What to do?

[ntastng]

I am planning on taking my car to the track for the 1st time ever on july 2nd at WIR. I don't really know what to expect as far as driving down the track goes. I have a 393 stroker that makes aprox 400 hp and 450 ft lbs of torque. My car wieghs about 2800 lbs or so. I will be driving on a 275/50/15 nitto drag radial. I guess I am wondering is the track gonna be slick cause I have heard that before from other people? how should I do a burnout and for how long? I don't want to just fry the tires at the line so how should I take off? I guess the last thing I want to do is send my car into the wall and trash all the hard work that has been done to the car already. Thanks in advance for any help given,

Ben

[ntastng]

I should ad that I do have the eibach drag launch kit with an air bag. Right now the air bag has no air in it. Should I put some and and how much?

[markstang]

I have always run slicks & coilover rear sus.... but I know the feeling, take your time you don't have to go balls out on your 1st few passes. take the time to make shure its all good. then get more & more aggresive in stages.
400 hp is a good amount of power, you have a roll bar. :thumbs_up
I was at WIR a few weeks ago & ran some 1.35 60'. the track had some hook.

Mark

[Fatstang]

Track conditions can be different everyday. One day slick, another super sticky, it all depends. If there are a lot of cars there that are using slicks, that's good. they will lay down a lot of rubber on the track making it nice and sticky for everyone else. Plus if they prep the track with VHT(sticky spray), that will help to. I use the same size Nittos's, they need to be heated good. Is your car a manual or an auto? First back into the edge of the water box, then lay down a brake torque(unless you use a line lock), and get those tires smoking for a good 5 seconds plus. The way i do it in my car (5-spd w/4.30's), i just get the tires wet, roll up to the edge of the water box and put the car in second, press the clutch in, rev it high (4000+), stay on the gas and quickly go from the clutch peddle to the brake. At the staging lane, roll up untill you engage the two yellow lights. Once there, the lights will start going down 3 ambers then green, leave on the third amber light, trust me, i even sometimes leave on the second amber without redlighting. If the track is slick, i launch low, pop reving between 3000-3300, if the track is really sticking, i rev it pass 4500 and dump/slip the clutch. If you have a two-step, go off that. You'll be fine, just takes a lot of practice, leave off idle and work your way up each time. Good Luck!

[MAT88GT]

get the tires hot and ease into the pedal out of the hole...no need to go tromping full bore on the first pass ;)

and just remember, if you're not having fun, its not worth it ;)

[ntastng]

I don't have a roll bar yet but I am hoping I need one lol.


and I have a tremec 3550 in my car.


Thanks guys I am excited and nervous all at the same time.

[MAT88GT]

kinda like the first time you, "finger mary jane rotten crotch at the senior prom" hehehe

[ntastng]

yeah then I realize it is only a finger and I have 9 more. lol

[Kirk]

LOL @ Mat. :D

But seriously take a few easier passes to get used to it.

[Fatstang]

It's a huge adrenaline rush. i remember my first time, i was shaking after my first run! It's so addictive. Just enjoy yourself.

[Nick 1]

Ben, you should let me drive your car !!!!! :p If you were @ GLD I'd walk you through the process. You can have someone who is experienced ride with you on a few passes as long as you don't run quicker that 13's with a passenger. Back into the box to get the tires wet & pull forward to the edge to do your burnout. When you see smoke comeing off the tires hammer it out of the box till the tires hook. (ie they chirp & hook) Then pull up to the lights till the 1st set of yellow light come on. Then slowly move forward to just turn on the second set of yellow lights. Then your ready to roll, I'd slip the clutch out of the hole around 3,000 rpm & when your under way roll into the throttle smoothly, & run the track till you hit the finish line & then start slowing down & make the return road @ a safe speed & head for the Et shack. Stop @ the shack & pick up your slip & go back to your pit area or back inline. Don't hold up everyone by looking @ your slip after you pick it up. Take your time & get comfortable with your car @ the track. I usually put around 15psi in my airbag. Good Luck have fun buddy !!!! Once you try it you'll be Hooked. :thumbs_up

Nick 1
ps:Don't forget your helmet !!! Lunch after the lights come down on the tree.
I launch after the second yellow & cut lights in the.500 range

[ntastng]

kinda like the first time you, "finger mary jane rotten crotch at the senior prom" hehehe


As dan would say if that happens just hitter in the shitter

[onewickedstang]

just out of curiosity, what's your combo? i've got a 393 going into my coupe in the next couple weeks. i'm hoping for at least 10.7's. race weight with me in the car is 2860, so it sounds like they're very similar.

