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i_like_retro
Cruiser Expert
Posted: May 8, 2008, 12:57 AM
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Better Torque?
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Is there something I can add/do to get better low end torque out of my N/A PTC? It's pitiful that I can't go up long hills (common in Missouri) without bogging down. I'll start hills at 60-70MPH and at the top I'm going 50-55MPH. The only way not to slow down is to go into passing gear at 4,000RPM or more. It's got plenty of power up there, but at 2,500-3,500RPM it's no go.
Just curious. I've already changed the plugs and wires. I was thinking maybe a cold-air intake? Do those make a noticeable improvement?
I know "More power" has been beaten to death, but I need "Go up hill power" not "Go really fast power".
Thanks in advanced,
-Ray
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Posts: 234 | From: Cedar Hill, MO
| Registered: Apr 18, 2007, 11:35 PM
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sent1
Cruiser Expert
Posted: May 8, 2008, 6:36 AM
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Re: [i_like_retro] Better Torque?
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 Open up the exhaust. You don't necessarily have to get headers but from the cat-back would help. I know it helped mine. I did get headers ($120 on ebay). From Summit I got a high flow cat (2-1/2 inch) and muffler ($80 for both). A section of 2-1/2 inch pipe and chrome tip from Autozone was about $30. A friend welded it all in. A can of black high temp paint made the muffler disapear. Can't exactly do a tire shreddin' burnout but this sure made a difference with the low-end torque. Did need to tap into the cat to accomodate an O2 sensor since I didn't think to buy one that had the hole already in it.
Have fun!
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DC1 #1610--5-speed. Its got some stuff.
'03 Inferno Red--Its getting some stuff too!
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Posts: 424 | From: Salem, Oregon
| Registered: Apr 14, 2007, 8:56 AM
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mean green
Cruiser Addict
Posted: May 8, 2008, 11:38 AM
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Re: [i_like_retro] Better Torque?
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Just get used to it. The PT is a real slug on hills. Should have got the turbo. 
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2005 Stone White SRT4
2004 Graphite Auto
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Posts: 807 | From: Oregon
| Registered: Feb 19, 2002, 12:00 AM
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Bluephrog
Cruiser Addict
Posted: May 8, 2008, 12:33 PM
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Re: [i_like_retro] Better Torque?
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The only way to make low end torque with a gasoline 4 cylinder engine is with a turbo or supercharger, the PT is no different. You can try things like bigger exhaust, bigger TB and maybe a tuner computer and you may get a little more, but the cost comes high for just a little gain. Put a turbo or supercharger on it and you can easily accelerate up the steepest hill for not much more money. Your torque curve will be a lot flatter over a much wider RPM range too. My slightly modified Turbo with Stage I puts out 228 ft lbs at 2000RPM rises to 285 ft lb at 3000 and stays there to almost 5000 RPM and that is better than many of V8's.
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Posts: 657 | From: Vermont
| Registered: May 24, 2003, 5:25 PM
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LeoCruiser
Cruiser Expert
PT Cruiser Club Member
Posted: May 8, 2008, 2:39 PM
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Re: [i_like_retro] Better Torque?
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I know of no other way to get any better torque with the PT. A cold air intake and upgraded plugs and wires are more for MPG, but they will increase power and torque by 1-5 units.
What you stated sounds about right when going up a hill. To make it easier on myself since I have an automatic, I memorized how far down to press the accelerator so the car can change gears. So if it is a little hill I take it out of overdrive by pressing the gas in so far, and if it is a big hill, right before I start heading up I press the accelerator until the car goes into 3rd. Doing this only lets my PT loose 5-10 MPH maximum and the RPM's stay between 3,500-4,500.
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"I rate enthusiasm even above professional skill."
-Ed Appleton
My PT:
http://www.ptcruiserclub.org/...ut14831/gallery1.htm
2002 Steel Blue
Classic Edition
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Posts: 290 | From: N/A
| Registered: Jul 3, 2007, 8:23 PM
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mean green
Cruiser Addict
Posted: May 8, 2008, 4:15 PM
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Re: [LeoCruiser] Better Torque?
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Quote:
I know of no other way to get any better torque with the PT. A cold air intake and upgraded plugs and wires are more for MPG, but they will increase power and torque by 1-5 units.
