[RatONaStick]

well i was finally able to get the chevelle to the track. unfortunately i was told i couldnt run the quarter mile since i had drag slicks, so i had to run the eighth mile. i have had the car to the track once before, a local 1/8th mile only track. at that time the car ran a very dissapointing 9.20s at 79mph in the summer heat, in the cars defense it suffered from quite a few problems, from not enough timing to fuel issues and no traction whatsoever (street tires).

since then ive made some changes. i swapped from an old torker single plain to an edelbrock performer rpm with lifter valley shield, made the change to a carter 172 fuel pump, installed some 26x10 slicks and electric fans. i also installed a two step and linelock, adjusted the valves and set the timing to 38 degrees.

the temp today was 69 degrees, dew point was 55, and the barometer reading was 30.19. by my calculations the DA was about +570ft.

all runs were shifted at 6000rpm, which is low for this combo but i still have some traction issues and bugs to work out before i set the limiter to 6800-7000rpm.

first run, launched at 3000rpm and bogged slightly

60ft 1.96
330ft 5.539
594ft 7.94
1/8th 8.498
mph 80.78

after that run i was kinda mad that i had gained only 1 mph since the last time, so i decided to remove the air cleaner(drop base with K&N)

2nd run, only change was running without the air cleaner and moved the launch rpm up to 3500rpm.

60ft 1.879
330ft 5.38
594ft 7.75
1/8th 8.28
mph 84.73

last run, moved launch rpm to 4200rpm and spun bad

60ft 1.957
330ft 5.43
594ft 7.77
1/8th 8.296
mph 85.69

this last run i spun off of the line and well into 3rd gear, i stayed in it the whole way but was all over the track. my dad said the anouncer and fans got a kick out of it. unfortunately i was told i couldnt run anymore unless i had a helmet, and in the rush out of the house i forgot to bring it so i had to pack it up and head home. kinda sucks i only got three runs in and i had to run the eigth mile, but all in all i had fun and improved my 1/8th mile times by almost a second.

the removal of the air cleaner gained me a solid 4 to 5 mph in the 1/8th!! i had hopes of doing some timing and carb tuning, but i was only able to get three runs in and i was either spinning or bogging off the line. so it looks like ill have to do some suspension tuning and bring a helmet next time before im able to do some tuning on it.

using the conversion factor i get about 12.80s to 12.90s at around 110mph in the 1/4 mile, and thats still spinning and no tuning. i believe there is alot more left in this car, once im able to get some better 60s, do some tuning and spin the engine higher the ets will fall even more. one of the racers parked beside me said that if i were able to get traction on that last run i would have run an 8 flat.

i do have video of all three runs, but it will take me some time to get it converted and hosted on the net. ill eventually post it when i get the time.

for any of you wanting to know the combo it is

66 chevelle

.030 over 427
11:1
840 rectangle port heads
305 comp magnum cam
edelbrock performer rpm
lifter valley shield
3310-1 780cfm holley vacuum sec.
carter 172 with stock 3/8ths fuel line
2.125 headers
3" duals with flowmaster 40s

904 iron case/midplate super t10 with 2.43 first
12 bolt with 3.90 gears and eaton posi

any and all comments welcome, thanks

 

[Rmchevelle]

You have some pretty high rpm components there, cam, heads, headers. No wonder it likes the higher launch rpm.

Rod

 

[RatONaStick]

you got that right, too bad it wouldnt hook with the higher launch rpm.

this thing really should be launched at 4500+ rpm.

 

[GRN69CHV]

Don't get why you couldn't run the 1/4 with slicks. Sure it wasn't because you didn't have a helmet?

 

[mr 4 speed]

Brandon,nice job IMHO
I bet you'll pick up 22-24 MPH at the stripe over the 1/8 mile MPH

 

[BB_Mike]

4-5mph from an air cleaner in only an 1/8th of a mile. interesting.

I agreee with your other 1/4 mile estimation. I've run those times into the ground. Being that your car is a manual, you can only get better on the 2nd 1/8th mile.

 

[Motorhead62]

I think your cam is too big and it is killing low end torque. I would swap to a more modern design like a Comp XE274. I have this stick in my 468 and it is a nice cam. Also try launching at a lower RPM like 2500 - 3000 RPM.

