Just my .02...
 
Alex
'95 VR4
 
- -----Original Message-----
From: Carl Beebe
Sent: Saturday, December 21, 2002 2:15 PM
 
I got a few responses ranging from 85-140k miles without a problem before changing belt. I would like to  hear from everyone that has had a
belt go bad & how many miles your belt had on it?              Carl
Beebe    '95 3kGT  DOHC                   Binghamton,NY
 
***  Info:  http://www.Team3S.com/Rules.htm  ***
 
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Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002 15:40:55 -0500 (EST)
From: fieroman@webtv.net (Carl Beebe)
Subject: Team3S: Premium fuel
 
Has anyone tried a lower grade fuel for DOHC non-turbo engine? While on a trip my wife filled my car w/  regular by mistake. The car ran just as well & got the same mpg. We also climbed some big mountains w/no power  lose or pinging. We use to have a '95 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP w /3.4 DOHC 222 hp that used regular fuel.    Why would the non-turbo  engine need the same fuel(premium) as the twin turbo? I would think that mid-grade  fuel would be fine?  Most cars w/ECM (computer) the ecm controls the timing & if you disconnect the battery  the ecm will readjust itself while you drive, so if you use a mid-grade fuel & let the ecm readjust itself w/  mid-grade fuel to prevent any chance of spark-knock shouldn't that prevent  any damage to the engine? Back  in the days of the big block motors (60's& 70's ) that used premium fuel it was common practice when fuel  prices jumped sky-high to retard the timing until no pinging was heard using regular fuel.            
 
***  Info:  http://www.Team3S.com/Rules.htm  ***
 
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Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002 12:42:48 -0800 (Pacific Standard Time)
From: "Jeff & Debby Kelley" <spiritliving@canby.com>
Subject: Fw: RE: Team3S: Timing belt replacement
 
 I bought my car with 87,000 on it so I didn't know if the belt had been
replaced.  I took it to my mechanic and he said it looked brand new. So I now have 98,000 on it and still  running.  I will keep checking it then replace it no later than 120,000 assuming the original owner did the  60,000. Jeff 93 Stealth
Base
 
- -----Original Message-----
From: Carl Beebe
Sent: Saturday, December 21, 2002 2:15 PM
 
I got a few responses ranging from 85-140k miles without a problem before changing belt. I would like to  hear from everyone that has had a belt go bad & how many miles your belt had on it? Carl Beebe '95 3kGT DOHC  Binghamton,NY
 
***  Info:  http://www.Team3S.com/Rules.htm  ***
 
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Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002 16:44:31 -0600
From: "Wieschhaus, Brandon Kenneth (UMR-Student)" <bwish@umr.edu>
Subject: RE: Team3S: simple/serious problem.
 
Yeah, mine is gone too. I tried to look up the part on CAPS, and it says something along the lines of window  striker or something. On my car, I have to close the door just right, or else the window will hit on the  hard black strip that the striker USED to be mounted on... That definitely leads to water in the interior. I  would recommend replacing it, I know I'm gonna replace mine as soon as I get a little money...
    -b
 
- -----Original Message-----
From: fastmax [mailto:fastmax@cox.net]
Sent: Saturday, December 21, 2002 12:02 AM
 
If it's what I think it is it's just a guide to force the window against the seal. without it you're likely  to get more wind noise around the window.
 
        Jim Berry ================================================
- ----- Original Message -----
From: <M3000GTSL84@aol.com>
>
> This is a difficult problem to explain. Imagine your door. Up at the
> top of the window, toward the back, near the rubber seal, is a
> tiny black plastic thing. I honestly don't know what it
> does. Anyway, it was somehow bent in, and the window
> was getting stopped by it whenever  I would close the door. I, in
> a moment of genius, decided to bend it back. Then it snapped off! But now,
> since that part is gone, the window is closing and sealing correctly, at
> least I hope so.
 
***  Info:  http://www.Team3S.com/Rules.htm  ***
 
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Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002 18:22:31 -0600
From: "cody" <overclck@satx.rr.com>
Subject: RE: Team3S: Premium fuel
 
Well, you have to remember the compression ratio in a non-turbo DOHC 6g72 motor is 10:1...  Our computers  will learn to retard timing until there is no knock, but you are losing power, efficiency, and gas mileage  will change.  It may be slight, however it will change.  To combat knock, the timing is retarded, retarding  timing means less power to accelerate and cruise, less overall power means more fuel is needed to do all the  same things... 
 
The ECM in every car is always learning...  it is always adjusting - disconnecting the battery just makes it  happen all the quicker...  that Pontiac you had more than likely had 9:1 compression ratio, or similar, that  motor does not have quite as high of a specific hp per liter 222out of 3.4 instead of 222 out of 3.0  liters...
 
TO make this short, you can use whatever you want, but is the "Expensive gas" that much more expensive that  risk of excessive knock in your car is acceptable?
 
- -Cody
 
***  Info:  http://www.Team3S.com/Rules.htm  ***
 
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Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002 18:25:21 -0600
From: "cody" <overclck@satx.rr.com>
Subject: RE: Team3S: Snow Tires
 
In my Talon, on a launch, the rear of the car tends to step out to the right as well...  This is on dry  pavement though...
 
- -Cody
 
The other day, I had the rear end of the car break out to the left. AFAIKR, this is the only time it has  gone left instead of kicking out to the right under hard acceleration with about 6 inches of snow on top of  icy blacktop. Does the rear usually kick out one way or the other, because of the rotation of the flywheel  and driveshaft? Inquiring minds want to know...
 
