1/4 Mile Times, Something Wrong?

[FakTorThis]

Ok I have a 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis LS. I''ve been looking on the at peoples 1/4 mile times with my car and them being stock . I''ve seen the times run from high 16s to low 16s. But when I went to the track last weekend with 87 octane gas and a reaction time of .825 I ran the 1/4 mile at 18.860 at 75mph http://www.mercuryforum.com/smileys/smiley5.gif. Before the race I changed the spark plugs because I have been getting the check engine lights and the code is either for bad spark plug or wires and its still on but I had a bad plug but the CE light remains on so I was planning on changing the wires and put in 91 octance this week and go to the track again this weekend to see if it runs any better. But any info or advice that may be making it run so slow?

[cvpiftw]

2.73 gears, correct?
even so, thats a bit slow.

[FakTorThis]

I would assume they are its completely stock. I mean the only car there that I ran faster then was a Honda CRX that ran a 19.1 I mean it was a little embarrassing there was a stock dodge town and country run a low 17s and I cant get any faster then 18.5

[cvpiftw]

Might be a good idea to do a compression check on the engine. Might just be that slow as-is.

[OneBADLsE]

Thats what the old 5.0s ran. About 18 in the traps...You should easily be in the 16's.

Bear in mind the old 5.0's had around 90 RWHP...the 4.6 non PI motors should be well into the 150 range.


Check fuel, and also make sure your intake manifold hasnt failed. (however, i think you would know)

[chader]

those things are bad for plug wires.My "95 with 3:27 gears and an PI tune and CAI ran a corrected time of 16.1

[Bluerauder]

I'd consider working on that 0.825 second R/T, too. :rolleyes:

[Mest30]

Yeah, a .825 is not a good R/T, but it does not affect the 1/4 mile time. So it doesnt make a difference if you get that time better or not.

[FakTorThis]

lololol it was better then my 1.375 reaction time. but anyway we're going to change out the new auto lite spark plugs for motor craft because ive been getting worse gas mileage with them we're going to change the wires and fuel filter to see if that will fix anything

[merc]

Reaction time is one thing, but what was the 60 ft times? How much gas did you have in the tank? How many miles are on the engine and what mods have you done? What tire did you use? Your stock setup produces 224 hp and 272 pound-feet of torque. With that setup you could easily achieve low 20's on a warm day.

[FakTorThis]

Not to come off as an ass but did you not read the first post? The cars stock had about half a tank and I don't how many miles on the engine because It was giving to me from my grandpa and he had it rebuilt because he blew the engine because he put his foot on the pedal and he can't hear it revving. With the low 20s thing are you serious I was running high 18s and I believe that this car is capable of running somewhere in the 16s stock. I can't remember my 60 ft time and I can't find the time slip anywhere.

[SC Cheesehead]

Not to come off as an ass but did you not read the first post? The cars stock had about half a tank and I don't how many miles on the engine because It was giving to me from my grandpa and he had it rebuilt because he blew the engine because he put his foot on the pedal and he can't hear it revving. With the low 20s thing are you serious I was running high 18s and I believe that this car is capable of running somewhere in the 16s stock. I can't remember my 60 ft time and I can't find the time slip anywhere.

This may take a little work.....:rolleyes:

[offroadkarter]

Not to come off as an ass but did you not read the first post? The cars stock had about half a tank and I don't how many miles on the engine because It was giving to me from my grandpa and he had it rebuilt because he blew the engine because he put his foot on the pedal and he can't hear it revving. With the low 20s thing are you serious I was running high 18s and I believe that this car is capable of running somewhere in the 16s stock. I can't remember my 60 ft time and I can't find the time slip anywhere.


Your car stock, makes at the crank 190bhp/260tq.

If you have 2.73's and are abit new at the whole 1320 thing, i wouldn't doubt the times your running.

Keep practicing launches and all, leave on the last yellow, you will knock off some tenth's


Your stock setup produces 224 hp and 272 pound-feet of torque.

Thats with the PI (Performance Improved) motor, thats also with a single exhaust, A PI with dual exhaust will make about 239/280.

The PI motor wasnt in panthers till 01, so before that the numbers were rather lackluster.

[fastblackmerc]

Ok I have a 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis LS. I''ve been looking on the at peoples 1/4 mile times with my car and them being stock . I''ve seen the times run from high 16s to low 16s. But when I went to the track last weekend with 87 octane gas and a reaction time of .825 I ran the 1/4 mile at 18.860 at 75mph http://www.mercuryforum.com/smileys/smiley5.gif. Before the race I changed the spark plugs because I have been getting the check engine lights and the code is either for bad spark plug or wires and its still on but I had a bad plug but the CE light remains on so I was planning on changing the wires and put in 91 octance this week and go to the track again this weekend to see if it runs any better. But any info or advice that may be making it run so slow?

It's a freakin' GRAND MARQUIS people! It's going to be slooooooooooow no matter what you do to it!

[Pops]

It's a freakin' GRAND MARQUIS people! It's going to be slooooooooooow no matter what you do to it!

Not the truth fast black merc. He can do a lot to improve the perfomance but it all requires spending some time and money on the car. Some of the suggestions the guys made will help him if he is willing to try them. :)

[Vortech347]

What is your altitude?

[FakTorThis]

<table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="3"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" align="right">Track Elevation:
</td> <td valign="top"><input name="elevation" size="7" value="1013" type="text"></td> <td valign="top"> feet above sea level
</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" align="right"> Air Temperature:
</td> <td valign="top"><input name="temperature" size="7" value="59.0" type="text"></td> <td valign="top"> degrees F
</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" align="right"> Barometric Pressure:
</td> <td valign="top"><input name="altset" size="7" value="30.16" type="text"></td> <td valign="top"> inches Hg
</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" align="right"> Relative Humidty:
</td> <td valign="top"><input name="rh" size="7" value="94" type="text"></td> <td valign="top"> %
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>

<input name="submitButtonName" value="Calculate DA" type="submit"> Density Altitude: 1188 feet
Relative Density: 96.57 %

[FakTorThis]

Also I was using a horsepower calculator where you put in your 1/4 mile time trap speed and weight of the car. It say I'm only running 119hp at the flywheel is it really possible that I'm losing 80hp due to spark plugs and wires?

[offroadkarter]

Also I was using a horsepower calculator where you put in your 1/4 mile time trap speed and weight of the car. It say I'm only running 119hp at the flywheel is it really possible that I'm losing 80hp due to spark plugs and wires?


Calculators are always wrong, dont believe them.

If you really want to know crank HP, go buy a scanguage II

If you want to know the more important RWHP, go find a dynojet (mustang dyno's arent accurate)

[HITEKBALANCER]

Hey, fastblackmerc. you missed the post about my GM and it faaaaaaaaasssssst. Check my post in shop talk about dyno results for 2003 grand marquis. My motor is bone stock.

If you want to make more power go to a local custom exhaust shop and put a cat back dual exhaust on it and improve the air flow into the intake. Put a K+N in the airbox and keep it clean. this will get you out for about $500.00. I guess you will pick up 20hp, maybe a little more. Rear gears will help too 3:73's?

Anything more and you have to have a wallet that opens easily and has a lot in it.

[larryo340]

2.73 gears, correct?
even so, thats a bit slow.

If you have the 2.73's they sure don't do much for your launch, take it from me :o.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Wow. My 1997 Buick LeSabre ran a 15.89, I have a video of it somewhere around here. That was a 205 hp V6. Maybe I should buy another one