With a big block "Let the big dog hunt" and what I mean is let the torque pull the car.

Good Luck :thumbsup:

 

[RatONaStick]

I think your cam is too big and it is killing low end torque. I would swap to a more modern design like a Comp XE274. I have this stick in my 468 and it is a nice cam. Also try launching at a lower RPM like 2500 - 3000 RPM.

With a big block "Let the big dog hunt" and what I mean is let the torque pull the car.

Good Luck :thumbsup:

i eventually would like to swap cams to a more modern grind, but its going to have to wait. one day ill pull the engine to re-freshen it and ill make the change, but thats down the road. keep in mind this engine has 11:1 compression, actually its probably closer to 11.5:1. so an xe274 is too small unless i lower the comp, to do that ill have to go through the engine.

this engine does make plenty of torque but its in the upper rpms, launching at 2500-3000rpm just equals bogging. when i launch the car where its making torque, it spins.



Joe, when i went through tech i was told i couldnt run the 1/4 because i had slicks. he said it was because of insurance reasons, i argued with the guy for awhile but there was no way he was going to let me run the 1/4 mile.

Chris (mr 4 speed) thanks, im hoping that it would pick up every bit of 24mph. ive read that some stick cars can pick up 26mph, i wish i was able to run the 1/4 mile to see what it would really do.

Mike, yeah this car isnt an 1/8th mile car, it really starts to pull in the second half. i tend to think it may have run faster than the predictions say in the 1/4.

i was surprised by the mph gain from removing the air cleaner, just imagine what the gain would have been in the 1/4! i wish i could get a taller filter in there, but this one already rubs the bottom of the hood.

while it didnt quite go as fast as i had hoped, im pretty happy. i can honestly say i have a 12 second car.

 

[Motorhead62]

Brandon,

Try installing a K&N extreme filter lid. I installed one on my 67 and noticed a differance. BTW, a Performer RPM Air-Gap fits under my stock hood, even though Edelbrock says it won't. I don't like running without a filter.

I did not relaize you were running 11 - 11.5 CR. I guess you need that much cam to bleed of cylinder pressure. Good Luck :thumbsup:

 

[673554spd]

Joe, when i went through tech i was told i couldnt run the 1/4 because i had slicks. he said it was because of insurance reasons, i argued with the guy for awhile but there was no way he was going to let me run the 1/4 mile.

Maybe you needed a drive shaft loop?

 

[RatONaStick]

nope, the tech guy didnt even look under the car, he said that i had to run a DOT legal tire to run the 1/4. i kept my eyes open all day and every one of the cars running the 1/4 were running street tires, drag radials or et streets/qt pros. its kinda strange, ive been to a few tracks and this is the first one ive been to that wouldnt let you run the 1/4 with slicks.

makes me mad, because if i would have known i would have bought DOT legal tires. and of course thats just my luck, i ended up having to run against the max effort drag cars.


Chris, thanks. ive been thinking about getting one of those filter lids, but there just so expensive for what your getting.

i dont really like running without a filter either, but when you gain 5mph in the eighth im willing to take the chance for a few runs. :thumbsup:

 

[Motorhead62]

I would think that 5MPH is worth the cost of the filter. I know mine was! :thumbsup:

FYI, Summit Racing sells a cheaper knock off.

 

[RatONaStick]

Chris

you got a point, thanks for the tip.

maybe ill have to add one of these to my birthday or Christmas wish list.

 

[dragginjohn]

