Drag Race times with pro-touring cars

[shmoov69]

I got a giant bug up my ass now. I want to get it into the twelves on muscle.

Unhook the front sway bar and put some MT drag radials on it and you will be there easy.

[Dan Sherwood]

I would second that opinion-Make just a few changes for some traction, and you'll have some 12 second action.

I personally would opt for some mt et streets that with my 1st gen have worked better and more consistant than drag radials. 15-12 lbs should help a bunch. If I go below 11.5 lbs the rear end wants to do the shimmy shake about 100 miles an hour, and that really ain't that fun at that speed.

I've tried backing the nuts off the front sway bar and seen little if any improvement. I never have removed it. Any thing you can do to loosen up the front suspension for weight transfer will help with rear end traction. If you can take a couple of tenths off the 60 ft time that should drop you into the 12's.
I would guess your car has the potential with a few tweaks to run 12.8, or better with the right weather conditions.
I do believe it is the hardest thing to do to get a car to handle at the road course, run within two or three tenths of it's hp capabilities at the dragstrip, and still be able to do the tour thing. Those that are able to do those things with their vehicle have definitly accomplished something!
I'll bet you know someone who has some et streets (or full slicks would be even better) to borrow for a few passes at the qtr. The widest you can get under the car will help a bunch. Reduced my 60 fts by 2 tenths going from a 10 1/2 inch slick to a full 12 inch slick, and almost a full half second off the et but that's with a 900hp bb. that has some flares that will fit that wide of tire.

I would love to trailer my car out there next year (I could bring a bunch of tire selections) and drive part of the tour, and hit the tracks with you guys. Maybe next year? Anything else coming up like that in the next few months?

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Wide open throttle would help too. Turns out some of the insulation I added DURING Power Tour had the butterflies partially closed. But there I go making excuses. Either way, it will take some work to run a solid 12-something without sacrificing other aspects of the car. I want to get there in "Run what you brung" trim.

It'll happen. I'm still proud that I went 2720 miles plus a quarter.

With your hp (500) and 3,100 lbs, the insulation must've really been hurting the times (need to get the '60 down some too). I would think you'd be DEEP into the 12s when everything is running 100%. When you get the insulation issue sorted out, let me know -- my car runs high 12s. Maybe we can run 'em a few times. :3gears:

[ProdigyCustoms]

Whatever tires he runs will have to clear the brakes.

[Steve Chryssos]

I don't want slicks. I don't want solid front spring eye bushings required with Slide-A-Links. I don't think I want more cam. Current specs are Crower hydraulic roller 236/244 .540"/.565" 114. Sportsman II heads like split cams--even ported.

I want to run a solid 12 in 100% "Pro-Touring" friendly trim. I will switch to 40 series tires. I'm willing to test a drag radial in an auto-x environment. If it works in auto-x, then they'll stay. Likewise if some sticky Yokie's work well at the drags--all the better. I know I want different rear suspension. That's a good way to run the number without compromising low speed drivability or handling. I want to get more weight out of the car but I hate fiberglass hoods. So that means aluminum heads.

Gotta do it my way.

[ProdigyCustoms]

A tinie bit mor camshaft ad a 110 lobe center may not hurt that big ole 406. We run 240 cams in 383s, I would not be affraid of a 244/248 or so and tighten just a bit on the LCs, assuming the converter can take it. And some 215cc aluminum heads. Ya hear me Tom?

[Neil B]

With a 104 mph trap speed, you'll need a 1.8x 60 foot time to run twelves. Some 17 inch drag radials and minor suspension tweaks should get you there. I'm thinking that insulation really hurt your mph because 104 mph is only about 280-300hp at the tires. Your combo should be trapping 110+.

[nitrorocket]

Sportsman 2 heads are not a very performance orientated head. He is probably only making about 375 hp if his car does indeed weigh 3,100 lbs and he trapped only 104. That is less mph thena stock 3500 lb z28 with an ls1.

Heads will make all the difference with matching intake, carb and so on. You could pick up plenty of power just dropping in a LS1 and you would be even lighter!!

[FScope]

Steve, I'm running the Nitto drag radial in 275/40/17 on my car. I love them except for the fact that I can no longer just light up the tires by thinking about it. But, I have run them at an auto-x. After installing them and no change to the front, the car went from very neutral to understeering baddly. With regular street tires I was about 10 sec. behind Corvette Z06s on a 50 sec course and just changing to drag radials brought me to within 5-6 sec with the bad push. I'm considering trying a pair on the front to match as they don't make the road race version in 245/45/17, but don't know how they'll perform on the front.
As for drag racing, I only made two runs at e-town with both passes above 2 sec 60ft times. The first I dumped the clutch too hard and got the tires hopping (Corvette C4 IRS) and the second I tried slipping the clutch and didn't do it right at all. I also forgot to air them down slightly, I think I have about 35psi in them. they work best around 20psi. But I have pulled a 1.85 60 ft at Norwalk raceway during RSE.
Make sure you're getting full throttle, and try some drag radials and I think you should be able to get in the 12's

[76Stingray]

Steve, the best Drag radials out there are the M/T et street radials. My wifes 99 formula has gone 1.5 60'(11.6@115) on them with a 3.42 gear, a 3200 vig stall and 357 rwhp. This was on a very tight suspension made to handle..not drag race. They come in everything from 15" to 17". Be carefull of the 17s though as they are a true 27-27.5" tall tire so it will pull some gear out of the car. I have 275/50-15s on the wifes car and they clear the stock f-body brake setup. I'm not sure of your rear setup so I can't help ya out there.

