I've always ran my El Camino with the tailgate down (it is noticeably slower with the gate up). A buddy suggested removing it. It probably weighs 60 lbs. I figured the weight was in a good location, being well behind the rear wheels, but I wonder about the weight reduction vs the possible loss of traction giving up that much weight in the rear. I know the only way to know for sure is to try it but I wonder if anyone has any actual data.

Well it's off to the Super Chevy Show for the first day of time trials. Wish me luck. I hope to win and be in a future edition of SC mag.

Originally posted by Pat Kelley:
Well it's off to the Super Chevy Show for the first day of time trials. Wish me luck. I hope to win and be in a future edition of SC mag. Good Luck!!! graemlins/thumbsup.gif

And have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!! smile.gif

Hey Pat,
I removed my tailgate and use a tail gate net. I don't have any traction problems as long as I run slicks and the track is well prepared. My sixty foot times are in the upper 1.5's. Using the tail gate net gives the Elky a more finished look, as opposed to just having a missing tail gate.

Good luck on your event, I'm getting ready for a Ford vs. Chevy event tonight.

Daniel

Originally posted by djgaleana:
1967 El Camino,stroker 388/.60 over, ported & polished camel back heads, Proform/Holley 750 double pumper, Comp cams 284 with .507/.510 lift,11.5:1 pistons,
Edelbrock RPM Air Gap manifold, Headman headers, cut-outs, 12 bolt posi w/4.11 gears,induction hood, TH400 tranny with Quick Silver shift kit, a 3500 stall converter, and 29x15 Hoosiers for traction, (1/4 mile = 11.39 @ 115 mph/ 1.56-60ft
WoW!!!....11s!!!....pretty sweet :D ...is that all motor?...we've got pretty much the same set up...only difference is that you have 2 whole points of C/R over me, a couple thousands of lift over me (.488" lift to your .507"/.510" lift) and you have a 3500 stall to my holeshot 2000. I'm estimated to be running 13.70s...so far it's ran a best of 8.80@97mph 1/8 mile....in a '71 Chevelle. And by the way...my dad grew up in and around McKellen, his lil brother is living around the area right now. My dad wants to go back and visit over there...rekindle all those childhood memories and whatnot. smile.gif

Originally posted by LXS:
I'm estimated to be running 13.70s...so far it's ran a best of 8.80@97mph 1/8 mile. If you're running 97MPH in the 1/8th you should be in the low 7.xx/high 6.xx 1/8th ET range and would be knocking on 10's in the 1/4. Either this is a typo or you've got some insane traction issues.

By the way, good luck Pat graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Originally posted by kjett:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by LXS:
I'm estimated to be running 13.70s...so far it's ran a best of 8.80@97mph 1/8 mile. If you're running 97MPH in the 1/8th you should be in the low 7.xx/high 6.xx 1/8th ET range and would be knocking on 10's in the 1/4. Either this is a typo or you've got some insane traction issues.

By the way, good luck Pat graemlins/thumbsup.gif </font>[/QUOTE]my bad...it's at 79mph..,sorry tongue.gif

Hey Pat, did you make it to Irwindale that night? I was thinking I should have given you my cell #, when I got there I didn't know how or where to look for you. I did see, if I remember right, a 67 white/creamy off white looking Elky, but I have no idea if that was you or not. I wasn't able to run that night, so I parked kinda far away figureing if you were there, that maybe you'd see my 'Velle in the lot. I was hoping you'd remember the beat up white paint and grey primerd passenger door. Well, if you didn't make, it's kool, and if you did, sorry for not making a better effort in contacting you. Maybe next time smile.gif

PAT and LXS, GOOD LUCK and have a good time .
PAT just my opinion , I haven't try it ,but I think if you take that much weight off the back the weight transfer will be less ,may be got to do some adjusments to the rear shocks to make them more easy or less hard to make the car transfer the weigth correct ,it will be a good choise to make this changes at the track . just my two cents .let us know as allways if there is any best e/t or best 60 ft. graemlins/beers.gif

Hey LXS,
Send me an email if you ever come down this way! My Elky is running high 11s - 12 flat on motor, depending on track conditions. I will drop into the low 11's with a 100shot of nitrous. On my last pass of 11.39, I lifted at the end as I was clearly ahead of my opponent. I have yet to run a full pass on the nitrous. I haven't installed a roll bar yet, so I am not pushing it with the track officals. We are an IHRA track which allows us to run as fast as an 11.50 with out a rollbar. I never run more than a 100 shot, as I want my engine to last a long time,lol.

Originally posted by djgaleana:
Hey LXS,
Send me an email if you ever come down this way! My Elky is running high 11s - 12 flat on motor, depending on track conditions. I will drop into the low 11's with a 100shot of nitrous. On my last pass of 11.39, I lifted at the end as I was clearly ahead of my opponent. I have yet to run a full pass on the nitrous. I haven't installed a roll bar yet, so I am not pushing it with the track officals. We are an IHRA track which allows us to run as fast as an 11.50 with out a rollbar. I never run more than a 100 shot, as I want my engine to last a long time,lol. WoW...that's pretty sweet graemlins/thumbsup.gif ....hope I'll be able to hit mid 13s with fine tunning. I'll give you a holla' when we do shoot down over there. :D

Back from the track. This is the first Pomona SCS I've been to that has ran smoothly. Even got an extra time trial pass. Got a new best ET and MPH, 11.67 and 114.97 mph (no power adders). Last year I ran 11.82. I suspect times will get worse since the temps are expected to be in the 100's.

I'll probably take the tailgate off after this race. Hopefully, it won't upset the car much. One problem is, the Summit races are during the daytime (hot to very hot) but all local TnT sessions are at night (much cooler) so conditions are different. This may not be an issue for testing launchs.

LXS, I didn't make it to Irwindale. Hopefully, we can meet up another time. You can see a picture of my car linked in my sig.

I've seen them filled with cement,I've seen them with new straps so they were like 1/3 closed(wing effect I guess)seen them gone all together,and some with tonneau covers... Hard to say which is best :confused:

I suspect the tonneau cover is the best. That's pretty much what professional pickup racers use (both drag and Nascar). And an El Camino is, in reality, a light duty pickup truck.

Hey Pat, i got to see that 11.67 run today. I saw your race car and tow truck in the pits, but i wasnt sure where you were. I like your daily driver, it looks like it has an attitude, lol. And the race car sounded real nice going down the quarter mile.

I also saw those Speed Merchant guys run. Now that I see you guys run a quarter mile it puts the 1/8mile action into perspective. I never imagined that little truck with the dual quads was running 10s, no wonder it won the Manufactures Cup Challenge at Irwindale

I left after that black vega flipped onto it's top and spun around for a good while. That was real scary. I bet he was happy to have a cage. It was good to see him come out walking.

Congrats on the new best Pat!!! graemlins/hurray.gif ...now you gotta update your sig! :D graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Enrique, glad you were there. If you go again, I'll be hanging out on the north side of the trailer I'm pitted next to. Stop by. I ran the 114.97 mph on an earlier pass. I'm trying out a 750 DP in place of the 850 DP I had. I'll probably make the change for good.

Alexis, thanks for the congrates. It's updated now. smile.gif