First time at track tonight

[86T-Top]

I went to Atco Raceway tonight to run the 1/4 for the first time. I think I did pretty good, only got two runs in and my second run was a little better than the first. After looking around and comparing my time to others I think I can drop into the high 13's since i saw one guy who traped at 99.44 and he ran a 13.8. What do you guys think I can break into?

60' - 2.108
330 - 5.964
1/8 - 9.123
MPH - 77.15
990 - 11.776
1/4 - 14.133
MPH - 99.27

BTW the car has off-road pipe, catback, e cam, 3.73 gears, K&N and freebes. I am running stock size street tires too. I think if I work on my launch and shift points I can do it. What do you guys think and what can my trap speed get me too? I plan on running the car again soon and I wanted to mod it out more after I left, but I think I want to get my ET as low as I can get it like it is right now.

Also the temp was 73* and the humidity was 100, I was told the car would run faster with a lower humidity. Is this true and by how much.


Thanks,

Mario

 

[5spd93]

my car has pullies, exhaust, and a k&n and it runs 14.18 @ 98 with a 2.2 60' so I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be able to get 13.7 or so with better tires, or possibly with a little better weather and driving.

 

[87'GTstang]

You just named 2 biggies, e-cam and 3.73 gears. I'de be a tad disappointed with that time. My friend's 89' GT with nothing but flowmasters and 130k miles ran a 14.19 his first outing. My 87 GT with all the exhaust work you can handle and 265k miles ran a 14.31. The power is there, you'de be surprised how much everyone overlooks suspension. When people want to go faster most want to say mod the engine. However I've seen stangs with extensive suspension modification and bumped up timing run low 13's before. Next time you think of a good and hard launch, just look to your rear-end, these things perform really well with a few tricks done out back there to them.

 

[90mustangGT]

Pretty good times, wait until you have some practice. 99mph is good for the 13's and I've scene that mph with 12's in front of it, but there is more than just power involved.

87'GTstang hit it in the head. So true suspension has sooo much to do with ET. What good is power if you can't get it to the ground? For every 10th off your ET it is usually around 2 tenths off your ET. I don't see why you would own a V8 foxbody and not have some form of sticky tires. Now that I have them, I couldn't imagine going back.

I can pull 1.8 60fts and my suspension is stock except front swaybar delete, subframes, KYB struts/shocks, and Nitto DR's 275/40R17's on 17x9 Cobra R wheels.

 

[86T-Top]

I'de be a tad disappointed with that time

I was a bit since I was still in the 14's, but since it was my first time ever drag racing I wasn't. I was pretty nervous actually, I didn't want to look like an ass and I managed to do that anyway. I forgot to roll up my windows and one of the guys in the staging area had to remind me to do so after I did my burn out and was getting ready to stage. My second time out I was worring about getting the 2nd staging light to trip and once I did I forgot to watch the lights which gave me a crappy .824 reaction time.

The power is there, you'de be surprised how much everyone overlooks suspension.

Thats what I want/need to do next, my upper and lower control arms are shot, and I was thinking a set of drag radials couldn't hurt either.

Also what is the ideal air pressure to run for street tires? I left mine at 32 PSI, but I have a feeling if I lower it I can hook a little better.
Mario

 

[Matts89LX5.0]

Don't expcect too much the first time you go to the track. I still have yet to make it to a track with a mustang yet. I am actually nervous when the time finally comes as well. Track and street are definitely 2 very different atmospheres. Godd luck and I'm sure your times will keep improving with practice.

Matt

 

[04sleeper]

Last time I ran my car I was running 245-50-16's Sigma cheapy tires from Tire Kingdom. I am waiting to get another set of Nitto Drag Radials. (Sold my last set) Hence the crappy short times. With a 99 MPH trap you could run as low as 13.20's to 13.40's with some sticky tires. Depending on what tire you run.

 

[tom2001gt]

14.1 isn't bad for your first time. I was down at atco on thursday night my friends car went 13.20 with about the same mods as you but he has drag radials so it was a 1.8 60 but with drag radials youll be in the 13's. Was it crowded last night? Last friday there was knowone there I got like 7 runs and blew up my motor that night.

 

[25thmustang]

Those times arent bad, just get some sticky tires, and launch and shift it hard...

