Sluggish performance, and burning smell.... Options

[senick]

So Sunday I was driving some country roads and opening up the throttle like I haven't done in a while, and to my dismay it just feels worse in the low revs, like the 7a is having trouble catching its stride. Also at high revs, there's a distinct burning smell coming from the engine bay that goes away with modest driving. The low power I'm thinking has a lot 9if not all) to do with my bad exhaust, but I'm wondering what would account for that smell... I know I need a new valve cover gasket and possibly injector o-rings. Any thoughts?

Update:
Replaced the PCV valve and grommet (the grommet was completely corroded), and had a shop weld the exhaust leak for $40. Now the little guy's zipping around like days of old.

This post has been edited by senick: May 10, 2011 - 6:51 PM

[senick]

You know, I think maybe it's just the 7a coupled with an AT, but I really think it used to go better. I'm liking your theory though, it would make sense that I only smell the leak at higher pressure... Also, I'm starting to smell fuel on warm days after I shut the car off. I really need to check those injectors.

The muffler is probably fine, but I just have a leak in a pipe somewhere from bottoming out on a rock in a dirt road. Are the ST and GT exhaust any different? I'd love to pull the piping from a yard somewhere and just redo the whole thing.