what the heck is wrong?

please forgive me if I am asking a dumb newbie question. this is my first ever LT1 and 4L6E ( I have a regular vortec 350 and 4L8E in my truck)
my wagon wont do a burn out.
I have never been one for wasting rear tires lighting them up. when I go to pass someone my car has plenty of ump. the other day I accidentally pulled out in front of someone and I tromped on it and nothing! as I slowly got up to 30 it was as if there was something keeping the engine from revving. once I got up to 30 it started pulling but up to that point it was as if the throttle was not opening at all.

so yesterday I tried to do a brake torque. Nothing! I tried punching it while going around a corner. Nothing! It is like it was stuck starting in second or third gear or something.

my newer Toyota has variable valve timing that kicks in around 7,000 rpm. If the engine is not up to operating temp the VVT wont kick in.
my wagon was well up to operating temps, but I was wondering if there is some sore of throttle control sensor that may be faulty? my friend has a bone stock Roadmaster sedan he inherited and he lit up the tires the first time he drove it not knowing the power it had.

am I missing something basic or is something FUBAR?

It could have 2.56 gears. The are not noted for "out of the hole" excitement.

Fred Kiehl wrote:

It could have 2.56 gears. The are not noted for "out of the hole" excitement.

it has the posi and trailer tow package and I thought that came with 2.93 gears. even still this is really bad. its like I could almost push it faster.

Sounds like you got a TEE-BEE-EYE 350

Just thought I'd say it before someone else does.

What'cha driv'n 91-93? or 94-95? Tow package varies a little between the years. There's a sticky, at least I think it's a stick, that lists the differences. It does sound like you could be starting out in a higher gear though, cause my TBI can at least break traction going around a corner stomping on it from a dead stop.

Have you tried manually shifting to lower gears and seeing if they work properly?

scoffman wrote:

Sounds like you got a TEE-BEE-EYE 350

Just thought I'd say it before someone else does.

What'cha driv'n 91-93? or 94-95? Tow package varies a little between the years. There's a sticky, at least I think it's a stick, that lists the differences. It does sound like you could be starting out in a higher gear though, cause my TBI can at least break traction going around a corner stomping on it from a dead stop.

Have you tried manually shifting to lower gears and seeing if they work properly?

94 lt1 HAS OPTISPARK no distributor.


a friend has said the accumulator valve can wear in the 4L60-E and cause a 1-2 upshift almost immediately.

when I tried the brake torque I had put it in low. whether it was or not I don't know.

I have a 95 with a tow-pack, and with the cheap tires that came on it, I found the rear wheels started spinning if I tromped it pulling out to pass uphill in the rain. I'd say you need a tune-up.

Are you sure it's a tow-pack car? Checked the option codes for the limited slip rear end? Are there any codes set?

buickwagon wrote:

I have a 95 with a tow-pack, and with the cheap tires that came on it, I found the rear wheels started spinning if I tromped it pulling out to pass uphill in the rain. I'd say you need a tune-up.

Are you sure it's a tow-pack car? Checked the option codes for the limited slip rear end? Are there any codes set?

the little tag circled in the photo said limited slip additive only.


the oil cooler generally comes with a trailer package.



yes it is conceivable the gears were swapped and I do not know what is actually in there.

the car runs great from 30/40 up to triple digits. It just goes really slow 0-30. there seams to be no difference between taking of normal and tromping on it.





I have not put my reader on it for any stored codes, I assumed the CEL would be on if something was wrong.

When mine had 3.08 gears in it and a 4L60E it would not spin the tires, but push the front wheels when I tried to do a brake stand. Almost pushed it into Pats car one year at WF. But not that 'problem' is solved. Dropping the clutch at 3000 rpm will spin the tires.

buickwagon wrote:

I have a 95 with a tow-pack, and with the cheap tires that came on it, I found the rear wheels started spinning if I tromped it pulling out to pass uphill in the rain. I'd say you need a tune-up.

Are you sure it's a tow-pack car? Checked the option codes for the limited slip rear end? Are there any codes set?

Must be some oil mixed in with that rain!!!

so are you all saying a stock wagon will come out of the hole like molasses in February?

They are not noted to be jack rabbits. Try putting some 3.23s or 3.42s in it. Some people like 3.73s, but I find them a little too much for highway driving unless you have a 6 speed stick. You will have to get your computer reprogrammed with any of them.

I have 2.93s in my 92 OCC LO5 wagon, and it seems to lug up to 20~30, then it starts pulling harder. The LO5s have about 300 lb. ft. of torque, so they are not all that bad for midrange pulling power. Yours may suffer from the same malady. I may put a 3.23 rear in it some day, but I am not really concerned, because I do not pull anything.

My car is a non tow pack car I assume with 2.56 gears and it gets it.

I don't try to light the tires they are expensive today but considering the weight (we are a lot heaver in the back due to additional glass and steel) I'm happy for now. My plan is to change to 3.73 gears with posi maybe next spring.... Better for towing also. Jeff

There is a guy in Sarasota always advertising on Craigslist with gears and posi units for our 8.5 rear ends.

Flasheroo wrote:

Must be some oil mixed in with that rain!!!

Crappy Tire tires.

Similarly, a year and a half or so ago, I left two long scars carved into the dry pavement when I tromped it from a standing start -- forgetting that I had the studded snow tires on...

Does anyone have a wagon without the trans cooler? I think it was standard on the wagon.

Joel?? do you know?

My old 95 had 2.56 but it would still light the tires up around corners and from a stop. Start with a simple tune up.

have you counted the shifts? It still sounds like it might be starting out in a higher gear, or like you said shifting to a higher gear to early?

scoffman wrote:

have you counted the shifts? It still sounds like it might be starting out in a higher gear, or like you said shifting to a higher gear to early?

no I haven't had the real-estate available to count shifts from a dead dig.
My BFF's son is a really good tech and he works on a lot of different cars that are high mileage and sees a fair amount of trans issues with the 4L60e and he was the one who mentioned the worn accumulator valve.

it seems logical to me.

I have just continued to drive it like an old man.

sucky thing is my other "wagon" is real quick out of the hole but falls on its face the closer you get to triple digits. but if I wanted to burn the tires it would smoke them while bouncing of the rev limiter.

It should spin the tires even with a 305 and 2.73s going around a corner. My 94 with 2.93 posi rear would definitely jump better than what you are describing. I'm going to guess 1st gear is locked out.

Many years ago my Dad had a trans rebuilt. He 'tested' it for two days and broke it. Took it back and they repaired again. When he got it back they had locked first out so he wouldn't break it again.
He was pretty pissed. Finally got a proper rebuild that lasted as long as the car.

It too was dog up until about 30 then would take off....

Does it have a very late and rough down-shift into first gear when you're stopping?
It's acting like an older Caddy I owned; the torque converter was staying "locked".

JoeT wrote:

Does it have a very late and rough down-shift into first gear when you're stopping?
It's acting like an older Caddy I owned; the torque converter was staying "locked".

I don't know about late but what I am assuming is the 1-2 up and 2-1 down are indeed somewhat rough.