Car slowed down 2 tenths..Advice?
 

I have a 1982 Malibu Wagon with a 350 ZZ4 crate motor and a power glide trans. Converter unknown but stalls at around 3900.
I shift it at 6400rpms and it goes through the 1/4 mile at around 6400 to 6600rpm depending on the weather. And 60' around 1.70. And has run the best of a 11.72 @115mph.

Last few times out with the car it has been slowing down. And the last time out it was like 2 tenths slow of what it should have been running. And was very inconstant. It varied from .03 to .19 in seven passes.

The 60 foots are about 4 slow and its only finishing at 6000rpms.
so something has gone away. I have already checked a few things and have a idea of what it could be but wanted other options before I do a lot of work for nothing..

Thanks for your help on this.........Rob Derr

Re: Car slowed down 2 tenths..Advice?
 

My guess Rob would be the converter buddy

Re: Car slowed down 2 tenths..Advice?
 

Thanks Jerry

Re: Car slowed down 2 tenths..Advice?
 

When's the last time you put plugs in it?? Last race our car started to slow and become very inconsistent.....We figured converter but ended up being a set of fairly new plugs.

Re: Car slowed down 2 tenths..Advice?
 

Had the same problem with a zz 4 with a hot cam kit.. Valve springs went away.

Re: Car slowed down 2 tenths..Advice?
 

Sounds like the convertor to me too Rob. Drain the trans fluid, see if there's metal in it.

Re: Car slowed down 2 tenths..Advice?
 

Now, I'm not going to say it's not the converter, but I have been told on numerous occassions that I had a converter problem, only to find that I just should have checked the valve springs, or spark plugs... they are easy to get at, and fairly inexpensive to replace.. OR, you could break your *** taking the trans and converter out only to find from your builder that they are fine.. unless you put someone else's headache in your car... just sayin'...

Re: Car slowed down 2 tenths..Advice?
 

I had a similar problem. Found out when I sent the converter back to be freshened up that I had ripped several fins out of it. No metal in the fluid, it still appeared to stall okay, but ET dropped out several tenths over the season. Good luck.

Re: Car slowed down 2 tenths..Advice?
 

I had this happen before and it not be the convertor....after I pulled the convertor twice. It is probably a long shot but I would atleast check the throttle linkage(especially if its a cable). My throttle cable stretched causing the car to slow without any real symptions or notices. Just something to check before tearing into stuff, but its probably the convertor.