I made my first trip (ever) to the track last night. I had a blast but am a little down about my numbers.... Here's the skinny.
1st Run 2nd Run 3rd Run 4th Run
RT 1.03 graemlins/clonk.gif .62 .58 .52
60ft 2.13 2.11 2.12 2.14
330ft 5.98 5.95 5.94 5.94
1/8et 9.06 9.02 9.00 8.99
1/8mph 80.46 80.53 80.71 81.24

Here's my combo:
408 BBC-10.25/1 Comp-UD 550/570 Solid Cam-Performer RPM- Holley 750 Vac Sec
3.73's with 26x8 MT Slicks
Turbo 350 with ATI 2400-2800 Stall Converter

OK, I got better every pass, but I was hoping for an 8.50 or better.... I didn't mess with the timing any (it needs more), and I also couldn't seem to get my RPM's up enough on the line. I was spinning some too. Do you think she has an 8.50 in her?

Any advice is appreciated.

I would try leaving from an idle to get the chassis to react a little better. It sems like your 60' times are slow for your setup.

What heads are you running? surely not rectal ports :confused: I'd think you could get an 8.50 easily with more timing and traction.

Heads are Large Oval ports with the usual 4 angle valve job, etc... Oh, by the way, early runs I was shifting about 6300-6400 (still felt like it was climbing fast) but the last couple of runs I tried shifting about 6000 RPM's....?

I'd think shifting at 6g's would be fine, are those new slicks or old worn out borrowed slicks? The 60's have to come down, I was doing 1.6-1.7 60's with 28x9 Hoosiers and currently low 1.7's with 28x10.5x15 M/T et drags. I tend to lean towards a DP Holley for racing...do you know what jets you're using? what is your timing set at now? What rpm were you leaving the line at? What intake ? You're running more cam than I am,but I have a few cubes on you.

Slicks, BBC and gears your 60' should have been much better. Are you running an airbag in the right coil? What part of Texas are you at. Which track?

Frank

You got to go to the track and make four passes, Your disaipointed, I am jealous.

I was leaving the line about 2000-2200. The slicks are new, still have the "titties" on them. No airbag. Performer RPM intake.

The initial timing is at 18. The total timing is 36. I am running an old race style points dist. with mechanical advance hooked to a MSD.

I'm near Abilene, TX and was running at Abilene Dragstrip (http://abilenedragstrip.com)

Maybe SSM liftbars are in order,,,My 60fts with true street radials were better than that, how much air in the slicks? We have to be overlooking something here. I like "titties" on them :D Did you install Harolds cam advanced like he likes em? Did you upgrade your fuel system as he suggests?

He, He!!!

Just old pdq67 carrying on again, right Rapid??

pdq67

graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Seems slow to me. What headers and exhaust do you have? HOw heavy is the car.I would think it would run a lot better than that.

I'd worry more about MPH before you start knocking off 60' times. You should have at least 85MPH with that much motor. I'd have a goal of 90MPH if I where you. What is the altitude you race at? How was the weather that day/night?

You check a plug to see how the jettings is for the carb?


I still brake-stall my converter up t about 1500RPM, then punch it and the converter will flash to at least 3k RPM. Your converter sounds way too tight for that cam.

-utto, the games back on...

it just doesn't add up to me either....! The car has Hooker 1 3/4 headers and the car is an all stock A/C car so I'm figuring somewhere between 3450 and 3600.lbs

I drove my uncles Grand National which runs 8.0's @ 87mph not to long ago and my car "feels" like it's got more balls. Somebody knows the answer...

Temp was in the 60's and it wasn't very humid. My buddy with his 8.0 chevelle is pulling 1.8's on drag radials....

JMO but it sounds like you need quite abit bigger stall. or get yours to flash about 3500.

I'd have to agree with Mike. 80MPH in the 1/8th does not sound right at all for that BBC. You have the same lift cam that I run, but yours is a solid?. Your timing sounds good. Are you absolutely sure you have WOT??
If your cam is in correct, your valves are adjusted properly, the ignition timing is correct and the carb is not a POS and you have WOT,...then you should be running much better than that. Don't overlook the simple basics stuff.

Epistuff, that's a good point. How do I know for sure if my vac secondaries are opening properly?

you should try and borrow a double pumper from one of your buddies you would be surprised at the difference it can make.make sure your throttle is opening your carb al the way and as said check and make sure the secondarys are opening.how about your air cleaner is it restricking some air

thanks for all the replies. You guys have some nice chevelles. graemlins/thumbsup.gif I'll check out what you guys have said before I make my next trip to the track next week. Thanks again.

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Purs/good-side-small.jpg

you have one nice looking ride yourself

Something simple that may affect converter flash is if you have the correct 2ndary spring rate for your carb. It will affect how quickly your 2ndaries open up and make the throttle curve slope up much more quickly. Factory settings are for factory stalls... ~1,000 RPM.

You did say you where spinning. I assume it is both tires spinning? Do you have to let off of the gas or modulate it to get the poor 2.1 sixty foot?

I'd shift your car at 6400RPM, or 6200 if it's a near stock tack (we're good, but not that good). Then I would run 2nd through the traps. 26" tall tires may make you want to shift, but I wouldn't do that untill you break 85MPH.

It's an Autometer Monster Tach. I've checked the accuracy of the tach with one of those fancy timing lights. It's dead on. I've bought the kit with the springs and am going to change to a softer one to make the secondaries come on quicker, is this correct? If I have a 2400-2800 stall, what should I be trying to leaving the line at?

Lighter/Softer spring is the way to go. I am about 2 steps awy from the lightest in the kit. Keep going softer untill the motor wants to "gasp" or hickup, then back off one.

Leave at whatever you can to maintane traction. I still kind of roll into the throttle, depending on the track that night.

I do that whole pre-stall thing to help my R/T, It may help my sixty foot only because I am still traction limitted. It's hard to modulate an off-idle launch. It's also hard to anticipate traction. If you aren't spinning, you aren't trying hard enough. :D Well, from a HP point of view... graemlins/thumbsup.gif

A slow 2ndary spring (stiff), along with a low-RPM converter coupled together with a solid higher duration cam will make for results lower than you should be getting.

By tack-error, I meant user error. 1-2 shift is hard for me with a 10k "small" tack and a 5800RPM shift point, even with a 1.8ish sixty foot.

Also, try some race gas one night for kicks and giggles.

OK, thanks again to all.
Checked to make sure I had WOT and if I didn't it was close. I just had an "experienced" friend help me set the valves 2 weeks ago.

Here are the adjustments I'm going to try to make before I run again this coming weekend (last weekend before the track closes until Feb.)

1. Softer spring for my vac secondaries
2. Increase the total timing to around 40
3. Running some "Race" gas
4. Higher RPM leaving the Line

Hopefully with this I'll see some improvement. Thanks again for everyone's input! graemlins/beers.gif