My day at Mason-Dixon Dragway 10-06-12

[Fastbird]

So.......track rental today. WAS A FREAKING BLAST!!!!! Had a great time, LOTS of good vids, hanging out, about 110 cars showed, almost no waiting, yadda yadda.

I'm working on uploading vids..........but here's the skinny. I need more seat time. BAD. It's been a LONG time since I've tried track launching, and I've got a whopping total of 4 passes on slicks before today.

1st run: 2.11 60' // 8.12@95.44 1/8th // 11.95@132.99 1/4 -- clean run, ok for a first pass in a year (vs. LS1 Z28 bolt on car)
2nd run: 2.00 60' // 7.75@102.42 1/8th // 11.77 @ 128.59 1/4 -- missed 4th gear yet still caught a new fastest time (vs LS1 Z28 bolt on car)
3rd run: 1.95 60' // 7.72@96.73 1/8th // 12.47@91.35 1/4 -- aborted just before the 1/8 as shown by the trap speed (vs AC Cobra Kit Car running upper 11's)
4th run: 1.99 60' // 7.79@98.59 1/8th // 11.58@134.12 1/4 -- clean pass, don't know why the 1/8 time/mph was down from the 2nd pass
5th run: Aborted pass, blew a pipe out of a coupler on the launch, 2.12 launch, happened right on the let go
6th run: This would have been my LOW 11 second pass. 1.82 60' and the 1-2 shift came QUICK. I launched from about 5K rpm and got into boost almost as soon as the tires started turning. Think some higher RPM and a big more aggressive throttle will cut me lower. Had just a tad of tire spin (good) too. But.........immediately after the 1-2, the same pipe blew out of the coupler. I've got just a slight oil film in the pipes, and the first time the pipe blew it got on the coupler. So I shut it down after that.

Thoughts: First off, I expected a little higher trap speed. I think comparatively to last year the air today wasn't as good, but with a good wastegate I thought I'd pick up at LEAST 3-5 more MPH. I really wasn't too keen on the 134 trap speed for nearly 700 RWHP. Second, the drive home SUCKED. My suspension settled from getting jarred around, and the passenger side rear tire was skating off the freaking fender lip the entire drive. I'm going to swap wheels tomorrow and see if it's still safe or not, but I'm anticipating a new E.T. Street purchase. :badday:Third, I think I've got a big vac leak somewhere now cause my idle is hanging at 1250-1300 all of a sudden. Time to get the spray out. Fourth, I need a new dual purpose temp sensor, my gauge is still fubar, but the signal for the ECM is fine. Fifth and most important, I hot lapped the car back to back twice, and three times back to back with no break. The HOTTEST reported coolant temp was 216* after the third pass. I only added about 8* per pass on the three in a row. I'm VERY happy about that.

So......the tire thing is making me consider going to some higher springs like a Strano, BMR, etc. I'm going to try putting a heater hose on the rear springs WITH the isolator to see if I can't raise the back end a little bit. I also need to roll the fender lips I guess (YES, my rear is slightly off center, thought I had it good but I don't.). I couldn't get the XFI two step to work, so I need to see about that because I think if I can launch on boost I can really get it out of the hole hard. I personally feel the car has a LOT more potential left in it..........The back half is strong, I'm picking up over 30 MPH still......but I need to get the front half moving quicker.

Vids to come, and a couple of pics for the calendar thread coming too.

[Madman337]

Awesome!
Looking forward to hearing more about this and seeing the vids, people like me (too broke to mod) have to live our hot rodding lives vicariously thru others so keep it up!

[popo8]

Sean, I know you were expecting a better mph, but like I pm'd you, I really think that 134 is nothing to be upset with...

My drag bike, with a way better power to weight ratio and a 1.6" 60' trapped 139mph..... Now I know its apples and oranges, but power to weight is power to weight, and a car at 3400 with 700 hp is at a serious disadvantage than an 800 lb of bike with 190 hp.....


Sucks you started having issues with the pipe popping, and if you need some fresh t-clamps, I have a big bag full of them... dont waste your money.....

Cant wait to see the videos......

