Running into some problems... need opinions...

[shenanigans]

alright guys need some opinions...


ran tonight, only got 3 runs, track was packed, there is a Fun Ford event this weekend, and its bike week I think there were like 40 bikes there...

1st run...

60' 2.103
330 6.125
1/8 9.483
mph 73.09
1000 12.360
1/4 14.773
mph 93.56

60' 2.132
330 6.099
1/8 9.423
mph 73.89
1000 12.270
1/4 14.667
mph 94.06

60' 2.264
330 6.304
1/8 9.689
mph 72.60
1000 12.586
1/4 15.015
mph 92.93

Alright...

1st issue...

-launch
I think this is my 2nd or 3rd time out with LSD, I am launching harder then I did with my open diff but I still feel like I am pussy footing it, and kind of like maybe the clutch is slipping(its not the wheels)

I felt this kind of last time I was out, but I was cutting 2.0 60's, I didn't break a 2.1 tonight, on the last run after frustration I just launched the piss out of it and spun.

What could cause this? I am running worn Yokohamas, @32-33ish psi, they are overinflated, I can see the edges are not getting contact with the pavement, which woudl be a problem if I was bogging kind of on my launches.

Also it may apear my clutch fluid is getting dark(again) maybe my fluid is going out? And the clutch is slipping on the line causing a crappy start.


-2nd MPH
My mph is down, like by 1-1.5 mph, about a month ago I was trapping around 95, lots of 94s. tonight seemed like I barely hit 94. The last run I have a theary it was the battery not giving the ignition system enough charge, up top, it felt like it was dieing up top. I think my battery is like 2-3 years old and cannot support the ignition in upper rpms anymore, my car feels strong leaving the track when I hook my belt up which makes me believe it slightly too.

Think maybe its all my battery, I noticed a few slow starts when the car sits, and batteries do not last long in FL.


also I am running a slightly heavier wheel up front, before I ran v-spoke wheels up front and they were slightly lighter then the firebird 5-stars I ma running, noticeable in hand.


Any thoughts of what is causing me not to get a new best [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ March 03, 2005, 01:57 AM: Message edited by: shenanigans ]

[1998silverbird]

It might just be me but batteries dont run the car.. The alternator does..

[WickEdSix9838]

The DA is probably getting worse and worse. Winter is almost over and its time for it to start increasing.

[shenanigans]

Originally posted by 1998silverbird:
It might just be me but batteries dont run the car.. The alternator does..

I ran the car with no belt, so no alternator.

Didn't have this problem for a good 30-50 other runs. But has had it my last 2 times out.


Weather, track prep, and everything was pretty damn good. Its not the DA, wasn't its best, but I have run better mph in worse.

[Little G]

Eric, I think you just need to get used to the launch with a posi as opposed to an open diff. As you and I have told many people, "practice, practice, practice!" It took me some time to learn the launch on the posi, too.

Your lack of MPH is most definitely caused by the bigger tires up front. Get some skinnies and you'll pick up 1.5-2mph at least. You could also use some drag radials.

I think you should be able to get down to a 14.2 at least once you get these few things sorted out.

[shenanigans]

Originally posted by Little G:
Eric, I think you just need to get used to the launch with a posi as opposed to an open diff. As you and I have told many people, "practice, practice, practice!" It took me some time to learn the launch on the posi, too.

Your lack of MPH is most definitely caused by the bigger tires up front. Get some skinnies and you'll pick up 1.5-2mph at least. You could also use some drag radials.

I think you should be able to get down to a 14.2 at least once you get these few things sorted out.

I know I likely need more practice [img]smile.gif[/img]

but the mph? I went from 235s on split vspokes to 245s on firebird 5-stars, a slight weight difference but I doubt ~1mph [img]smile.gif[/img]


I'd love skinnies but not into dumping more money in my car [img]smile.gif[/img]

and I'm not jumping to drag radials, I didn't have too many tractoin problems with the open diff, and not having much with teh lsd

[njspder]

how high are you reving it at teh line?
how are you coming out of the clutch? dump? fade?
how are you getting into teh gas while coming off the clutch? floor? fade in?

there are a ton of variables at teh line. even teh little things like how well you were getting staged make a huge difference.
next time out jsut take a little extra time getting into teh beams and go about things systematically.
get staged real shallow and start by working a little different rpm. if that does bring the et's down change how you release the clutch.
biggest thing is to try to have fun with it. getting angry never made a car any faster. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

later
tim

[shenanigans]

I used to rev about 3500 and feather out...


With lsd, I was experimenting with ~3700 and a "quicker" fade, not quit a dump.

I fade the clutch quickly and get into the gas quickly, I used to fade both but much much less...

I swallow stage(want those ETs ;) )

[RallyRed 98]

stock tires have a higher aspect ratio than the 245s which might result in a little less traction...

few more miles on the motor, few more miles on the stock clutch... all that combined and everything everybody else has talked about could net lower traps and higher ETs.

[shenanigans]

these tires actually have pretty thin sidewalls.

I believe they are 245/50/16, vs the 235/55/16 I will check it out though. And I ran these tires when I was trapping 95 mph a month ago, I just ran these on the rears, and the 235s on V-spokes on the front, since they felt lighter and were narrower.

I mean on paper makes a difference but shouldn't make a real life difference of ~1-1.5 mph.

So if anything the 245s are giving me a better "gearing" effect... but either way I am not spinning, I spun one launch just because I just figured go out hard as hell and launch it, see what it does.

[12secondv6]

D/A increasing may factor in for mph loss.

As for tire psi..... 28 for rears.

And.... as craig said.... practice practice practice.

This was your 2nd or 3rd time out w/ LSD and you expected new bests right away? Sometimes you just need to learn the car all over again. I can't count how many times I went out w/ new mods and went = times or slower.... then all of a sudden... no mods... and the car goes much quicker.

Don't sweat it... always touch base w/ a hardcore drag racer and ask the D/A.

Keep us updated