Who will win?...a 1994 grand prix 3.1L or a 1995 grand am 3.1L?

[grandamdriver52]

Yeah, i just bought a car about 4 months ago and i have a friend who got his license a couple of months ago also. He has a 1994 pontiac grand prix 2 door with a 3100 V6 in it. I have a 1995 pontiac grand am se 4 door with a 3100 V6 in it also. Well after I get my lisence in 3 months, (kind of sad cause I got a car and I cant drive it for another 3 months) me and 3 friends (including him with the grand prix) thought about our two cars for a second. Me and Scott (one of my friends that I hang out with) and Nick & Nate (Nick is the one with the grand prix and Nate hangs with him) want to see who's car will be faster and we talked about it for a while. Well, I said that when I get my lisence that we should see who's car is faster but we sorta made it into a bet and stuff so all four of us are putting in a bet of 5 or 10 dollars each and I was just wondering, who's will win?...also, both motors are stock and my grand am has 96,000 miles on it and his grand prix has a little over 100,000 miles on it. I just want to get an idea on how it may turn out...(so I can see if I have to send or recive my money)...haha

[Ridenour]

welcome to the forum, grandamdriver

I have some good news, I think you'll have him. You guys both have the same amount of power, but he's about 300 pounds heavier. It will be close, but your better power-to-weight ratio and less mileage should get him - and I think you too have relatively the same gearing. Here's a few tips for race day: Do some weight reduction by running on no more then 1/4 tank. Remove your spare tire and jack - and a system if you have one. Leave your tranny in 3rd when you're going to race - this will lock out overdrive. If you have ETS or traction control, turn it off - it will kill your launch. When you're launching off the line, left foot brake and rev it to about 1500 RPM's - this will pre-load your torque converter and make your launch snappier - just make sure you feather into the throttle and don't spin your tires taking off. Don't redline your car either - you should be going full throttle, and easing off just after your torque peak, and then gunning it after it shifts - you want to keep your RPM's in the power band as much as possible. If you're not sure where your torque peak is, just go out and floor your car, and wherever it pulls the hardest, is where your torque peak is. I think it's roughly 5800-ish RPM's on your car. The point is though, revving to redline, out of your powerband will result in tons of lost power. Keep all lights, fans, a/c, ect. off in order to reduce drain on the electrical system - you'll have a stronger spark. By the way, if you have enough time before race day, run some fuel system cleaner in a full tank. If you haven't run any in a long time, you'd be suprised what a difference it makes. You should have him my friend, just be alert of how you're operating your car's systems. Good luck.

[grandamdriver52]

Thanks man, will do.

[evansdad]

just wanted to say good luck. i think you have him.

[grandamdriver52]

I'm getting out of subject but again (for people who dont know even thought I said it too many times) I have a 1995 Grand Am SE with a 3.1L V6 and I wanted to get a new instrument cluster becuase I have one without a tack on it and i wanted one with a tack. I found one but it was for a 93' with a 2.3L and i know that it will fit but sence it has a 2.3L, would it still work with my 3.1L?...I ask this because sence they are different motors, they would have different RPM points when shifting and stuff. would it work or will i need to buy one made for a 3.1L?
It was just as well say it here instead of making a whole new thread. thats it. thanks

[Hoags]

Rather than go through the trouble of a dash cluster why not just ad an after market tach, they have some pretty cool looking tachs out now, alot less hastle mounting one guage rather than swapping the cluster and fight the other electro. issues that are bound to happen.

If you run your buddy be careful don't need to add to the stats.

[grandamdriver52]

Yeah, cant really do that though. Its still under my dads name and stuff and sence im licing under his roof, he says it has to be stock, (manufactered by GM). But you know that race i was talking about?...well do you know of any parts i could put in the motor to boost it a bit without showing it?...like my dad works on it sometimes and he pops the hood to like change the oil or clean it out when i dont have time to do it myself and most things that u put in the motor you can see really easy. just little things that i can do to the motor to give it a little boost without seeing anything has changed under the hood?...thanks

[Hoags]

There are some things that can be changed that will not change the looks, things like upgraded plugs and wires and a better air filter.

There are others but they may get into going with other manufacturers and may be noticed by dad. I would think that some of the other forum members may have some more ideas for you.

As for your Tach issue with dad, you may want to try telling him that a tach is helpfull with monitorung the engine and can be helpfull in diagnosing a problem that could save money in the long run, especially since these GA's can tend to have ignition and coil pack issues so a tach can be helpfull as well as helping you see how fast the car is running, if for some reason it over revs you can end up with major engine issues.

I know that you can get a GM tach via the web or one of their performance shops at some dealers.

Good luck.

[grandamdriver52]

Thanks man, will do that. All i have to do is find the right parts for the motor and find a tack. I want to buy one that someone has already takin out from their GA cause do you know how expencive buying ones from GM are?...its really disgusting sometimes. Well thanks for the info.

[Hoags]

No problem, I hope things work out for you and you can find the parts you need.

Good luck,
Dan

[grandamdriver52]

Haha, i can finally put some stuff in my car (not the motor thought but i will sneak some things in there) im getting a pioneer cd player, not amp tho, cause it has to be the same as "stock" but it has 200 watts, and im getting 6X9 speakers (again, stock size in the trunk), either sony xplod or lighning audio, but it will cost me well over $300 for every thing i need but i have enough. Im trying to find a good air filter for my car too, like K&N or somthin like that. Better than the one I have.

[grandamdriver52]

this gives me some time, the rents are gone for a bit and i can open the hood to set some things up in a mater of 3 hours. Well, i havnt gotten an air filter yet but im going to clean out everything so its like new.

[evansdad]

run some 93 octane. if i were a you this might help would be letting your gas tank get almost empty and then filling it up or just 3/4 tank with 93 octane. and on race day like someone done said run a 1/4 tank with this. maybe some octane buster too. make sure your tire pressure is right one race day too.

[grandamdriver52]

i know, my left rear gets low alot but will i need to run a bit higher air pressure?...like 35psi, thats what is max on my tires, either that, or 30 cause to flat will make me slow on top end.