NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds - View Single Post

Mark42 · 04-19-2010, 07:15 AM

What I don't get is why this V6 Firebird with a basically stock motor and 3.73 gears w/posi gets such bad wheel hop.

Especially when compared to:

- the car with 3.08 and open rear, never a wheel hop issue. Lots of useless tire spin, but no wheel hop.

- my 96 Camaro w/5 speed and posi (3.23 gears IIRC). Drove that car to 160+K and never wheel hop, and it had the two piece drive shaft to boot.

So why is the same rear that is in V8 cars hopping badly when just a V6 is driving it?

I've been looking for problems with the stock parts, IE bad bushings, broken pieces, etc. Its not like I just added 100 hp from NO2 and got wheel hop. Its just a posi and gears that are causing:

- More hp/torque to the rear at launch due to the gear change.
- More resistance to wheel spin due to the Eaton Truetrac, which in turn puts more stress on the drive-line components (like LCA bushings and T/A bushing).
- Mild hp increase due to tune and exhaust.

So I am more inclined to look for bad or broken/worn parts. Keep in mind the car has less than 40K miles, so I would think the bushings and all should be in good shape. Unless age (12 years) is a major player. Think the LCA bushings are failing just due to the added stress and possible dry rot? I looked, but you just can't inspect a LCA bushing that is installed... LOL!

Excuse the long post, just thinking in writing (kind of like thinking out loud!)

04-19-2010, 07:15 AM	#16
Mark42 Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 443 iTrader: (0)	What I don't get is why this V6 Firebird with a basically stock motor and 3.73 gears w/posi gets such bad wheel hop. Especially when compared to: - the car with 3.08 and open rear, never a wheel hop issue. Lots of useless tire spin, but no wheel hop. - my 96 Camaro w/5 speed and posi (3.23 gears IIRC). Drove that car to 160+K and never wheel hop, and it had the two piece drive shaft to boot. So why is the same rear that is in V8 cars hopping badly when just a V6 is driving it? I've been looking for problems with the stock parts, IE bad bushings, broken pieces, etc. Its not like I just added 100 hp from NO2 and got wheel hop. Its just a posi and gears that are causing: - More hp/torque to the rear at launch due to the gear change. - More resistance to wheel spin due to the Eaton Truetrac, which in turn puts more stress on the drive-line components (like LCA bushings and T/A bushing). - Mild hp increase due to tune and exhaust. So I am more inclined to look for bad or broken/worn parts. Keep in mind the car has less than 40K miles, so I would think the bushings and all should be in good shape. Unless age (12 years) is a major player. Think the LCA bushings are failing just due to the added stress and possible dry rot? I looked, but you just can't inspect a LCA bushing that is installed... LOL! Excuse the long post, just thinking in writing (kind of like thinking out loud!) __________________ 1998 Firebird Coupe Mods: 3.73 Gears, Eaton TrueTrac, PCM Tune, LS1 Aluminum Drive Shaft, Cold Air Intake, 180 Thermostat, Magnaflow Cat-Back Exhaust, Moog LCA busings. My Firebird Projects : Click Here Last edited by Mark42; 04-19-2010 at 07:17 AM.