Buddy of mine has an '02 (I think) Lightning that I've been itching to race for a while, decided to do it tonight. I know its got a pulley, chip, exhaust, DR's, and traction bars, as well as being lowered 1". I think thats it. Should be a pretty good race. I saw him run consistent 12.8's last time at the track. My best before my latest mods was a 12.87. I've added a few things since then so I should be considerably faster.

Mods now are:

'95 LT1 bored .030" with Speed Pro forged pistons
LT4 heads and intake
XE236/242 cam with 1.6 rockers
58mm TB
T-56 with Spec Stage 3
4.11 gears

I figure I'm good for low 12's easy now, but my tune is off a little so I don't know how much that is affecting me.

We shall see

 

Git-r-done and let us know!!

 

eh, didn't go as well as hoped but I guess as expected.

Few things to correct first.

Its an '04, not an '02
He runs 12.6's consistently, not 12.8's

First run, I forget to open my cutout. -50 HP right off the bat, lose by 3-4 lengths.

Second run, cutout open, I jump him pretty good out of the hole, he spins all over the place and backs out of it. I still think he backed out because he knew I'd win, but whatever.

Thirdy run, I bog off the launch slightly He jumps me a length, stays 1 ahead till about 100mph, at which point I start suckin' him up hard. another 100ft and I would have had him.

overall, good runs. I was hoping for a little better out of mine, but I knew going in the tune is off some, just wanted to get an idea of where I was at.

 

Sounds like a great race.I'm betting at a prepped track with good traction you would have got him good. It sounds like you are at least low 12's now with traction and might even be able to sneak into the 11's with a good tune.

 

A little more tuning and you will have him. Lightings are just plain sick when modded. Their aerodynamics really kill their top end though.

 

Yeah, basically a brick aerodynamically speaking

 

they sure do. once we hit about 100 mph, I started pulling HARD, about like he jumped me out of the hole.

I also found another reason for running a little slower than expected. After having a chance to check out the datalog, on the last run I apparently bogged it pretty good. In doing so, I hit real knock and pissed off the knock sensor, as the PCM immediately kicked out 8* of timing. I still had 2.3*'s out as I topped out 4th gear. I think if I would have had the timing back in in 1st, it would have been a LOT closer, if not me ahead.

Oh well, I knew the car wasn't 100%. was still a good night.

 

Sounds like you're good and set to go for round two. You're real prepared now to show that lightening who's boss. So, you'll get 'em next time.

Good show.

 

It always sucks after races... you add up all the little things that go wrong and realize how much better a perfect situation would have been. Happens to me on every track pass. If it hooks something soff up top. If it runs hard up top it doesnt hook, or something during the pass gets messed up! Nice runs, you should have him with some traction!

 

so very true. "If this would have gone right.....or if this hadn't have happened....." etc.


Oh well, its on in a couple of weeks

And when its just for fun anyways, who cares? Not like I lost my life savings or something.



As far as traction, I think I'm stuck with no traction for a while. With the power I should be putting down now I don't want to run stickier tires until I can shore up the rear end. Datalog shows I'm spinning even on the 3-4 shift. Not much I can do until I move to slicks on a 12 bolt or 9".