Goin Racing

[Cobain03]

our local board is renting the track in late March and i figured its time to see what she can run. Have any tips? i by no means have a hot rod, and expecting a mid to late 15second run.

also, should i spin my tire (1) in the water box since its an average radial and not a drag radial/slick?

 

[BullittStangV8]

If your not running slicks/drag radials, steer clear of the water box. Spin the tires to get any rocks/debris off them when you pull around the water box.
Search for "how to drag race a classic". There was a great thread about this.

 

[Cobain03]

yea i read that page but it was mainly about buying new parts to make a good car. i have stock 40 year old suspension, automatic, 2.78 gears and a very mild engine lol.

also, is my goal in reach?

 

[wicked93gs]

I could have sworn I read an old hot rod magazine article about a stock 289 coupe than ran high 14s...the fastback might be slightly slower, but I dont think by that much

 

[Pbum5]

Cobain - I had a similar setup back in the day with a 4sp and 2.79 open rear. I ran high 14's the first time out.
I was able to get down to 14.4's with some tweaking..

MY guess is you wll be in the low 15's to high 14's on your first time out.

 

[fasttback]

I still have some of my old, old, old timeslips with my close to stock 289 and slightly modified 289 in a 1967.

I think with a just a four-barrel carb and dual exhaust I ran 15.2 @ 90 mph.

With the above modifications and a mild cam and 3.50 trac-loc rear end I ran 14.6 @ 95 mph.

My last setup I ran a 306 with 351W ported heads, .512 lift cam, 750 carb, same 3.50 rearend and most of the other goodies it ran 14.6 @102 mph. TRACTION ISSUE was keeping me from the 13's.

Everything was on street tires.

I think with your setup you will be in the 14's no problem, but your traction might be a problem. In the spring I plan on running my 1966 with a similar setup to yours, but I'm running a 3.50 trac-loc rearend and the 351W heads. I plan to be in the mid 14s with this setup.

Note - on the tree takeoff on the last yellow, don't wait for the green.

 

[Cobain03]

the automatic is going to kill me, always had when having fun on the street.

what should the tire pressure be on my tires? they are 225/60 (?)/14s if that matters.

 

[BullittStangV8]

Really depends on the tire. Since your on street radials, I would start at the suggested PSI, then tweek from there. Yoo much pressure, and the middle of the tred will bulge, leaving you with less contact area. Too little pressure, and the outside of the tire tread takes the brunt of the force, which is also not the best (Contact patch is on the outside). With my 245/45/17's on my Bullitt, the suggested PSI is like 41 PSI. My best launches have been at like 34-38 psi.

 

[66emberglo]

What track will you be going to ? Owingsville , Clay City , or London.

 

[ga289stocker]

What's your engine combo? I'd say 16's on first pass. Then 15's w/ some better 60" ft times and hopefully break 90 mph. If it is mostly stock like cast iron intake and exhaust manifolds w/ that gear 14's would really be tuff. I started out in April 06 in the mid 15's my first trip to the track w/ a warmed up 289. It took more than I thought to run 14's though. Don't forget to disconnect your vacuum advance, air tires down to no less that 25 psi w/ a light burn out on dry pavement and foot brake it to 1500 or so, leave on last yellow. If you have the stock heads like i do 5500 rpm will be pushing it..Let us know how see does. Oh I would for sure have some good rear shocks and spring clamps cause you may have some wheelhop at the track even if you don't on the street. I sure did..

 

[ga289stocker]

I'm sorry I totally missed your sig w/ the engine combo, darn w/ that you should for sure meet you 15 sec goal and maybe high14's w/ a good lauch and low to mid 90's trap speed.

 

[Cobain03]

going to Clay City

yea engine mods are in sig, also have had some head work. Brand new everything with slightly larger valves.

also, is there any other mod i should do before march? i thought abuot a flamethrower coil. anythig else?

 

[BullittStangV8]

Fresh oil, air filter, plugs? Change fluids? Besides that I dont know..
Nitrous?

 

[Max Power]

I dunno. First time out with that combo has me guessing low 16s. Steep rear gear, most mods are pretty mild, 302s not known for a lot of torque, etc etc.

 

[ga289stocker]

going to Clay City

yea engine mods are in sig, also have had some head work. Brand new everything with slightly larger valves.

also, is there any other mod i should do before march? i thought abuot a flamethrower coil. anythig else?

Ah man, you should do great, w/ some head work and larger valves I'm sure yours flow better than mine. That gear is really going to hold you back though I think. I went from a 3.55 to a 3.80 and picked up 2 tenths. Heck you may get well into the 14's then....Do you have wheelhop? You could also throw in some cheap front drag shocks for weight transfer. Also pull any extra weight out. I pulled my back seat and rear plate out that covers the shocks on the inside.

 

[Cobain03]

i'll defiantly clean out the trunk of weight, and probably remove the air filter (cheating maybe, but whatever lol). im exiteced about going, and know that my first tie out is going to be horrible. my girlfriend is hating me though lol.

 

[Z06killinSBF]

With a PAW 289, slightly ported E7's, RPM Air-Gap, 600 Edelbrock, Isky cam, cheapy long tubes, a C4 w/a 2600 stall and a peg leg 2.80 rear I ran a best on 13.98 and Kumho's stalling to 1500.