Suggestions on going to track

Maxpowers · Sep 9, 2009

First time headed to the track. Bought this car on friday and want a starting point before I begin to mod it. It's a 2002 GT with short throw shifter, MAC exhaust, Ford Motorsport springs, 4.10 Ford Motorsport gears, and a K&N intake. Also has 275 Kumho tires on Cobra rims.

Any tips on a good shift point?
Any bench racers with a guess on what it will run in a 1/4 mile?

bhuff30 · Sep 9, 2009

Just go out to have fun. Don't plan to run any good times if it is your first time drag racing. Take whatever the car *should* run with a good driver and ideal conditions and add 1 second. That should be your goal the first time out. So... probably a low 15.

Don't drive through the water box, go around it. If you do a burn out, only turn the tires over once or twice, just to get the rocks off. Getting your street tires hot will only make traction worse.

You didn't way manual or auto, but there are very different strategies from running fast with each. If it is a manual, slip the clutch when leaving.

Maxpowers · Sep 9, 2009

bhuff30 said:
Just go out to have fun. Don't plan to run any good times if it is your first time drag racing. Take whatever the car *should* run with a good driver and ideal conditions and add 1 second. That should be your goal the first time out. So... probably a low 15.

Don't drive through the water box, go around it. If you do a burn out, only turn the tires over once or twice, just to get the rocks off. Getting your street tires hot will only make traction worse.

You didn't way manual or auto, but there are very different strategies from running fast with each. If it is a manual, slip the clutch when leaving.

Sorry, I listed short throw shifter. I've been draggin a few times now, but always with front wheel drive. I've been learning to get the launches better in this one.

Does the stock 4.6 have a good shift point lower than red line?

Anyone else have a similar set up, and what should it run?

bhuff30 · Sep 9, 2009

I think most PI people shift around 57-5800. Your mods won't really effect this shift rpm.

0h3gt · Sep 10, 2009

with 4:10's im thinkin probably a high 13 ..maybe low 14, either way man i just started going to the track and let me tell ya there is no addrenaline rush like pulling up to that line and taking off, no matter what you get time wise u can just take that as a starting point before you start modding ur car, good luck and have fun.

SVT32VDOHC · Sep 10, 2009

I am predicting a 14.25@99MPH.

Maxpowers · Sep 11, 2009

Thanks for the input guys.

My buddy has a bunch of left over performance parts off his 1999 F-150. I'm going to see how much is interchangeable.

bhuff30 · Sep 11, 2009

Did you go to the track yet?

Maxpowers · Sep 17, 2009

bhuff30 said:
Did you go to the track yet?

Didn't make it yet. I work weekends so I'm just waiting until I can take one off. Probably next weekend cause my dad's going to Mercer, pa.

Been practicing my launches, but shifting into second hard makes it lose traction and third produces a decent chirp. Gonna try and get it down by then

Maxpowers · Oct 11, 2009

Finally took it to the 1/8th mile in Mercer, PA. The track where no one can get traction. I've decided next thing is slicks. I got the launch down pretty good, but shifting into second hard always made it spin very hard. Best 60 ft time I was able to get was 217, and that was at the end of the night when it got very cold.

9.53 was the best run on paper, however for the first bracket race, I let off early due to being ahead, as well as spiking the brakes before the line. That run gave me a 9.57.

Reaction times got better as the night went on, including a few in the 500's

Mr. Rustypwnz · Oct 11, 2009

3rd amber light comes on, launch that bitch!!

Tim2002GT · Oct 11, 2009

On a 1/4 mile track I've had my best results from shifting at 6k into 2nd, 5700 into 3rd, and 5500 into 4th.

I have 4.10 gears as well.

Maxpowers · Oct 12, 2009

Mr. Rustypwnz said:
3rd amber light comes on, launch that bitch!!

I hear ya. Took me a bit to get it down. Shoving down the parking brake and launching sucks. Line lock is also on the list of things to get.

Maxpowers · Oct 12, 2009

Anyone know what the biggest tire size is that can fit without spacers?

Probably going with at least 315 slicks for next season

Stark77 · Oct 12, 2009

315 is way too wide for a N/A car - a set of 245 or 275 Nitto 555R's will do the trick. 315's slow you down.

Maxpowers · Oct 12, 2009

Stark77 said:
315 is way too wide for a N/A car - a set of 245 or 275 Nitto 555R's will do the trick. 315's slow you down.

Well I honestly plan on boosting eventually, and just start collecting supporting mods now. Figured I may as well get a second set of rims and put slicks on them.

A friend I went racing with has a stock 98 with a line lock and 315 slicks. It launches hard as hell. After losing traction in second, I could catch back up in the 1/8th mile.

98COBRA281 · Oct 12, 2009

Maxpowers said:
Well I honestly plan on boosting eventually, and just start collecting supporting mods now. Figured I may as well get a second set of rims and put slicks on them.

A friend I went racing with has a stock 98 with a line lock and 315 slicks. It launches hard as hell. After losing traction in second, I could catch back up in the 1/8th mile.

they dont make a "315 slick", slicks run in inches, like 26x10.5x15 or 28x10.5x15...ect

Maxpowers · Oct 12, 2009

98COBRA281 said:
they dont make a "315 slick", slicks run in inches, like 26x10.5x15 or 28x10.5x15...ect

Ok. Gotcha. Did not know this.

So back to the question at hand. What is the biggest slick that can fit without spacers?

98COBRA281 · Oct 12, 2009

a 26x10.5 is a good size tire, and is MORE then enought for what you need.....

Maxpowers · Oct 12, 2009

98COBRA281 said:
a 26x10.5 is a good size tire, and is MORE then enought for what you need.....

Ok. Thanks for your help.

Anyone know the widest tire than can fit on without spacers?

Suggestions on going to track

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