1st time down the track

[Budnicks]

In HS way, way back when, 1975/76-ish
my mostly bone stock 68 Charger R/T
4000+#'s 440 4bbl 375hp/727TF
power steering, power brakes, 3.55:1 8-3/4 rear with sure grip,
2-1/4" exhaust, factory exhaust out the back & intake/carb etc.,
IIRC an open element taller Moroso air cleaner/filter
Polyglass GT Bias tires with N50/15 on Cragers
launch at appr. 2000 rpm/foot braking, shifting at 5500 or so
would run high 13.90's @ 103-105
with a little timing added, like 15*-16* initial, different lighter advance springs,
in the distributor, a hotter coil, better plug wires, 1 step cooler spark plugs,
a bit of a different stepped rods (jetting up) in the Carter Carb
& premium pump gas, hot after driving an hour or more to get there...

@ either Sacramento or Fremont Raceway,
Fremont was better air, run a bit quicker,
a couple mph better, a few hundredths better in ET

I rarely ever had anything mostly stock or for an apples to apples comparisons...
I was always messing with something or adding something...

 

[440+6]

Mine is all stock and I managed to break into the 14.1's 14.180 to be exact at 103 mph.
All stock six bbl, Mr six pack cam, track pack (h 4 speed 3.54 dana).

 

[mikeyfrano]

The mph is usually the best indicator of potential. Unfortunately, 97 mph suggests not a lot of potential, but that presumes that a few basics are correct. And with only one trip down the track, we cannot tell if your basics are correct. A good running stockish 440 with 6 bbl should be around 105. The difference between 97 and 105 is about 80 hp.

Here is what you should do; 1) check cranking cylinder pressure, 2) put a tach in it, 3) put an inline fuel pressure gauge in it that you can read while driving, 4) set total timing at 36-38°. Depending on the cam, it will probably want to be shifted around 5500. Do those things, and go back to the track and report back. Then we can start getting into the weeds.

I will do all that asap

 

[biomedtechguy]

I was disappointed with my runs in the upper 13s (13.7-13.9) but they were all 102 to 104 mph. My biggest problem then was BF Goodrich T/A radials and no traction in 1st gear at all. (Manual transmission)
My 70 V-Code Roadrunner has a 71 440, Chrysler Edelbrock 6bbl aluminum intake manifold, TTi 1 7/8" headers and a purple stripe 292°/.509 cam, Comp Cams hydraulic lifters, springs, locks, and retainers, and had 3.54 gears in my Dana 60.
I switched from a Chrysler electronic ignition system to the FBO system that included a recurve distributor and REV LIMITER, and put Year One Mopar Rallye wheels on, 8" wide fronts, 9" wide rears-and THAT was a big improvement. Using Toyo Proxes TQ drag radials 315/35/17s and power shifting (no lifting of the gas pedal) took me to consistant 13.3s at 106. I still have to come off the start at idle, but I can stand on the 6 bbl as soon as I start rolling. Not lifting the gas when I bang the clutch pedal to shift was a big part of the improvement, and I credit the drag radials with the rest.
Now that i I have a Passon Performance a855 5 speed I switched to 4.10 gears and have more traction problems in first gear again, but I'm working on that, and I hope to hit high 12s without any other power adders.
It's AMAZING that they got a stock A-12 4 speed 4.10 car into the high 12s on those factory tires!

 

[BSB67]

It's AMAZING that they got a stock A-12 4 speed 4.10 car into the high 12s on those factory tires!

If I remember, I think that was Ronny Sox driving and there is speculation on the "stock" claim. Also thought it was 3.91's ?????? I think it was 111 mph and the amature drivers were making 109 mph passes. That all equates to a 2.0 to 2.1 second sixty ft. These 60 ft times are pretty common for a 400 HP ish b body with a little practice.

 

[dvw]

Dudeks Hemi RR has been 1.5X 60ft on Goodyear G70x15 Polyglass.
Doug

 

[biomedtechguy]

Dudeks Hemi RR has been 1.5X 60ft on Goodyear G70x15 Polyglass.
Doug

That is amazing.
Part of the reason why I stepped up to 4.10 R&P from 3.54s was having to come off the line close to idle, and then floor it. It allows my RPMs to climb quickly.
Once I get a handle on the 60 ft./1st gear traction problems, the 4.10 gears will still be conducive to better performance IMO.

 

[Frustration]

What was your 60 foot time? I agree that MPH is the gauge to see how much power and potential a car has. Most important with a 4000 pound + drag car is to get it all moving quickly (60 foot). That's why stock eliminator cars run very steep gears (4.56 or higher numerical gears). You mentioned 275-60-15 tires...were they sticky? What brand? Keep chipping away. Six pack cars run great when they're "on". Good luck.

 

[biomedtechguy]

What was your 60 foot time? I agree that MPH is the gauge to see how much power and potential a car has. Most important with a 4000 pound + drag car is to get it all moving quickly (60 foot). That's why stock eliminator cars run very steep gears (4.56 or higher numerical gears). You mentioned 275-60-15 tires...were they sticky? What brand? Keep chipping away. Six pack cars run great when they're "on". Good luck.

I'm not sure if you were addressing my posts, but:
My car came with 15" steel Rallye wheels and 275/xx/15 BF Goodrich T/A radials. They would spin at any speed in first gear if I floored it. Moving up to the 8" wide front and 9" wide rear aluminum Rallye wheels from Year One, with standard 4.5" backspacing on the 8s and 5" backspacing on the 9" rears I took a guess at what would fit and having had a bad wet surface experience with Nitto 555 drag radials I chose the Toyo Proxes TQ drag radials and they came in a 315/35/17 size I thought would fit. They are perfectly centered and could have been standard equipment! The improvement is that now if I come off the start close to idle-around 1,100-1,200 RPMs my tires stick and I can floor it and usually no spin. I would like to launch harder, but I can't. Next step is installing the line lock and cleaning/heating the Toyos a bit, and making front and rear shock adjustments.

 

[Frustration]

Bio Guy, Yes, I was addressing your post. Do you have the time slip from your pass? Can you take a picture of the slip, or supply the 60' time from the slip? That would help. Tom

 

[biomedtechguy]

Bio Guy, Yes, I was addressing your post. Do you have the time slip from your pass? Can you take a picture of the slip, or supply the 60' time from the slip? That would help. Tom

I would have to dig around and be lucky to find it.
I can tell you that my 60 ft was in the 2.1-2.2 range, so LOTS of room for improvement. That was with the 3.54s. If I can launch without wheelspin (by focusing better and keeping the RPMs down-for now) I should do better with my current 4.10 ring and pinion gears.

 

[biomedtechguy]

Promax called today and I should get my 3 Holley 2 bbl carbs back soon with lots of Promax parts installed, pre-tuned, jetted, and rebuilt.
In the meantime I will try to install my line lock. I also have a new Carter M6903 high volume mechanical fuel pump to install and a new fuel vapor separator.
Once it cools down a bit here in the deep, hot, humid swampy south I'll hit the 1320 again and see what I can do.

 

[cdr]

Promax called today and I should get my 3 Holley 2 bbl carbs back soon with lots of Promax parts installed, pre-tuned, jetted, and rebuilt.
In the meantime I will try to install my line lock. I also have a new Carter M6903 high volume mechanical fuel pump to install and a new fuel vapor separator.
Once it cools down a bit here in the deep, hot, humid swampy south I'll hit the 1320 again and see what I can do.

Yes I am in Southeast Texas & it is HOT & SWAMPY