Brandon,
I noticed one thing on your component list, now I am pretty sure your car in not a full on drag car right? with this said, why do you have 2 1/8 headers?
my 454 loved 2 inch hooker super comps, but that was the max for this cuin, unless big heads/cam and the rest of the big stuff is used, but even then, seems like too big of tube to me, my 505 with hopefully Dart heads, alum. with raised runners, my cyl. head guy said to run 2 1/8 header tubes, then step up to the collectors, but I am full on drag race so a little difference.
This should pick up more torque for you, but another expense I know, believe me I know, yep, get some traction, put the brain bucket on, **** on the tech guys boots, run some Hoosier QTP's and get r dunn buddy, you should be in the hunt.
Do I have a cam for this motor!!!!! if you can get traction Brandon, and wanted to make a little more serious power, use my L-88 grind from Wolverine Cams, man does it pull, from 4000-7600 rpm's, good thumpity thump, to it, not much vacuum, but some, change fuel line to 1/2 in, bolt on an 850 dbl pump, like one of the new Proform carbs, (very nice carbs too), loosen them front shocks and tighten the rears, keep air psi in the hoosiers around 15-18 as to not drift too much, any lower and put your Michael Jackson gloves on cus your going nascar racing then!!!!!! and let er rip, have you scaled this car yet and got a front to rear bias info from the scales? if not this will help out also knowing where your weight is, this can single handedly cost you a tenth or more....food for thought, that's all. Looks good other than that, man you stick car guys are still around????LOL I would love to let that clutch go on a stick car at about 5500-6000rpm's and shift it @ 7000 and just count the stars......that's cool, keep up the great work, 11's soon!!!!!!!!! just don't forget the helmet!!!!

Elkyman John

 

[RatONaStick]

John

no, not a race car, just a street/strip car.

yeah, the headers are too big. they were on the car when i bought it, i eventully plan on swapping to a set with smaller primaries. im kinda interested in seeing what kind of ET gains i get with the change, i cant really do that until i get everything else sorted out. im also thinking of dropping the exhaust to see if these blowmasters are costing me any performance.

i havent weighed the car yet, but do plan to.

i didnt mention that i have southside lift bars, air bags and drag shocks in the back. the last time i went to the track the car was absolutely murdering the tires, so i switched the bars back into the stock position and set the shock to soft thinking it would lessen the hit on the tires, i also forgot to preload the right side airbag. i plan on putting the lift bars back into the "lift" position, setting the shocks back to stiff and preloading the right side, something like 5psi in the left and 15psi in the right.

im also using the "shock nut trick" up front, if your not familiar with this you take the upper bushing off of the shock stud, you put the washer back on and use a lock nut on the first few threads of the stud. basically what it amounts to is there is no shock action for the first 1" to 2" of upward travel and allows the front end to come up quickly. in the videos the front end of the car is coming up nicely, but i still couldnt get any traction. i think a lot of it has to do with my rear suspension settings and the fact it was a test and tune day with marginal track prep.

11s are my goal, hopefully i can continue to make progress and get it there.

thanks for the advice/comments

 

[427L88]

Elkyman John is right on!!

ANd if they truly are 2.125" pipes , YIKES! That is way too much volume. THat's 540" stuff. In this instance, the gain might NOT be marginal.

And I agree, once you " get traction, do some tuning, and REALLY start spinning it..", I can way IMAGINE 11's.

Hook it ! Be careful, that's when things begin to twist! And a loop will be required if you make this a common affair. Real slicks require one.

Yes, blowmaster40s. Not. You want a few mph , get some straight through mufflers eventually. I do also suspect they hold the engine back some. But with 2.125" primary pipes , its hard to know. 3" system ?

 

[RatONaStick]

yep, 2.125" headers with 3.5" collectors. exhaust is 3" duals(no crossover) with 3" blowmaster 40s and dumps before the rear end.

believe me i agree, the headers are way too big. plus they limit the front tire width severely because one primary tube on each side goes around the frame. i will definitely go with a smaller set of headers...eventually. but to be honest i wouldnt mind seeing if i cant achieve my goals with them, plus im kinda interested in seeing exactly what gains will be had with the swap to smaller headers. i cant do that if i make more than one change at a time.

my first order of business is getting it to hook, and im pretty sure i know why it didnt. then ill start tuning and drop the exhaust, hopefully i can continue to chip away at it until i achieve my goals.

all in all, im pretty happy. i know there is more in this car, hopefully enough to get to where i want.

 

[427L88]

Funny thing how the drop base air cleaner or lack of height vs the hood affects HP so dramatically.

 

[RatONaStick]

Gene

like i mentioned in the other post, i MIGHT have been on the brakes a little too early. so i might be wrong about this, but i cant see where i got on the brakes early enough to scrub off .2 and 5 mph. but then again i could be wrong, it wouldnt be the first time.

ill give it another try next time out and see if those gains are true or not, and ill make sure i drive it past the markers.