Linux, Java, S/390 Perfromance issues.

We are running Linux (SuSe 7 – Kernel 2.4.7) with IBM Java 1.3.1 in an LPAR on a S/390 MP3000 processor. The Java programs are running very slow compared to running them on an Intel platform. The processor is 120 MIPS and when every the Java code runns it pegs out the machine and takes a long time.
Is there anyone with similar configuration that is not having this problem or has had the issues and found solutions for it? Are there and performance parameters, software release/fixes that we should go to? Are there any books, guides, urls or anything with tips on this configuration? Anyone have any ideas?

Is anyone having success running Java in Linux on a S/390 platform?

Thanks.