Okay, I going to the track next week. I was wonder what would help the most. My VTC's are grounded. Should I un-ground them? Should I advance the timing? Both? Any suggestions are appreciated

 

Dont go and save that money towards fixing your VTCs.
j/k have fun

You could try advancing the timming. I've tried it once before at the track (4 degrees) but it did nothing to my 1/4 mile time. The car may not have been running properly so I'm gonna try it again.

But ungrouding your vtcs may not produce gains, I guess it depends on how bad they are. So I guess it all worth trying. Do the changes at the track.

 

Yeah, it depends on the condition of your VTC's. If they just make noise but work - like mine, then unground them. You will find your biggest gains from the VTC's, not manual timing adjustment.

Warning: I advanced my timing the other night, and could barely hear the detonation (that I created) over the intake blaring at WOT. You have to really listen for it. Needless to say I moved it back.

I dont care what anyone says, I lost MAJOR top-end pull when I grounded the VTC's, and they still made noise.

 

The VTCs actually create low end torque

You probably already new that, I made that mistake before.

 

Are you sure? I swear when I grounded those suckers that I created a bad flat spot from 5K to 6.5K rpm. Isn't that considered top-end?

I would consider low-end torque as pre-4K RPM on the VE.

 

Well most (I can't say all) cars have a natural torque peak on the high rpm range. When the vtcs are engaged advancing the timming it gives the engine a lower torque peak, then when the vtcs disengage at 3k I believe, the car then has its natural torque peak. So this overall gives the motor a nice continuous torque range.

 

I agree. I also lost major power from 5k rpm and up. However, I seemed to have recovered most of what I lost by advancing the timing. The car seems to have more power throughout the entire rpm range now. But I think that my VTC's were pretty f'd up. When the car ran optimal, It felt like it kind of had turbo lag until 5k rpm then it would kick a*#. But most of the time, the car was inconsistent and I never knew what to expect. I must say that with the VTC's grounded and the timing advanced, this is the best my Max has ever run, plus I no longer have the embarrassing tap anymore.