Ok...just read your last post. I run a 275-40-17 Nitto on her car for daily use. They do ok for a street radial that turns out way better millage than the other drag radials. Honestly, those sticky yokos may be your best shot for a multi purpose tire. With that motor you have hook that thing up and it should move on out pretty good. I know when you and gary kinda kicked from a 70 role or so ya'll were pretty tight with gary pulling back on you on the top side(you got a good jump on him). He ran 12.1 @ 116 on a 1.9 60'. I know you want to do it your way so good luck. A little help for ya...I picked up 40 rwhp on the dyno one time when I found out my throttle body was only able to open up 85%...fixed the problem and bam 40 more ponies. A carb may not be as dramatic but it will give you some et. The secret of et is 60'..the mph showes how much power your making(your will go up)...so get that car to leave right and 12s are yours. What converter you running?

[Ron S]

My last car went 103 mph and ran 12.8.That Camaro should have 12's in it.Holeshot is everything,My Cuda is running 18 in toyo suv tires and went 12.4,but an automatic is alot easier to bring out easy.The more you run it the more practice you get bringing it out,seems real easy while pecking on this keyboard lol. You could always go LS1

[TonyHuntimer]

I'm with you Steve,

I'd love to run 12's too. I could only muster a 13.11 @ 117mph and a 3.7 60 foot with my daily driver.:3gears:

Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

I'll probably break down and throw a set of stickes on once. I know it will do 12's with a smidge more traction.

[datsbad]

I'm with you Steve,

I'd love to run 12's too. I could only muster a 13.11 @ 117mph and a 3.7 60 foot with my daily driver.:3gears:

Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

I'll probably break down and throw a set of stickes on once. I know it will do 12's with a smidge more traction.

WOW , I went 117 mph in my wifes 2003 cobra convertible on street tires, its a heavy pig at 3850 lbs but still went 11.89

3.7 60ft , i have never heard of a 60ft that bad, no offense

[TonyHuntimer]

WOW , I went 117 mph in my wifes 2003 cobra convertible on street tires, its a heavy pig at 3850 lbs but still went 11.89

3.7 60ft , i have never heard of a 60ft that bad, no offense

No offense taken.

That's a fast convertible.

Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

[nitrorocket]

Any mph over 105 and you should be able to hit 12's with a decent launch. Practice.

[69bigblock]

I ran 11.1@120mph Ran the car with slicks

Bryan

[69CamaroRacer]

I got a giant bug up my ass now. I want to get it into the twelves on muscle.

THat is how it all starts and then before you know it you have spent more money than you have ever intended and you will always be trying to go faster..

[streetk14]

I'm with you Steve,

I'd love to run 12's too. I could only muster a 13.11 @ 117mph and a 3.7 60 foot with my daily driver.:3gears:

Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

I'll probably break down and throw a set of stickes on once. I know it will do 12's with a smidge more traction.

Just curious about the 3.7 60 foot time. I didn't know that could be done

Last time I had my car out at the track was over 4 years ago, at the time I had a hot cammed 350 with AFR 195's, TKO 5 speed and 3.70's with a posi. Motor was probably putting out 430 hp at the flywheel. With stiff suspension and a borrowed set of 235/60/15 BFG drag radials I ran a best 1.9X 60 foot that wound up being a 12.62 @112. That was just basically walking the thing off the line with the little tires squeeling. I never ran the car at the track after installing the big XR294 roller cam. I was hoping for really low 12's or possibly high 11's on slicks. We'll see what my soon to be blown LS1 can do once running.

-Andy

[68sixspeed]

My best runs were 11.80's and 11.90's at 118-120mph with the old motor. The new motor and the 100lbs of weight I dropped should get it close to or into the 10's if the driver does his job right! -Dan

[DJ Mabe]

My daily driver 4000lbs Merc has gone 11.30's. My Mustang Vert runs low 11's on motor and 10.0's with a small shot. I still think the 11.30's in the Merc is more impressive. Catches a lot of people by surprise.

Steve, if you want the best of both worlds, run the Toyo RA1's. That's their auto x tire and it works great. I have them on the Merc and they handle great and I've had 1.60 60' with them. I know I could have a better 60' but I can only launch the car out of the hole at 1000rpm's.