[ntastng]

I currently have performer rpm heads, cam and intake. along with a demon carb and shorty bbk headers. I know that the motor is way choked off but when we built it not even a year ago I had a limited ammount of money to spend so I got what I thought where the best parts for the best prices out there. Future plans like either later this year or sometime next year include afr 205 heads, FTI cam, victor jr intake, kooks headers, 3" flowmaster cat back, custom carb. The car is quick now but basically I want to see what it can do with some really good parts. OUt of this current setup I am hopeing for mid 11's to low 12's. All I can say is to anyone thinking of building a 351 based motor but are unsure if they want to. Definately go for it. The added torque you get out of these thinsg is absolutely unreal. I know desktop dyno is just an unreliable program but we did enter my setup into it and it shows about 425 hp and 510 ft lbs of torque. I think the best thing I ever bought for it since the new motor was the eibach drag launch kit and some drag radials. It is a totally different car when you can even remotely hook that power up.

[Greg@GLD]

I would suggest that you do a "shakedown" pass or two to get to know the feel of the car at launch. You shouldn't just jump in the car and thrash it Ben, you want to become familiar with how the car hooks and how it reacts. Charting is REALLY important here, you have a lot of variables here to keep track of, so write down the settings such as where you have the tire pressure, what RPM you launch at, the airbag PSI, etc. This is too much to try to store in the memory bank.

Sounds like quite a setup you have put together Ben! Anxious to hear how it goes. Like Nico said, come down to GLD some time, we can help you out.

[Kirk]

Here is a good log that you can print out.

It is an Adobe pdf document so right click the link and save-as.

Link to log pdf (http://home.earthlink.net/~kirktaylor/images/LogBook.pdf)

[markstang]

did anybody ever see a log made on an Excel spread sheet? so you can do stuff with your info.




Mark

[Greg@GLD]

I have Mark, can't recall the link.

I make my own up for the Cobra, because I need fields for the Nitrous Mastermind dial settings. I also, as mentioned in a different thread, make full use of the G-Tech "PASS" software. When you dump G-tech data into the program there is a place for you to add your own data. Having that coupled with the HP/TQ graphs really makes for some great data capture.

[Nick 1]

Ben, did you get my pm ????



Nick 1

[ntastng]

I just replied nick sorry I got O.T. sprung on me on friday so I had to work 12 hours both sat and sunday. Working 12 hour night and being single means I sleep til damn near 4 usually. Then I leave for work at around 5 so I guess I don't get much time to do things during the day. I woke up at noon today man I am tired lol.

[ntastng]

keep it up dan and you will lose your ride along privlages.

[markstang]

Blah. Ive gone 14s before. I know what I'm missing........



LOL truly spoken :D


Mark

[ntastng]

a 2800-3000 lb car with a 393 I hope I hope I am faster then 14's lol.

[ntastng]

if I can't get faster then that then I will just hire a driver.

[Nick 1]

I'll Drive !!!!!! :banana: :banana: :banana:



Nick 1
:D

[ntastng]

I knew you would reply lol. You never know I might just let you.

[ntastng]

By the way I just don't let anyone drive my car. My dad has ever even driven it. Not even when it had the stock 302. So you should feel privledged. lol

[Nick 1]

I knew you would reply lol. You never know I might just let you.
I had to reply it's my Duty !!!!! I've driven a few of my friends cars which were always faster than mine & have done them proud !!!!! In my one friends car @ GLD, I made only one pass & set a new mph record for the car with me driving on a one shot pass. :banana:

Nick 1

[Nick 1]

By the way I just don't let anyone drive my car. My dad has ever even driven it. Not even when it had the stock 302. So you should feel privledged. lol It's an Honor to have someone else let you drive their car & trust you. :D

Nick 1