Raced tonight, new PB
 

I converted to an S10 manual steering box, pulled the front sway bar, and played with my timing tonight. I also installed a cowl hood, but didn't have time to make it functional so I doubt that was part of the equation.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-H...0/IMG_9855.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Z...0/IMG_9851.JPG

Old best:
13.415 @ 103.58 on a 2.026 60'

New PB:
13.25 @ 103.97 on a 1.98 60'

Next up I am planning on adding a carb spacer and making my cowl hood functional.

Re: Raced tonight, new PB
 

That looks like typical bracket race staging lanes. First, second and third gens. Mustang, Chevelle and shoe box chevy. The only thing missing is a Nova, Monza and a pickup truck.

Re: Raced tonight, new PB
 

Man that hood looks great BTW.

Re: Raced tonight, new PB
 

Thanks Matt :). It actually doesn't look bad with a black hood imo. I am going to race again in about an hour, looking forward to it :).

Re: Raced tonight, new PB
 

Congrats on the new PB.
Wait till you hit 12's the first time (if you haven't already).
I checked out your blog. Vortec headed L98 w/....? Curious as to the rest of your combination. It took a bit of work (parts related that is) to get from low 13's to mid 12's. The thing is, these cars are no featherweights (mine's almost 3700 lbs race weight at the line) unless you work at it.

Re: Raced tonight, new PB
 

Always good to hear when ppl do better!!
It shows dedication & personal improvements make a diff!!
Congrats!!

Re: Raced tonight, new PB
 

So it is the stock L98 96k mile shortblock with basically untouched Vortec heads, Summit stage 1 intake manifold, Quick Fuel 650 carb, a 218/228@.050 camshaft with .535/.540 lift on a 112 LSA, roller tip rockers, shim gaskets, and shorty headers with single 3" exhaust through a bullet muffler.

Yeah I have been working to get the car lighter by removing unnecessary equipment mostly, I believe my race weight is sitting at 3500 right now with driver.

Re: Raced tonight, new PB
 

Looks good runs good!

Re: Raced tonight, new PB
 

Way to go on the new best. Time to launch a bit harder to get into the 12s... good luck!!

Re: Raced tonight, new PB
 

I think most drag racers agree (except those guys with the nasty turbos) that it's all in first 60'.
My engine/transmission combination wasn't too far removed from yours and it took a 10" converter that flashes between 3500-4000 (based on my dyno video) but foot-braked to 2000, a 3.27 rear gear, LCARBs and some sticky tires to get a 1.7 flat 60' (I know, nothing spectacular in comparison to the fast guys). It's been said that a 1/10th in the 60 can be worth 2/10ths at the stripe. Interestingly, a change back to a 3.73 gear actually hurt my 60' with a best in the high 1.7s but mostly 1.8x.
Your exhaust, like mine, I think isn't helping your trap speed any either. I gained 2 mph in the 1/8th by opening the cutout just in front of my stock location low end Flowmaster muffler. Not sure what your bullet flows in cfm though.

Re: Raced tonight, new PB
 

Thanks guys, I would love to 60' harder. I have noticed on my last few passes that my brakes dont want to hold my car when I stall the converter, now I am wondering if that is my converter going away.

My transmission, as far as I know, is the stock 700r4 from 1989 :crazy:

I did put a Summit 2800 converter that I bought on craigslist in it, I am planning on replacing both this winter. I would love to 60' in the 1.7's :).

Re: Raced tonight, new PB
 

The vehicle brakes will never hold the car to the converters full stall potential unless the stall speed is very low. The only way to do that is with a transbrake. Your 60' time will get better if you use a transbrake and are able to launch at maximum torque rpm.

Hot trans fluid may also affect those later round stall speeds.

Re: Raced tonight, new PB
 

Hows the tune up? I figured that car would trap abit higher than 103

Re: Raced tonight, new PB
 

i think the stage1 intake is holding him back some. that's the equivalent to the edelbrock performer....ie: stock replacement. the shorties aren't helping either. he was waiting on the hood before he got a taller intake though.

Re: Raced tonight, new PB
 

I wasnt sure what that intake was but i agree i would swap to an rpm intake

Re: Raced tonight, new PB
 

Me too lol! So my best mph with tpi was 96, my best now is 103.97 so I am about 7.5 mph faster than I was before. I race at 1500 feet and don't altitude correct anything (not that much of a difference anyways).

Honestly everything I read made me think I would trap closer to 100 with just the tpi motor, so who knows :).

I know I need a new intake manifold, I am running the Summit Stage 1 intake because it cleared the stock hood. With the cowl I would like to try an rpm air gap, I think a good intake manifold could be worth 15-20 horsepower on my setup.

I think a set of lightweight wheels and tires would be worth some et and mph over my stock 16s and would shed some weight.

I think the most obvious thing on my car right now is it has always 60 footed badly, even with the tpi motor it wouldn't break 2.0, I really think my craigslist torque converter is garbage but really have no proof to back that up.

Re: Raced tonight, new PB
 

I like the intake ideas :). I wish Performer RPM intake for vortec heads showed up on CL as often as non Vortec intakes :(.

Re: Raced tonight, new PB
 

I second that. I'm guessing the y-pipe is probably a choker too. As I mentioned, I picked up 2 mph in the 1/8th just by uncorking the cutout in front of my muffler (that's in the stock location). Six or seven runs in a row and the last and only one with the open exhaust was the quickest. Mind you my Flowmaster probably flows only 300 cfm (at test pressure).