Suspension is not 1005 Necessary as I have gone 1.720 on an untouched suspension with bolt ons, BUT the car is very unconsistent, and this year with the more power I am lucky to break a 1.79. Too much suspension on a car with lower power is not always good, if it doesnt have the power to keep the nose up, too much weight transfer will hurt the car and cause bad 60's. I have seen this scenario a few times. Just remember when buying suspension peices, get them adjustable, it will cost more but you can fine tune it for the best launch with your power level.

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Hell those are damn good times i think, even with the cam. My car had the same basic mods as in my sig, minus the 5 speed and all the accompanying parts, and still had a stock exhaust from the headers back and only managed a 14.7 @98mph. The mph shows that my car had the grunt but none of the hook up on launch.


I'm going back sometime this summer with something sticky in the back and all my current mods, and if i dont crack 13s i'm driving it off a cliff. lol

 

[Dark Knight]

great times for your 1st time... drier weather will pick the MPH up even more..
and put you in the 13's.. 2.1 60 ft is great on street tires..

 

[86T-Top]

Tom - It wasn't too crowded down there. They had the NHRA cars running inbetween the regular car rounds, so that slowed everything down. I didn't get there untill 8:20 and got my first run in around 9:30. I could have gotten three runs in, but someone ran off the end of the track so that shut the track down for a bit. How is it there on Thursday nights, can you get a lot of runs in? I have the bug now and I want to get out as soon as possible. Too bad about your motor, at least now you have an excuse to build something even faster.

So what air pressure should I set my street tires to or should I leave them untouched?

Thanks,

Mario

 

[axeman]

i wouldn't be disappointed if i were you. my first ever time out i could barely get into the 14's, and your pretty close to 13's already. you'll get better each time you go. maybe next time you will crack into the 13's. BTW, pretty good 60's for street tires.

i would leave the air pressure alone. my experience, and others, have shown that traction drops off with the lower air pressure on street tires.

 

[tom2001gt]

86T-Top On thursday we got down there around 7:00 and got about 5 runs in. We would of got more but a nova was launching and the left rear wheel fell off he went right towards the tree he broke every stud off, and a crx blew his motor and the track was shut down for a while. Thursday night is good but there is usally alot of bikes running. I should have my motor done in about 2 weeks, Ill probably be down there sometime this week anyway.
Tom

 

[87'GTstang]

Hell those are damn good times i think, even with the cam. My car had the same basic mods as in my sig, minus the 5 speed and all the accompanying parts, and still had a stock exhaust from the headers back and only managed a 14.7 @98mph. The mph shows that my car had the grunt but none of the hook up on launch.


I'm going back sometime this summer with something sticky in the back and all my current mods, and if i dont crack 13s i'm driving it off a cliff. lol

True, low 14's the first time isn't a bad time at all really and practice certainly improves one's skill. In your case however though SS 302 coupe, you have an 85' 5.0 which is a different beast than the 86'-95' 5.0's in more ways than one. So even speaking for your engine for that year, that really wasn't bad pulling a 14.7.

 

[mike93lx]

after I did my burn out and was getting ready to stage.

burnouts on street tires usually do more harm than good. street tires tend to get more slippery when heated. don't over do it in the water box. spin them a little, if any, and roll out to just get them clean.

overall though, great times for your first time there, i wish i could have gotten my notch to those times on my first trip.

 

[SPEED FREAK]

My first time out with pretty well the exact same mods netted me a 14.1 at 99 mph. the car was auto at the time and would NOT spin to save my soul hence the extra craptacular 2.78 60's. So sticky tires would not save that beast. That's when the big cubes went in I can't wait to see what this bad boy can do.

 

[NotQuik]

You'll definately be in the 13's soon. I went [email protected] with a 2.13 60' with 3.31 gears so i think you'll have no problem and i'm not a great driver either IMO.

 

[xplo89gt]

Hey guys I have also never went to the track but I want to go this summer. I also am a bit nervous about going and messing up. I guess this is normal. I'm also afraid of running a real high time, but oh well. My question are what do I need to go to the track? Do I need a helmet? My mods could get me a low ET, but I'm not sure with me driving the first time.

 

[stang2004]

im afraid ill go to the track and run a 15 second 1/4 mile, but have the good trap speed...

nobody is going to say well you just need practice, the Trap speed shows there is much more in it. Instead ill just be ragged on for the high ET of course they all drive SUV's and rice burners with fart cans