Manifold too restricting?

[Wischmaster]

Ok, I'm sure someone else has posted about this but I'll give her a go. It didn't sound like anyone figured out their problem. But... I just bought a 1996 EX Coupe and it feels like a dog. I just had a practically stock 1994 EX Coupe and that thing felt like it would run laps around my new one. I mean, it felt really responsive... the way it should be. But with the '96, it feels like there is a lag for power. Like you step on the gas and it feels like it's getting held back for a few seconds... until about 4k or so and then it jumps and goes. The '94 felt like it was just very free-flowing and... well, good. Is it possible that the Z6 manifold has better air flow than the Y8? I've heard that the Y8 mani is better in some ways... but when I look at it, it looks restrictive. Do you think it would help at all to swap manifolds or just get an aftermarket one? Or do you think it could be ignition wires and spark plugs?

I talked to my friend just this past week... he too bought a 97 EX Coupe, identical to mine... same mileage too. He too said his feels sluggish. (Yes, and he just sold his '94 EX Coupe...) So that makes me think it's not just my car. Oh, and there has to be something wrong. Because when I had my '94... me and a friend in his stock '94 DX hatch (102 HP) I beat him by a good bit. As you would expect. But when we went in my '96... he walked on me. WTF!? There is something seriously wrong with this.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

[lkailburn]

both your cars make the same hp. the new one weighs a little more but should still easily beat a dx in a race.

the y8 intake manifold is better then the z6 intake manifold. as for the exhaust manifolds, i don't think there is much of a performance difference between the two. if you want to swap, go aftermarket.

you might want to do a compression test on the cylinders. that might be your problem. if that checks out ok you should do a full tune up. oil/filter change, new air filter, new plugs, new cap and rotor, drain and flush the coolant, stuff like that.

thats all thats comming to my head right now. if i think of other things to check i'll let you know