- --
Paul/.
95 black 3000GT VR-4
98 VFR800F, TBR aluminum hi exit
formerly reasonable and prudent
 
***  Info:  http://www.Team3S.com/Rules.htm  ***
 
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Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002 21:09:49 -0500
From: "David Thrower" <repairerr@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: RE: Team3S: timing belt
 
Yep, Mine did ! When we bought our Stealth at the end of June, it had 126,000 MI on the clock. We bought it  from the original owner, and she said it was never done. At 128,000 I did it, and when I pulled the top  timing cover, I was surprised at how good of condition it was in. When I touched it though to see how much  slack was in it, one of the cams immediately spun a few teeth. So it was time for the full 60K. Good thing I  bought everything in advance.  Dave Thrower  92 Stealth R/T TT
 
***  Info:  http://www.Team3S.com/Rules.htm  ***
 
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Date: Sat, 21 Dec 2002 22:07:45 -0800
From: "Tigran Varosyan" <tigran@tigran.com>
Subject: RE: Team3S: Premium fuel
 
You cannot really hear ping. A mechanic that knows what to listen for can barely hear it in the car if he is  listening for it and everything is turned off/rolled up. Likely on your drive up the mountains you knocked  the hell out of your motor.
 
However, contrary to popular believe, Octane does not produce power. There is no more power in 86 octane  than there is in 92. Octane prevents premature detonation of the mixture which is destructive to your  engine. (NOTE: Preventing detonation allows for being able to run higher compression/boost etc which makes  more power.) Premature detonation happens when the mixture is hot, dense (from the turbo) and compressed (in  the cylinder). You CAN run mid grade or low grade in your car. I tried it once with the knock sensor being  monitored. Basically, bypass your stock boost control solenoid and hook up the waste gates straight to the  Y-Pipe. You will be running 6PSI boost. Don't go over 5000RPM and you will be fine. However, if you are  willing to live with 6psi boost and 5000RPM redline, you may be better off getting another car :)
 
Now I just read you have an NA... You will need to find a way to lower the compression of the motor and stay  at a lower rev to use lower grade stuff... Few ways of doing that but I wont bother listing them because  again, if you want to save money by using low octane fuel, you need another car. It is too much work to  lower compression.
 
Basically, with your car the way it is, you absolutely want to have the fuel it was made for.
 
Above statements made based on my datalogging on a 92 VR4, reading about Octane on about half dozen  technical websites. Matter of fact, howstuffworks.com has a good explanation.
 
Tyson
 
PS. "Need to get another car" means that it is too much work to do the mod and goes against what the 3000GT  was made to do.
 
***  Info:  http://www.Team3S.com/Rules.htm  ***
 
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Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2002 11:20:55 -0500
From: "Mike Mills" <artof3000gt@hotmail.com>
Subject: Team3S: window recall
 
Has anyone heard of the recall for the '91- '93 3000gt window rubber seal??
It is a Recall and can be found on ALL DATA program listing. the rubber seal
they made was fixed in mid '93 on. The problem is the rubber seal all the
way in the front corner by the side mirror after usage tends to break and a
piece a few inches long get pulled up with the window when you roll is up.
my car ('92 3000gt SL) does this. And on the Recall notice it said it has
been known to cause door problems such as with sending units like the
automatic door locks etc....my driver side doorlocks both doors but does not
unlock both unless it is completely closed. and sometimes doesn't work at all
when I open the door in a certain position.
  If anyone is familiar with this I'd really appreciate the info. I know the
dealer is required to fix the seal for free but what about the locks?
thanx...
 
Mike Mills
'92 3000gt SL
Metallic white
 
***  Info:  http://www.Team3S.com/Rules.htm  ***
 
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Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2002 08:44:54 -0800
From: "eK2mfg" <eK2mfg@attbi.com>
Subject: Team3S: OT  Car fax account
 
looking for a new or used car? I just got a 30 day unlimited account if your interested.
 
email me at ek2mfg@attbi.com with your vin.....donations welcome....It cost me 20$ for it but the info for  me was worth every penny....still, if you feel compelled to send me money I will take it :)
 
bobk.
 
getting a new/used car for the rebuild :)
 
***  Info:  http://www.Team3S.com/Rules.htm  ***
 
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Date: Sun, 22 Dec 2002 23:31:13 EST
From: M3000GTSL84@aol.com
Subject: Re: Team3S: Premium fuel
 
The 6G72 DOHC N/A engine is pretty run of the mill now, but when it was
introduced in the 3000GT in 91, it was a pretty high tech block. The 10.1
compression ratio, along with the high redline of 7000 RPMs, is really suited
for the better combustion properties of premium fuel. As others have pointed
out, you cannot always hear knock.  And perhaps your gas mileage and power
didn't suffer from one fill up, but I am willing to bet you that if you run
the car about 700-800 miles on regular you will notice a difference.
 
One thing I am not sure of but would tend to think is that the "cocktail" of
chemicals that a gas company puts into its fuel would be of a higher grade on
premium, as in the detergents. Does 87 Octane clean like 93?
 
I saw a guy pull into the local no name gas station and begin pumping 87
octane into his brand new C5. It is of course your choice, but my point is
that if you expect sports car performance, and pay the money and insurance
and repairs, and time, and effort, (we could all go on. . .) for a sports
car, then why not pay the extra for premium?
 
Mike
- -97 SL Running on 93 Amoco ultimate.
 
***  Info:  http://www.Team3S.com/Rules.htm  ***
 
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End of Team3S: 3000GT & Stealth V2 #32
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