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no traction

Old 08-23-2005, 01:16 PM
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Car: 1991 pontiac GTA, and a1992 pontiac firebird
Engine: 5.7 l98, and a 3.1 for now
Transmission: 700-r4s
no traction

so i finally had time to go to the strip and tes out the GTA i just bought, and man was i disapointed. i know i didnt get any where near what the car is able to run. i managed a 15.3 ad a 15.8 both with crazy wheelspin. i just could not get traction. to make maters worse i had just bought a new set of bfgs radial t/a's for it two days ago. i figured i might get a little wheelspin but i was shiftin sideways off of launch and had to let of just to get it straight. of course my friends time was a full second slower than the last time he went to the track so the track was pretty slick. what really burns me is that i lost to a mustang that i know i could have beat. it was my second run and i got no traction so he lept ahead but as soon as i hooked up i started gaining big time....but it as to late and thus a 15.8 run.....pitiful. i know this car will run in the low 14s. next time i guess.
Old 08-23-2005, 01:28 PM
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stu
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This should go in the racing forum, but what were your trap speeds?
Old 08-23-2005, 02:43 PM
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Car: 1988 Pontiac Firebird Formula 350
Engine: 5.7L
Transmission: Automatic 4 speeds
Axle/Gears: 2.77
You will need to learn how to lauch. Practice on a deserted road or something...
Old 08-23-2005, 03:12 PM
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Car: 1991 pontiac GTA, and a1992 pontiac firebird
Engine: 5.7 l98, and a 3.1 for now
Transmission: 700-r4s
i actually did get better traction on a deserted country road, on the way home me and my old man got in an argument about being able to hook up with street tires, so i came to a dead stop on the road that leads to my house, footbraked to around1500rpm and then let fy. all thier was was a little squeack and off it went. it deffenitly would have been a 14 second pass
Old 08-23-2005, 04:28 PM
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Car: 2001 Camaro SS
Engine: LS1
Transmission: T56
how were you launching it before?
Old 08-23-2005, 06:32 PM
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Car: '90 RS
Engine: 377 LSX
Transmission: Magnum T56
Sounds like it is time for some suspension mods and some more practice.
Old 08-23-2005, 08:40 PM
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Car: '89 GTA
Axle/Gears: 3.27/9-bolt
It's a heavy car and with a bone stock suspension + no practice a mid 15 can be common.
I wouldn't expect better than a high 14 without any mods.
14.9 was the best I could pull stock with a 2.2 60'.
Old 08-23-2005, 10:21 PM
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Car: 86 firebird with 98 firebird interi
Engine: pump gas 427sbc Dart Lil M 13.5:1
Transmission: Oldani TH400 w/ BTE 9" convertor
Axle/Gears: 31 spline Moser/full spool/4.11Rich
without PROPER TIRES the track is the worst place to go and think your going to hook. it's just like an ice rink with hard compound street radials....factor in normal test and tune practices of the track with minimal prep and all the sand and junk your street tires drag upto the line...then all the other out there with street tires doing the same thing....see whereI'm going.

Would you go to a mud run contest with street tires-NO
Would you play baseball without a baseball mit-NO

You can do the "feathering" technique that is so highly regarded in this forum , but your still leaving time on the table. Get some stickier rubber, go back, drive like you have been and lower your et's...nuff said.
Old 08-24-2005, 03:46 AM
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Car: 92 Mustang Coupe/89 Camaro RS
Engine: 5.0 carb'd/305
Transmission: T5/T5
Axle/Gears: 3.73 and stock TrakLok/stock GM
He's right, try sticky rubber. My BFG DR's I love them to death. they provide awesome traction on the street and at the track, with a little warming up, Im outta the hole with minimal spin...my only problem is massive wheelhop which Ill be remedying with some LCA's and better springs. BTW, this is my Mustang...you know, the car that cant handle worth crap but sure as hell does good in striaght line acceleration
Old 08-24-2005, 01:12 PM
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Car: 1991 pontiac GTA, and a1992 pontiac firebird
Engine: 5.7 l98, and a 3.1 for now
Transmission: 700-r4s
ive already got some suspention modes, like a four link hogzkins(?) suspension on the rear and strut towre brace up front. the car was also modified with a flowmaster 21/2-3inch exaust, and the cat was removed. the car also has a beefed up alternator, but thats for the stereo system. id buy some drag-radials or street slicks but i have no money.
Old 08-24-2005, 01:51 PM
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Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
BFG radial T/A's are about the worst tires you could put on your car for drag racing.

Ask me how I know.
Old 08-24-2005, 03:16 PM
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Car: 2001 Camaro SS
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how do YOU know?
Old 08-24-2005, 03:23 PM
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Car: camaro sportcoupe
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: G-Force GF5R
Axle/Gears: Moser 9"
i know cause i have 295/50/16's on my irocs and they grip worse then my 275/60/15 futura gls supersports did on my old stock z28 wheels. and the futura's are FAR cheaper. now this is on the street. on the track, i don't run anything but m/t drag radials. here is a good place to get them for cheap.

http://extremesuspensions.com/tires/tires_index.htm
Old 08-24-2005, 05:53 PM
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Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Originally posted by Sidewayz28
how do YOU know?
275-50x15's. Wouldn't hold at the track when I had 3.08's and 2200 stall. They would hold better on the street than the track. That was with 1800 lbs on the rear axle.
Old 08-24-2005, 08:04 PM
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Car: 1991 pontiac GTA, and a1992 pontiac firebird
Engine: 5.7 l98, and a 3.1 for now
Transmission: 700-r4s
BFG radial T/A's are about the worst tires you could put on your car for drag racing.
well the car isnt for drag racing its for daily summer driving. i bought the tires (265/60s) because i had no tread and i was leaing for college in three days. i realy didnt think they would be that bad. also my other option in my price range were American tires, which i have never heard of. maybe next summer ill spring for a set of drag tires. and hopefully the'll be no
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