Good and Bad news from first 1/4 mile pass

[kirchn33]

I went to street night last night and this was my first time down the 1/4 mile and the best my car could put down was a 14.469 at 96 mph. My best 60' was a 2.079 launching at 2000rpm on used et streets and more rpm than that and it just blew the tires off. The bad is that this car was trapping still in third gear at about 4000rpm. Oh and the hummidity was horrible last night around 80+ so that didnt help anyone.

The car is a t-top 86 GT, 5 speed,no a/c, no smog, stock air box, The mods for the car are 90's long block 1.7 rockers, RPM intake,bbk long tubes,o/r h-pipe,stock mufflers,B&M ripper shifter,and the et streets.

I was hopping for 13's but with these gears which I beleive are 3.27s there is no way. So now I am planning some 4.10's and upper and lower control arms,shocks, and spings before I make my next trip down.

Any suggestions are welcomed

[PaceFever79]

Not bad at all.. I was turning similar numbers with my old 5.0 and C4 automatic so you
probably can shave a good bit off with better traction and harder launch. That may also
leave a few parts behind.... Just a friendly warning

Try 18 psi tire pressure, cook the tires good, and launch at 3500

Don't just dump the clutch, but ease it out quickly.

[mattquerio]

You shouldn't be dissapointed by that, that sounds like a pretty good run on that set up. Good work.

My best run was an off-idle launch. I just sat there, waited for the tree, and on the last yellow dumped the clutch and then just mashed the gas. Of course it is a van engine. I didnt spin my tires at all, just a chirp chirp. I got more rubber in 2nd gear than I did out of the box.

[varn82]

as long as you had fun thats all that matters. now you have a starting point. every pass will get better. i take it you went to epping? how is the track this year? i havnt been since october. we really need to get a 4-eyed convention up there soon on wednesday or friday night. let me know if you want a hand putting the gears in, i got the tools to set up an 8.8, and im right around the corner.

[86nu]

what was your air pressure? thats something that can be played with and drasticly change how a car leaves

[KANARMAN]

12 LBS pressure roll the rear tires through the water pull to the edge of the puddle spin them for a 5 sec count in first gear at about 3500or so. stay in it out of the puddle.
bring the rpms up to 4500-5000 lift the clutch puddle soft to just about enguaged push in a hair .wait for second amber to light dump the clutch and mash the gas

if you view my third video my car was simular to yours

3.27 gear bbk longtubes and no cat h pipe onderdrive pullies performer rpm intake .no smog pump no ac with power stearing. flowmaster cat back stock ignition stok bottomend with a million miles lol

but I took off front bumper and all the insulation under the carpet and mine is carburated 650 holly?
but with a 4.10 I ran a 13.52 once?

[PaceFever79]

Originally Posted by KANARMAN

12 LBS pressure roll the rear tires through the water pull to the edge of the puddle spin them for a 5 sec count in first gear at about 3500or so. stay in it out of the puddle.
bring the rpms up to 4500-5000 lift the clutch puddle soft to just about enguaged push in a hair .wait for second amber to light dump the clutch and mash the gas

Being new to racing, I wouldn't recommend he use that low a tire pressure at
this point. It could walk or sway on the top end. With his power 18 psi should
hook up pretty nice with a good smoky burnout. I also would not recommend
dumping the clutch (at any rpm) on a stock drive train. That may work a few
times but it will probably break something eventually.

Just trying to give some rational advice!

[kirchn33]

Yea I did a good burn out on the first two passes and on the third run I went to do a burnout and had massive wheel hop. I guess the stock 13 year old bushings and control arms werent up the task. I was launching at about 2000 because any more rpm it would just blow the tires off and i dont think that was the tires not being sticky I think my suspension is just not up to par so I am going to do control arms when i do the gears and also springs and shocks which should alow me to launch at about 3k. Oh and I was running 20psi in the tires.

Varn82, You are right I had a ton of fun drove the car there and back no problems so it was very successful in that aspect. And yeah we definetly need to get a bunch of foureyed guys up there one night it was great I got 8 runs which was great considering on a busy night I have seen as little as 3 passes. The track was in pretty good shape and people where hooking pretty well. I will let you know about the gears, I am looking for a used rear end that already has good axles, gears, welded tubes ect.. just figure do it right the first time and not worry about it later. But if i go with just tossing some gears in I be letting you know.

thanks everyone

[gdniel]

There should be a 13 in there, without a doubt.

[anthonydalrymple]

Let the addiction begin......

[KANARMAN]

Originally Posted by PaceFever79

Being new to racing, I wouldn't recommend he use that low a tire pressure at
this point. It could walk or sway on the top end. With his power 18 psi should
hook up pretty nice with a good smoky burnout. I also would not recommend
dumping the clutch (at any rpm) on a stock drive train. That may work a few
times but it will probably break something eventually.

