help can't get traction

dkhead1998 · Jan 30, 2009

i have a 90 lx and there is nothing special about the engine except for a crane powermax 2020 cam, but i cant get traction off the line can anyone help on the bestway to get traction?

88mouse · Jan 30, 2009

Need more info about the car. If its a manual transmission don't dump the clutch at 5000rpm try it about 2000.

BlownFiveLiter · Jan 30, 2009

Do the driver mod (AKA practice). Most street tires don't make for good traction, and those that do, don't make for practical usage. On anything less than a drag radial and if you have a manual trans, you never want to dump the clutch and pray for the best. You need to ride it out on the edge of breaking traction.

dkhead1998 · Jan 30, 2009

it is a manual car andi dont dump the clutch just a little harder then normal i have BFG traction ta tires what is the best suspension setup i can use without going crazy

BlownFiveLiter · Jan 30, 2009

You should still be able to find traction with bone stock suspension at your current mod level. If you're looking to do a budget suspension, some 4 cylinder springs and pretty much any quality aftermarket lower control arms should be good.

88mouse · Jan 31, 2009

dkhead1998 said:
it is a manual car andi dont dump the clutch just a little harder then normal i have BFG traction ta tires what is the best suspension setup i can use without going crazy

The bfg traction ta is just a regular street tire.

strtrcr50 · Jan 31, 2009

Nice screen name. Try some nitto 555r drag radials. You'll hook then. What gears do you have in the rear btw?

7upstang91 · Jan 31, 2009

I have those on my GTO they are pretty good tire but depends on the power level. I have steeda springs and upper and lower control arm will help alot. But the m/t drag radials E/T that I have hook really well on one of my stangs spin its only 235 tire with 388rwhp. Then i have 275 555 nittos NOT the drag radials that like crazy. Both mustangs have 3.73s. Practice is the best way to improve.

RYC CUKR · Jan 31, 2009

What is the condition of the bushings in the control arms and what kind of shape are the torque boxes in? I would check to make sure that you don't have any bushings that are torn up and that the torque boxes are in good shape. The drivers side box in my 88 shot and I have a difficult time getting traction sometimes. If everything is in good shape the I would start with suspension work and tires.

I run a set of MM adjustable LCAs and MT drag radials on my 93. Works pretty good.

lang williams · Jan 31, 2009

I have that 2020 cam an its a low end torque cam. if you want to get radical you could retard the cam 4 degrees.

Makdaddymac · Jan 31, 2009

StangGT1995 said:
You should still be able to find traction with bone stock suspension at your current mod level. If you're looking to do a budget suspension, some 4 cylinder springs and pretty much any quality aftermarket lower control arms should be good.

is there any way to know you are buying 4cycl springs instead of v8's? i think im going to do the 4cyc and LC-arm, and subframes for my suspension upgrade

7upstang91 · Feb 1, 2009

Don't get 4cyl springs they are retarded. They don't work and are scary to drive in the slightest rain.

Mustang5L5 · Feb 2, 2009

4-bangers seem to do fine with them in the rain.

Why would a spring make a difference on how the car handles in the rain?

v8only · Feb 2, 2009

they're not scary to drive. My friend did it for years. It's not unsafe either. It just sucks. you lose all your handling capabilities for staight line performance.

You need to check the obvious. Your trak lok.

I recently went to the track expecting solid 13's on my explorer combo.

I went with mt et streets, 26x10.5x 15.

best time I could muster was a 2.5 60' lol

spun all the way through first on the et streets.

Jack up just one side of the rear. leave one wheel on the ground, one in the air.

grab a torque wrench and put it on the rear lug. It should hold something like 25-28 pounds or so before the rear wheel begins to spin. If it doesn't, your trak lok is busted.

I tried this, and my trak lok is so bad that I can free spin the wheel with my hand.

Hence my traction problem.

As well, in my experience control arms do NOTHING for traction. Traction is a difficult problem with our cars. Good tires, a good trak lok and weight transfer are the best ways to get traction.

Mustang5L5 · Feb 2, 2009

v8only said:
As well, in my experience control arms do NOTHING for traction. Traction is a difficult problem with our cars. Good tires, a good trak lok and weight transfer are the best ways to get traction.

Not necessarily. I've been in the market for new arms and have been doing a lot of research lately and you can actually "ruin" traction with control arms that have poly bushings. The major player is the upper arms. MM actually recommends to keep the stock uppers with the rubber bushings to absorb some of the twist of the rear axle when you hit the power hard. With stiff bushings, there is no cushion and you tend to break the tires loose.

v8only · Feb 2, 2009

That is a good point. I wasn't thinking of it from that direction.

I actually went that route...kept stock type control arms for my uppers (cobra arms) then went with pro3i units for my lower..mm type arms with a spherical/poly combo.

On the streets I'll spin halfway through second still.

I didn't post my times, but I got a 9.6 in the eigth (equal to about a 15.0 in the 1/4), lol because of traction. I have a 13 second car too.

It's just crazy what an utter lack of traction will do to an otherwise quick car

I_AM_CANADIAN · Feb 2, 2009

v8only said:
It should hold something like 25-28 pounds or so before the rear wheel begins to spin. If it doesn't, your trak lok is busted.

I believe that Ford considered anything under 30 lbs a failed trac lock.

help can't get traction

dkhead1998

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88mouse

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BlownFiveLiter

have car, will race....wait, it doesn't run

dkhead1998

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7upstang91

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