Nitrous kit help

[PontiacGT2K]

Well, got my kit installed (zex dry) and everything....purge works, guages work, switches work....everything works. Took it for a test drive, and car was driving sluggish as hell (with switch off). Wouldn't downshift correctly....figured vaccuum had something to do with it. Since I have the box resting under the fuse box in the engine bay, I figured because of tight space one of the lines must be crimped. Took everything out, checked it out, re-routed all the lines....I think everything's ok now. Car shifts correctly.

I decided to try spraying (tank is halfway empty, around 700psi, not a lot of nitrous left). Had it at WOT, flipped switch on, and the car starts to jerk. Either the trans was slipping (don't know why, autotrans is turned up) or the timing is way off only when I spray. Any ideas? Thanks for help in advance.

[SpyhunteR]

did you change your plugs?


just a thought.

[PontiacGT2K]

Yeah I did. Changed to (forgot part #) Delco plugs, 2 steps colder, gapped at 45. Had NGK's

[Dr_Kyle]

I think your vacuum/fpr connection isn't done right or its not functioning properly. It sounds like the fuel isn't being supplemented when you're spraying (shifting like you described is sometimes caused by a very lean condition) which would also explain why it's running poorly without the switch on.

[PontiacGT2K]

No, it runs ok with the switch off now (after fixing crimp in vacuum lines).

[PontiacGT2K]

Well, I turned up the ATI, filled up the bottle, and deyamn....it pulls, even at a 65 shot.

[Dr_Kyle]

Welcome to the addiction... it's all downhill from here

[PontiacGT2K]

Hahaha....thanks man. Ya know what annoys the hell out of me? I shot only like 3 runs last night, and the psi went from ~900 to ~700 like nothing. I've been told that anything under 700psi won't make any difference. Hopefully I'm wrong? I wanna make this tank last til' Fri. night....grudge match (at the track of course! can't talk about street racing and all.....)

700 is very weak. 1100-1000 psi is nice.

[PontiacGT2K]

Yeah I'm never going back to that shop I went to yesterday. $30, and they only filled it to 900psi....

[GTPguy99]

That PSI gauge does not tell ya how much you have in the tank. You need to buy a bottle heater. then it dont matter if you have a quarter tank you can still get 1100 psi out of it. And $30 is cheap to fill the bottle I used to pay $45. Good luck and have fun.

[PontiacGT2K]

$30 was to fill it like 1/4 of the way, or in other words top it off. I'll look at a bottle heater....I'm sick of this low PSI.

[seeya]

some advice on n2o...


* never let the shop "top off" the bottle. by doing this, despite what they tell you, you will get more air and unwanted pockets in the tank... which means less n2o and an uneven flow to your engine. run the bottle almost empty, then just let the remaining n2o out. you won't be wasting much, by the time you use 2/3rd's of the bottle, the rest is mostly air anyway.

* your n2o pressure gage will only tell you what the tanks current pressure is. if you want to no how much n2o you have in the tank... weigh it. the bottle sticker will say how much it weighs empty. when you get the total weight... just minus that.

* a bottle heater is a good investment and will keep your psi's optimal (900-1100psi). just make sure to use the thermostat element so your bottle doesn't explode in the trunk.

* a fuel pressure gage would be a another good investment... if you don't have one already. a/f gages look cool, but are pretty much useless if you're trying to use it to monitor rich/lean problems while running n2o. the reason these are not good to use is because they are monitoring exhaust gasses in the last stages (oxygen sensors). you need to be able to see problems sooner... a fuel pressure gage is very acurate and shows you what is happening far sooner than the a/f gage.

* check your plugs on a regular basis! all you have to do is pull a couple from the front. if the tip of the plug has a black residue on it, you are running rich. if the tip of the plug has a light grey/white look to it, you are running lean (one of the worst things when running n2o). if they are a tan color with no residue on them... you're doing good.

* make sure your steel braided lines do not have the potential to rub against anything. the lines are strong, but constant daily driving can cause them to rub and create holes. secure them with zip ties every where you can... plastic flex loom is a great way to protect them under the car too.

* most of all... have fun with it. it's nice to take unsuspecting performance entusiasts at the light



.

Yup bottle heater is like a must, well at least where we live.

[PontiacGT2K]

Yeah I'm getting a bottle heater next. In fact, I disconnected the bottle until I get the bottle heater....just wanted to spray a few times the day after install.

Didn't know Fuel Pressure guages were better than A/F guages.....so thanks for the tip.

I've checked the plugs. So far so good.

All the lines are zip tied either to the fuel lines, or somewhere with minimal wear.

Thanks for the help guys, it's greatly appreciated. I sorta jumped into the n2o thing. I already knew a good amount....but should have taken a few more precautions before spraying.

I wouldn't really get a zex heater either kalvin has is and it only usually gets him up to 900-950 psi. I have the NOS one and I can get to 1000-1100 psi. If not the thermostat external so i can manipulate it with ice. I believe i heard the NX one is the best though.

[PontiacGT2K]

Cool...I'll start looking. Thanks again.

[PontiacGT2K]

I've decided before I spray again wtf that I'm going to get a few things......

Bottle Heater
AutoTap
MAFT+

Any other suggestions? I realize now that driving around without any tuning, or monitoring of a/f ratio and timing and such is horrible.......glad I realized it before blowing something up.

heck your plugs and I know with my zex kit I had to use different jettings so I woudnt lean out.

[PontiacGT2K]

Originally posted by shoppingcart
heck your plugs and I know with my zex kit I had to use different jettings so I woudnt lean out.

Yeah I'm using a 32 for fuel, 35 for nitrous (if i remember correctly). According to Zex, I'm running a "75 shot" on the fuel side of it, 65 shot of n2o. I figure that'll make me a bit rich, but better rich than lean when spraying.