Dragstrip Mods?

bloopbloob · Oct 4, 2007

Just wondering if there's anything i should do before going to the strip tomorrow? I'm looking for tips on how to change it from a dd to more of a drag car for a day. (nothing permanent). ie lower tire pressure, higher octane and bump timing, what about sway bars and that kind of stuff? fairly simple to do? worth the effort for a couple passes? anything else?

91 HATCH · Oct 4, 2007

short belt it will be hell to turn though and remove sway bar.i would leave it as is and slip the clutch from the line so it doesnt just spin

Darkwriter77 · Oct 4, 2007

- Remove rear and passenger seats (unless NHRA specs there necessitate a rear seat delete panel).

- Run as low a tank of gas as reasonably possible (like 1/3 tank).

- Remove all extra junk from car that you absolutely, positively do not need (spare tire, jack, tools, toys, subwoofers/amp, etc.). However, be aware that if you take too much weight off the rear of the car, your traction may suck, depending on what kind of rear suspension setup you've got.

- Bring an Igloo box and a bag or two of ice for cooling the intake between runs.

- Eat lots of fiber that morning, and drop a big, healthy dookie before making your first run.

Other than that, and the things you've already mentioned, that's about the only non-permanent and easy things I can think of right off hand.

Fett · Oct 4, 2007

Slicks. I personally would never bother going to the track on street tires.

Foxfan88 · Oct 4, 2007

Fett said:
Slicks. I personally would never bother going to the track on street tires.

i agree! running at the track with street tires is pointless IMO, its more things to worry about. with street tires your launch becomes 10x harder and you have to feather the thottle to keep it from spinning and if you manage a decent launch then you can worry about shifting and rpms etc.

with slicks and a good working suspension. you can give it alot moer gas off the line if not FLOORING it off the line and have it hook everytime, gives you more consistant runs and more focusing on shift points and etc..

with my car i can floor it and pop the clutch leaving the line at 6k and the car will HOOK and GO. foot's to the floor the entire pass and i dont let out of it until i cross the finish line. its a different feel and its why i like going to the track to feel the torque and hope to get good times, to give the car hell and not get the cops after you.

bloopbloob · Oct 4, 2007

i've just never been to the track before, and have wanted to go for a long time. just moved to a bigger city that has one close, but i think its closed after tomorrow. I'm just curious what it'll run right now, so i'm trying to make the best of it...
just finished cleaning my air filter... that damn March Ram Air is a piece o' crap! Just sucks everything up!

Darkwriter77 · Oct 4, 2007

bloopbloob said:
i've just never been to the track before, and have wanted to go for a long time. just moved to a bigger city that has one close, but i think its closed after tomorrow. I'm just curious what it'll run right now, so i'm trying to make the best of it...
just finished cleaning my air filter... that damn March Ram Air is a piece o' crap! Just sucks everything up!

The March "Ram Air" kit should be relabeled for new marketing as "Stage 1 Street Vacuum." It's worthless for a DD for that reason, and I doubt it does any good at all, even on a track-only car. Better look for an in-the-fender CAI ... or, better yet, just put the stock airbox back in there with a panel K&N filter and call it done. (Just be sure to clean your MAF wires regularly.)

foxmustangman · Oct 5, 2007

Thanks for the heads up!

25thmustang · Oct 5, 2007

I don't do anything. I usually end up making passes with my luggage in the trunk, car detailing products etc... The only thing I have to do is shut the radio off and move the seat up a little.

I used to do all the tricks when I was younger and new to racing, now to me it's more fun to just drive up to the starting line, run a few times and then head home with no work involved, .

Leave the tire pressure alone on street radials. Unhook the front sway, you can remove weight, but it doesn't really add up that easily, and most come off the back of the car where it would help. Short belt can be more of a pain then a help but worth close to a tenth.

blackened88lx · Oct 5, 2007

Yeah, don't go crazy. Pulling weight off the rear of the car is just going to hurt traction and you need every bit of it on street tires. It might help to drop tire pressure a tiny bit, but it's hard to say what street tires will like. Don't do big burnouts with street tires. Remove or at least disconnect the front sway bar. I say remove it and never put it back in, but that's just me. It doesn't bother me at all not having it. Definitely bump the timing up around 14 or 15.

TokyoJoe · Oct 5, 2007

25thmustang said:
I don't do anything. I usually end up making passes with my luggage in the trunk, car detailing products etc... The only thing I have to do is shut the radio off and move the seat up a little.

I used to do all the tricks when I was younger and new to racing, now to me it's more fun to just drive up to the starting line, run a few times and then head home with no work involved, .

Leave the tire pressure alone on street radials. Unhook the front sway, you can remove weight, but it doesn't really add up that easily, and most come off the back of the car where it would help. Short belt can be more of a pain then a help but worth close to a tenth.

+1

I like the idea of being able to drive 50 miles to the track and running a new PB and then driving 50 miles home without changing anything. Then you truly now what kind of DD/street car you have

Of course on the street I've got no a/c no p/s no back seat no crash bar etc etc so it's all relative I guess.

25thmustang · Oct 5, 2007

Wow all that stuff deleted, my street tire runs are 100% as I drive it on the street. I like running that to see exactly where it stands, but I will bolt some tires are on go out for a new best. I can't see myself with a shot belt, no interior and no PS anymore. I might even be tossing AC back in with the new motor. Not bad in New England, but in the summer and our trip to SC I need it.

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