Why is my car so slow???

davins130

New Member
May 21, 2004
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when i bought my 94 gt auto a year ago, i ran it at the track and ran a 15.5. since then, ive done some bolt ons and threw in some 4.10's, the list of things are down below. i ran last night and pulled off a 15.5, 15.5, and 15.4 back to back. i know i had some tire spin, but that is still just rediculous. i feel like ive just wasted all my money on these parts. Also it was on kuhmo ecstas, not drag radials(took them off yesterday, they got too bald)
 
You should running about a 14.7/14.6 being an auto AND a very=slow. You're on the right track with gears and some under drive pulleys and put your car on a major diet and find some traction. That will make a world of a difference. Save up for a stall converter and shift kit from what some of the auto guy's here say those two are the best mods to help a heavy vert out.
 
stall convertor and good tires will make all the diference!

Those are about the same times i ran with mine, when it had all the bolt ons and 373 gears. Low 15's@92mph

It took a vortech, ( thats it!) to get me into the low 13's without any traction@ 109mph..
 
The thing i dont understang at all is that after headers, 4.10's and some ignition work i havent even gained a tenth. i would at least thought the 4.10's would have given me a few tenths
 
It was perfect temp. out. cool night and dry. also i had about an 1/8 of a tank at the time. i just bought some bbk pullies a little while ago, and im going to see if that makes any differnce at all
 
davins130 said:
The thing i dont understang at all is that after headers, 4.10's and some ignition work i havent even gained a tenth. i would at least thought the 4.10's would have given me a few tenths
The only mod you have that probably made any better hp was the o/r pipe. Shorty headers really don't make a big difference on a stock motor long tubes would have been a better choice (I wish I went with lt's). The cold air kits really do nothing but look good under the hood. Advancing your timing to 14* will net you more hp than a cai, msd coil, s. wires to be honest.
 
Maybe a good tune-up (plugs, pcv, fuel filter).

Items that won't give you HP, but will allow you to get more out of what you've got:

1. Subframe connectors
2. Shocks/struts
3. Springs
4. rear suspension stuff

Just some ideas to go along with the stuff already mentioned.

How many miles on your car?
 
check my website, i run low 13s on stock parts with a motor that makes less hp than yours. i think you have too much exhaust for your other bolt ons....lost all your torque that stuff. the other stuff don't make a difference at all when your stock. don't mean to sound rude or conceited, just tired...

hope that helps
 
davins130 said:
The thing i dont understang at all is that after headers, 4.10's and some ignition work i havent even gained a tenth. i would at least thought the 4.10's would have given me a few tenths

I am in the same boat you are in. After my gears, I still haven't beat my previous best of 15.6 @ 90mph.

Don't feel like your car is a dog or you are doing something wrong. If you are new to the drag racing scene, it will take a while for you to learn how to drive. I don't mean to say you can't drive, but I do mean that practice & patience will get you some better ET's.

My traction problem got 2x worse once I got gears, so I fully expected my track times to remain the same or get worse. The car is faster, without a doubt, but traction is non-existant now. If I dump the clutch at 2k rpm's, the wheels spin (not joking).

I am saving up for h/c/i (at $1600 right now), then my next mods will be half suspension/half looks.
Scott
 
davins130 said:
The thing i dont understang at all is that after headers, 4.10's and some ignition work i havent even gained a tenth. i would at least thought the 4.10's would have given me a few tenths


What were your 60' times?? That could be the one of the issues. If your having traction problems then pick up a set of drag radials to lower your 60' times and your over all 1/4 time.
 
60' times were 2.2 all 3 runs, i drive fine but i know those kumo's are killing me with the 4.10's. the 4.10's made all the difference in the world on the street. i can fell how much faster it is with those, i just figured it would show on the track. guess not. anyone want to sell me an t-5 swap kit from an aode? ha i hate my tranny.
 
hey scones thats so funny that you have that 86 cobra, my uncle had a 1, hes from st. thomas ontario, and i swore he was crazy when he talked about it cause ive never even heard of one. Too bad his got stolen.
 
davins130 said:
The thing i dont understang at all is that after headers, 4.10's and some ignition work i havent even gained a tenth. i would at least thought the 4.10's would have given me a few tenths

headers= not overly neccesary. good mod, but most people say that you wont need them until you need to get the air out from the modded motor (ie, intake, heads.... etc etc).

4.10s=i bet that you picked up some MPH, but your 60' was about the same or worse. taking off the bald drag radials wasnt a good idea. I would have rathered the bald DRs than streets.

ignition=not good for much HP. makes your engine run better, but not gonna amount to a whole lot of ET drop.

my suggestions: shift kit, 2500-2800 stall and some other small mods.
 
I believe you are not pushing enough power for the 4.10s you need some 3.55 or 3.73.... you engine might be running out of power in the top end.. i have a vert and before all my major mods i had a cam and exhaust and 3.73 and the car ran a 13.9 so look into that...
 
stangla2: gears arent deservant of a power level rating. Why is it that you see notchbacks at the track running 4.10s, DRs and basic bolt-ons to mid-13s? Gears arent equivalent to power.. they just help you move quicker.
 
Yes your right but if you car does not have enough power to get it to the end of the track.. you have a problem. First of all if you car is boggin in first because you gears are to tall then you 60ft times will fall (topend good but your low end will hurt)and you time down the 1/4 will remain the same as if you had a stock 5.0 versues a 5.0 with some bolt ons and 4.10s. Over gearing a car is possible... I have been racing for years.. It all depends on you setup and what you want your car to do.. Second you can't compare the weight of a notch back to a 94 vert.. I have had a 92 with Headers, exhaust, gears and cam.. and my car ran 13.2.. The gears work on them because you have a better weight to power ratio.....