[elky] Re: Drag Racing Report
- From: Chris Lindh <chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: elky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 11:12:23 -0400
I bought the '80 from a Mercedes mechanic who fixed it up for his son, but
the intake manifold leaked and killed the bearings in the 229 V6. I was
still able to drive it home. The '80 has factory bucket seats. I pulled
the V6 and built a 406 from a bare 400 block:
400 two bolt small block Chevrolet bored .030 over
Wheeler forged 4130 3.75” stroke crank, ARP main studs
Scat forged 4340 6” rods
JE 28cc dish forged blower pistons (compression ~8.3 to 1)
AFR 195 heads with steam holes, 76cc chambers, ARP head studs
Bullet solid roller cam, Crane Gold roller rockers
Megasquirt fuel injection
Holley Ignition (like an MSD 6AL) with an MSD distributor
Desktop Dyno estimates ~420 hp
I also converted it to a manual with a Doug Nash 4+1 (these are now Richmond
Street 5 speeds).
The plan was to build the engine, convert it to fuel injection, then add a
turbo, here is the mockup: http://chrislindh.googlepages.com/home
Unfortunately getting the Megasquirt right, having a family and now running
a business have extended the build 5 years...
On Sun, Oct 23, 2011 at 9:09 AM, Brian M <ctsvmongo@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> It sounds like you have done a few things to the 80? Id be surprised if a
> stock 80 ran that fast....
> If i were to get to build a car, itd be a resto-mod pro touring car with a
> suspension set up that could be tuned to drag or drive. Having a sole drag
> racer severely limited my drivability with the 65, though my intentions were
> always geared for having it look cool. Bigger wheels, lower stance, corner
> carver that can squat. If you build it right, it can do all that, right?
> Hotchkis, eibach, airbags like you suggested...
> A trailer would be nice since racing isnt racing unless youre trying hard
> enough to break something, right?
>
> Sounds like it was a good night.
> On Oct 22, 2011 10:22 PM, "Chris Lindh" <chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> I wanted to go drag racing to help me decide the direction I want to
>> proceed with the '80. More power? Durability? T56?
>>
>> The drive to the "Atlanta" Dragway takes an additional hour on a Friday
>> due to rush hour and the race track being 70 miles from Atlanta. The
>> lifesaver? Ear plugs: with no carpet and headers the '80 is loud. I
>> arrived at the track 30 minutes early and was first in line. Paid $20 and
>> proceeded to tech. The tech inspector passed the '80 without comments, I
>> wanted to ask him what things he looked for, but I was in a hurry... to then
>> wait 30 minutes for racing to start (hurry up and wait, this seems to be
>> common theme for sportsman racing).
>>
>> First run, blew away the tires off the line and in every gear thereafter.
>> Clearly traction, or the lack thereof, would be the theme of the day. 16.3
>> at 88MPH. I had hoped to be quicker. Although the Marauder in the other
>> lane blew my doors off he red lit... so I win dammit.
>>
>> Next run 15.4 at 103MPH. This is more like it. 103 miles per hour
>> calculates ~300 hp to the wheels, and the elapsed time should be 13 flat.
>> So I'm not putting the power to the ground... should this be a surprise?
>> Air shocks, Eibach springs and hard tires with little sidewall... like a
>> recipe for no traction. I did lower the pressure in the air shocks, but I
>> was afraid to lower it too much lest the 275/40s get into the fenderwell.
>>
>> I hotlapped the next 4 runs, all 16 something at ~97 MPH. Then I was told
>> I had an oil leak, so I made a banzai run to a local parts store for a valve
>> cover gasket and swapped it out in the parking lot.
>>
>> I came back and made 4 runs, getting into the low 15s at 97. I wonder if
>> the 103 MPH run was correct? I took a break to snap some photos of other
>> cars (night shots, mostly blurry, I need a monopod). Something happened on
>> the track so the line to race got long, so I headed for home around 9:45. I
>> was pleased to have made 10 runs, I data logged so I can tune places on my
>> fuel map that I will never see in street driving (high load, high RPM).
>>
>> Carnage to the '80? Header collector gasket (sounds like a log truck) and
>> possibly the heater core. Not bad all things considered. Where do I go
>> from here? For traction I at least need to install the load leveler springs
>> and air bags waiting on the shelf, then maybe drag shocks? (I had planned
>> on Bilstein shocks like the front) Drag radials or slicks are a
>> possibility, but too much traction will no doubt lead to the demise of the
>> original 7.5" rearend, driveshaft, or both. I have an 8.5" from my
>> Malibu... or maybe go to a Ferd 9"?
>>
>> A trailer would be nice, take the worry out of breaking something at the
>> track & being stranded... I'm visiting my brother next weekend and I may
>> come back with his trailer and my old MGB. Our driveway would look like a
>> home for wayward cars...
>>
>
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