[elky] Re: Drag Racing Report
- From: Chris Lindh <chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: elky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 11:19:25 -0400
I guess it would make more sense from a cost perspective to try the 8.5",
the GN guys use them and they make huge power. Maybe add a mini spool.
I'm starting to think a trailer is the way to go...
On Sun, Oct 23, 2011 at 10:55 AM, Robert Adams <elcam84@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
> On Sat, Oct 22, 2011 at 10:21 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.
>
>
> Texas motor speedway has been doing 1/8 mile on pit road for a
> few years now. Not sure what they charge. It's not far from the house here.
> Ennis is a long drive. 2 hours or so on a good day.
>
>
>
>> 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.
>>
>
> I see it as he lost.
>
>
>>
>> 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).
>>
>
> Must have had a good tail wind on the 103 run.
>
>
>>
>> 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"?
>>
>
> The 8.5 is more than strong enough and an easy bolt in. The 9"
> has more friction due to the pinion gear being higher on the ring gear.
>
>
>>
>> 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...
>>
>
>
>
> I would be leary of driving a car to the track to race.
> Well anything other than a stock newer car. If you are going to make a habit
> of it I'd look at buying a trailer. Real texans have a truck and a 16'
> trailer... Well it seems like it here anyway.
>
>
>
> Robert Adams
>
>
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