What you stated sounds about right when going up a hill. To make it easier on myself since I have an automatic, I memorized how far down to press the accelerator so the car can change gears. So if it is a little hill I take it out of overdrive by pressing the gas in so far, and if it is a big hill, right before I start heading up I press the accelerator until the car goes into 3rd. Doing this only lets my PT loose 5-10 MPH maximum and the RPM's stay between 3,500-4,500.
Not true unless what you are replacing is no good and then you'd have a loss of mpg and power to bring back up to normal.
I'm really amazed people don't research cars and test drive them like they'll drive them, especially when they are paying around $20k for a car.
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2005 Stone White SRT4
2004 Graphite Auto
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Posts: 807 | From: Oregon
| Registered: Feb 19, 2002, 12:00 AM
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Bluephrog
Cruiser Addict
Posted: May 8, 2008, 6:35 PM
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Re: [LeoCruiser] Better Torque?
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Here is another option, when starting up a hill shift the tranny to 3rd. This will accomplish two things. First it will put you in 3rd gear and second it will lockup the torque converter so you are direct drive with no slippage from the torque converter. This puts your engine RPM lower than if you just caused the tranny to shift down to 3rd since that action will unlock the torque converter till it shifts back to OD. A locked torque converter generates no additional heat too. With the many hills in Vermont I run in 3rd just to keep the tranny from shifting in and out of OD. My computer says MPG is the same or better running in 3rd with the lockup on the torque converter than leaving it in OD and having it shift on almost every hill and it sure is easier on the tranmission.
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Posts: 657 | From: Vermont
| Registered: May 24, 2003, 5:25 PM
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LeoCruiser
Cruiser Expert
PT Cruiser Club Member
Posted: May 9, 2008, 8:23 PM
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Re: [mean green] Better Torque?
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Not everyone shares your opinion. Adding stuff to the PT will give a little bit of an increase 1-5 MPG/torque max. If I am wrong, then half of the PT community in my area are too.
Car lots are mostly in the city so driving on hills is sometimes impossible unless a hill is by the car lot, but the dealer will probably take the test drive somewhere else. Besides, some people do not have a turbo because they did not want one, so what for compare a turbo to a N/A PT if it was not in your scope of buying a car. If some people like the car, they will get it regarless of its shortcomings and love it just as much.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to tweak your ride a little. It is all opinion and personal choice.
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"I rate enthusiasm even above professional skill."
-Ed Appleton
My PT:
http://www.ptcruiserclub.org/...ut14831/gallery1.htm
2002 Steel Blue
Classic Edition
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Posts: 290 | From: N/A
| Registered: Jul 3, 2007, 8:23 PM
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mean green
Cruiser Addict
Posted: May 9, 2008, 11:54 PM
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Re: [LeoCruiser] Better Torque?
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Quote:
Not everyone shares your opinion. Adding stuff to the PT will give a little bit of an increase 1-5 MPG/torque max. If I am wrong, then half of the PT community in my area are too.
Car lots are mostly in the city so driving on hills is sometimes impossible unless a hill is by the car lot, but the dealer will probably take the test drive somewhere else. Besides, some people do not have a turbo because they did not want one, so what for compare a turbo to a N/A PT if it was not in your scope of buying a car. If some people like the car, they will get it regarless of its shortcomings and love it just as much.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to tweak your ride a little. It is all opinion and personal choice.
Well now, since I built my '03 PT GT up to 280 hp/310 lbs ft of torque and my ride now is an '05 SRT-4 modded up to 336 hp/360 lbs ft of torque whose going to know more about modding out these cars? I've had two na PTs and one turbo PT. Do you even realize you can't even feel a 1-5 hp increase? It's impossible. Besides, more than half of the PT community knows nothing or very little about cars in general and these are the people you are listening too? Good luck with their technical advise. I always enjoy reading how you can get 5 more mpg by changing plugs and wires or 5 more mpg with an intake or getting 10-15 more hp with an aftermarket exhaust, etc, etc.  Enjoy 
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2005 Stone White SRT4
2004 Graphite Auto
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Posts: 807 | From: Oregon
| Registered: Feb 19, 2002, 12:00 AM
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Bluephrog
Cruiser Addict
Posted: May 10, 2008, 7:20 AM
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Re: [mean green] Better Torque?
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ditto!
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Posts: 657 | From: Vermont
| Registered: May 24, 2003, 5:25 PM
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