[biggriff]

nice....sounds like it was fun

[Fastbird]

Here comes the vids:

Pass 1

http://youtu.be/gNhUGxdadXo

[Fastbird]

Pass 2

http://youtu.be/iotEOIu5wpc

[Fastbird]

Pass 3

http://youtu.be/sDYiZAsSdHM

[Fastbird]

Pass 4 -- I looked at the datalog of this pass. I blew the coupler on this pass at the top, hence the "only" 134 MPH. My AFR was 12.0 at about 210 MAP and suddenly the MAP went to 100 and the AFR's dumped to a 9.6. Nothing bad, just stupid rich for a second. So car probably would have been faster and a slightly higher MPH too because I was on the throttle for a few more ticks before going through the traps. I felt it hiccup but didn't think much of it with how quick everything was happening. Tis' why I went right back to the staging lanes for a 100% aborted pass.....no boost on run 5.....I wonder why.

http://youtu.be/EzwXe3ece-A

[Fastbird]

Pass 6....or rather Launch 6.....my 1.82 short time then you see where it falls on it's face when the pipe blew.

http://youtu.be/kQIuvv4Ueic

[Fastbird]

AWESOME 1st Gen, insane power as those rears were HUGE and he still overpowered them.....sadly he did kiss the wall with the back left corner.....not terrible, but it's gonna take some work.

http://youtu.be/62-tjtgdi1k

[Fastbird]

Incredible LSx car. AFR heads, HUGE turbo......this pass was on STREET tires. Owner was a typical "hand of god" douche though. I walked up and said "wow, that was impressive. I've never seen 142 MPH on street tires. Really impressive setup" and all I get is a grunt/hmph type of noise.

http://youtu.be/qQsP74Qr_Xs

[Fastbird]

The boss in his 69 El Camino vs our buddy in his 55 Chevy

http://youtu.be/sNCmo2jQyAI

[Fastbird]

Oh, and Larry, I figure my car with my tubby ass in it probably weighs in at about 3750 at this point. Was 3400 when it was N/A.....figure probably added about 100lbs overall between lightweight stuff and things added.....and my tubby self on top of that.

[popo8]

Incredible LSx car. AFR heads, HUGE turbo......this pass was on STREET tires. Owner was a typical "hand of god" douche though. I walked up and said "wow, that was impressive. I've never seen 142 MPH on street tires. Really impressive setup" and all I get is a grunt/hmph type of noise.

http://youtu.be/qQsP74Qr_Xs


WOW a 142mph... and he had it sideways with the tires up in smoke....

shame he couldnt even appreciate a compliment from another car guy...

[popo8]

Oh, and Larry, I figure my car with my tubby ass in it probably weighs in at about 3750 at this point. Was 3400 when it was N/A.....figure probably added about 100lbs overall between lightweight stuff and things added.....and my tubby self on top of that.

LOL..... you actually made me laugh loud enough to wake Miss Popo.... you said "tubby."

[popo8]

AWESOME 1st Gen, insane power as those rears were HUGE and he still overpowered them.....sadly he did kiss the wall with the back left corner.....not terrible, but it's gonna take some work.

http://youtu.be/62-tjtgdi1k


HOLY SHIT... that had to dirty his wears... but with as much of a handful that was, he chased it down pretty damn good...

[lttransam]

Good times, I wouldn't get to bent out of shape on the trap, I would expect a little more, but like you said you need more seat time and the more time you get the faster you will be. 140 would be nice :) glad to see the car out though. Jon
ships out my kit tomorrow ;)
Sent from my SCH-I405

[Fastbird]

The thing that bugged me about the trap speed was that I trapped 133 last year with a TOTALLY lazy power curve, a 2.20 short time, and the car taking forever to get into boost. Now, it's just a raging beast at about 3500 RPM, but I only picked up a single MPH? That just didn't add up to me. As it turns out, as mentioned above, I blew a coupler at the top of the pass. I just ran the times on it and it was 3/4 of a second before the run ended.......that's got to have an affect on both time and trap. :D

[lttransam]

Sounds like that 140 just might happen :) I'm excited to see how it runs next time out :) I wonder how much time it woujld pick up without that sledge hammer in the console? :) lol
Sent from my SCH-I405

[Fastbird]

Honestly, it would probably pick up a BUNCH having an auto. Stalled and under boost off the line?? Yes please. But no, I like to row my own gears. Next time out should be better considering I was just finding a "decent" launch on my last pass of the day, and I didn't have the XFI's two step working. Gotta work on that and the temp sensor soon cause I'm hoping to make the "LTx Round Two" at Cecil next month.

[shownomercy]

Whats your suspension setup like? Seems to unload the rear completely after the launch...

[Fastbird]

Whats your suspension setup like? Seems to unload the rear completely after the launch...

