No torque??

[MidnightPanther99]

Hey, I was just wondering what to do to increase torque. My car just bogs down when I hit the gas steadily and I hate flooring it because I hate how the overdrive kicks in and makes the car take off.

[00EscortZx2]

Time for MTX swap =)

[Escort Pimp]

Buy a V8

[mechtech]

Ignition advance [in your case a chip or programming] is crucial.
You can advance you intake can 2-5 degrees.
Keep your exhaust pipe and intake pipe small.

[Beodude123]

Get away from the ATX. It's your worst enemy.

[MidnightPanther99]

How would I go about advancing the intake cam???

[00EscortZx2]

Adjustable cam gears will help to move your power band around too so you can move it to a lower RPM.

But, like I said before, MTX swapy

[MidnightPanther99]

I cant drive stick very well and my knees are awful. Maybe camshafts?

[simplicity05]

Nobody can really drive stick very well at first and I too have pretty crappy knees. Just go for it, you'll love it. After my last ATX car I vowed I'd never again buy one.

[mechtech]

Midnight - you want SMALLER cams, which are not readily available.
Leave your stock ones in there.
Actually, our engines have at least adequate torque - it's pretty good stock.
You won't get much by adjusting the intake cam advanced a bit, and I don't think buying a gear is worth it for a slight shift.
You really need electronic help - better tuning.

[iceracer]

What he said. The only other thing would be to increase compression, not very cost effective. Disconnect the knock sensor.
I have a similar problem with my Jeep. The problem is with the stupid transmission,so I have to live with it. I'm gradualy learning how to drive around it.

[Beodude123]

Get an under drive pulley. That helped my ATX a lot. That and tuning. Those two things will help out a good bit.

[Hypnose Zx2]

how much should he put up his intake cam?

[mechtech]

Speaking in generalities, 2-5 degrees advance on the intake cam will help your low/mid power, and flatten and widen your torque band.
But this is a subtle shift. It is the right direction for an automatic trans ZX2. If you are setting your cam timing, err in the advance direction with an auto trans. Err in the retarded direction for a manual.

[iceracer]

That amount of advance won't do much. But every little bit helps.
Actually, the Zetec has very good torque, be glad you don't have a Honda.

[Beodude123]

It's the torque converter man, really kills it.

[mechtech]

I'm surprised guys around here haven't gone to smaller torque converters.
This is the oldest auto tranny performance trick .
A lot to be gained off the line, and since it locks up, no problems or loss on the highway.

[Beodude123]

Smaller as in a lower stall point?

[TheCrazyGuy]

I want to know how I can get my overdrive to kick in when I floor it.

[MidnightPanther99]

Sorry, I do not really know what it is, but when I put the throttle down steadily it'll accelerate but if I stomp on it. It'll change gears and take off.

[iceracer]

That is what it is supposed to do. It's called down shifting.

[Beodude123]

I want to know how I can get my overdrive to kick in when I floor it.


Floor the pedal to the far left, then move that little stick in the middle of the car around. Let that left pedal go out, and if your engine sounds like it wants to kill you, step on the gas.

Or, convert to an ATX.

[mechtech]

A smaller torque converter will increase the stall speed.
Getting it up to 3-3,500 would really make even a stock car scream off the line,and when stepping on it in other circumstances.

[MidnightPanther99]

I have an EMA0 computer and I did notice that it helped a lot versus my 03 computer. How can I tune the computer?

[MidnightPanther99]

Do they even make a smaller torque converter for the ZX2 to use?

[Beodude123]

Level 10 makes a beefed up ATX.

[J_Mob]

Level 10 makes a beefed up ATX.

Yeah and no core charge for the ZX2 trannies if I read it right....but more then I paid for my car :(

I also have the ATX. You learn to live with it.....:biggrin:

[00EscortZx2]

Leave your stock ones in there.
Actually, our engines have at least adequate torque - it's pretty good stock.
You really need electronic help - better tuning.

x2 x2 x2!! IIRC our stock intake cam is basically a stage 1 performance cam for the fucus.