Just trying to give some rational advice!

oops forgot about the top end sway on a underpowered car this is true..
I guess i get lucky beating the snot out of my car? when there is no hp I have to drive it hard. If you dont break it your not trying hard lol

[poorstang]

You could prob get 13's with current set up in, for me with your car a for a hot street night I would ditch the fan, front sway and run the skinnest tire you can get, if its donut spares so be it (some tracks frown on this), over inflate the fronts, drop the rear down I am with Pace fever 18ish will work, pull everything that isnt attached spare tire and what not. No more than 1/4 tank of gas bump up the timming if havent already done so and 13's are at your door. Were you constantly trapping in the 96 mph range? Another trick would be to stage shallow just as soon as you trip the lights, you can pick up a little like that. The only tools you need is small socket set for the fan and sway 10 min later you freed up power and improved weight transfer. Good luck

[kirchn33]

Yes I was trapping 95-96mph each run, I was talking to a couple racers and they said that the weather was not on my side being that it was 75-80 with 88% humidity so that could be what was holding me back from the 13's since my mph and 60' look to be good enough for it. I just scored on a set of twisted wedge track heat heads with 30lb injectors so after I get the rocker arms I will install everything and make another trip to the track. Also I am going to Dez Racing in Mass this up coming week to dyno the car now and then again after the heads and injectors. Looking to be real low 13's with this combo maybe even dip into the 12s once I get the control arms and gears.

I will post up a video and dyno sheets of each session.
Thanks
Paul.

[dy85merc]

That's not bad at all, with a set of 4.10s like you said would get you real close. And as for the psi in the ET streets...I run 8psi in mine with a 4500 rpm launch. It gets a little loose on the big end, but it sure does add some excitement to it. lol. Good luck.

[86_302]

Originally Posted by poorstang

and run the skinnest tire you can get, if its donut spares so be it (some tracks frown on this)

you'd have to be insane to drag race on donuts

[anthonydalrymple]

Originally Posted by 86_302

you'd have to be insane to drag race on donuts

Agree 100%. They are only rated for use up too 60mph.....

[ragtopjr]

Originally Posted by anthonydalrymple

Agree 100%. They are only rated for use up too 60mph.....

The "Tires" are only rated for 60 mph, and if you are lucky and can find the aluminum spares from the aero ragtops they polish up ok as well!

Personally I just went and got some weld drag lites and called it a day....

Much easier to find

[Cappn Tripps]

Wait till the weather is better and you'll see a big improvement. Work on getting your shifting down now then have fun when it's cooler out

[poorstang]

Thats why I said some tracks frown on this. though I have seen it done and dont like to admit to it have done it before. If they are yellow though paint over them the tech guys wont notice it as bad. lol

As for draglites I was still in high school at the time and could barley afford to put gas in my car. Looking back at it now it was dumb I agree, but I was looking for 14's and it got me there. Come to think of it that car should have never passed tech, but 11 years ago i didnt care I thought I was cool.

[kirchn33]

I just got done a little while ago with swapping the heads. The car now has track heat heads, 1.7 rockers, and 30# injectors. I had alot of issues with the stock valve covers and also getting the rockers set screws to stay tight but after a lot of grinding and trying different ways to adjust the rockers I finally got it right and now its alive . I need to get some 24# injectors though because it is running very rich so after I get the 24 # injectors I will be heading up to dez racing in MA and getting the car tuned and make a few dyno runs. I kept the speed density for now and it is running surpisingly well even with the big injectors. I took it for a spin and it pulls real hard and revs alot quicker than before. I am very pleased and can't wait for it to be tuned and run 100% correct. It looks sick with the stock valve covers lol

I will update when I get the vid of the dyno runs hopfully within a couple weeks.

[jc306na]

Do you have an adjustable fuel pressure regulator? you should be able to trim the a/f down with the #30 injectors... especially if you're going to have dez dyno... why not try to see if it will work that way first??? It will save you having to swap over injectors again when you add more power later... as well as having to swap out mass air meters for the injector swap...

On the other hand, if you have a good fuel pump and an adjustable regulator, you could probably make the #19s work if the stock cam is still in there...

[kirchn33]

Yeah it might work, right now I have the fuel pressure at 39 psi with the vaccum off and with it on it drops to about 30psi, I told dez that I was putting in the 30's and he said I really should look into 24's so thats the route I am going to. And even if I do go more power later on it will be more than the 30's can handle and will likely need the 42's. But that is awhile from now since this will be my last upgrade for the year. Gotta pay for a wedding first lol