Qa1's, LCA's, relocation brackets, pub, tq arm, etc. Torque arm is set at -1 or -2 degrees pinion iirc. Shocks were on zero up front and four in the rear. LCA's are in the lowest hole and just barely level. The lowering springs are a hindrance I know.

Posted from my Rooted and ICS'd Rezound

[Greg08]

Qa1's, LCA's, relocation brackets, pub, tq arm, etc. Torque arm is set at -1 or -2 degrees pinion iirc. Shocks were on zero up front and four in the rear. LCA's are in the lowest hole and just barely level. The lowering springs are a hindrance I know.

Posted from my Rooted and ICS'd Rezound


you say its a hindrance due to less room for the suspension to work?

[Greg08]

k i see in your vids that yea the rear just bounced right up again and loses traction

[Greg08]

Honestly, it would probably pick up a BUNCH having an auto. Stalled and under boost off the line?? Yes please. But no, I like to row my own gears. Next time out should be better considering I was just finding a "decent" launch on my last pass of the day, and I didn't have the XFI's two step working. Gotta work on that and the temp sensor soon cause I'm hoping to make the "LTx Round Two" at Cecil next month.



yes rowing through the gears is a good feeling

[lttransam]

Man I can't see the videos for some reason :(

Sent from my SCH-I405

[popo8]

Man I can't see the videos for some reason :(

Sent from my SCH-I405

check them from a computer...

i just clicked on em from my phone and no play


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

[Fastbird]

Boy, after watching the vids today some more, my rear end sure was bouncing. Damn......guess 4 was too soft on the shocks. Will try 5-6 next time.

In other news, I will NOT have problems blowing couplers in the future. Pipes are NOT bead rolled right now, but they will be......

http://ltxtech.com/forums/showthread.php?20137-Bead-Rolling&p=252414#post252414

[HAND HERPES]

Nice runs ;)

[RealQuick]

Sean,

With a stronger 60 ft and the coupler issue resolved... car will be running strong. You are still only pushing 15psi right?

[CALL911]

Sean,

As promised, I finally watched the vids. Looked decent man! Nice job for the first time out there with that suspension setup. I would like to see how things pan out when you get those shorter 60' times.

[Fastbird]

Jon, yeah the boost was spiking to 17 psi but trailing to 15 psi pretty quick. Its got more in it and when I find a way to get a higher pressure spring in there....more boost too.

Ben.....thanks man. I'd like to get us lined up one day......

Posted from my Rooted and ICS'd Rezound

[CALL911]

Sean, I don't know what the future of my car holds. Back when it ran, I would say next to your times it would be a decent race to even a win for me. But I think we both know there is a lot left in your car as it is time wise. Right now, my car won't be racing anyone anytime soon.

[Fastbird]

Sean, I don't know what the future of my car holds. Back when it ran, I would say next to your times it would be a decent race to even a win for me. But I think we both know there is a lot left in your car as it is time wise. Right now, my car won't be racing anyone anytime soon.

It'll be back buddy, you know it will. Back and better than ever.

[popo8]

Wont be long till cecil.. .


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

[Fastbird]

Wont be long till cecil.. .


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

Nope....though I don't think I'm gonna have the time off and not sure if the car will be ready. I haven't touched it cause I am afraid of what I'm going to find in relation to the high idle.

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2

[CALL911]

It'll be back buddy, you know it will. Back and better than ever.

Really don't know what the future holds for it. Many things have crossed my mind. A lot of them crazy ones. Anything from parting it out and being done, to bringing it back to slower and more reliable by selling the blower and going N/A. Shawn was telling me last night "how affordable a 5.3 turbo setup would be". Of course if I did that, it would go against every single LT1 loving rule I have fought for, and if I went that route I would have to ban myself from the community. Right now, it remains to sit until I can afford to even have it looked at.

[Fastbird]

So.....inspecting my tune........I missed a setting for the two step rev limiter. Sonofa! Ok, so next time out it WILL Be on a two step.

[Flyinz]

Felt good to hit the track, didn't it?

Yea, once you get that launch figured out, that car should haul the mail. It should also have some NICE top end power :)

[Fastbird]

Felt good to hit the track, didn't it?

Yea, once you get that launch figured out, that car should haul the mail. It should also have some NICE top end power :)

You have no idea how good it felt. I'm flat out itching to get back out there already. I used to go 3-4 times a month when I lived near Atco. Now I just don't have the time.

I'm hoping that I can get the launch going and keep the top end running the way it is. Figure if I can get off the line and consistently get 102+ in the 1/8th and still pick up 35 or so MPH on the back half.......well........I'll be happy with that. :D