Bigger Headers, Slower Car

[Cranky]

I’ll cut the threads off and have a look

Shouldn't have to cut any threads off to check them......imo. I usually ran a bit rich to make the car consistent when the weather changed. Hated always tuning at the track for changing conditions and never changed my dial. The only way I changed my dial was by leaving rpm. The car would run a .68 on the converter or a .69 leaving at an idle.....

 

[padam]

Shouldn't have to cut any threads off to check them......imo. I usually ran a bit rich to make the car consistent when the weather changed. Hated always tuning at the track for changing conditions and never changed my dial. The only way I changed my dial was by leaving rpm. The car would run a .68 on the converter or a .69 leaving at an idle.....

That’s a really good setup.

I’m never going to achieve that level of consistency week to week. For one, I race at different tracks, sometimes 1/4 sometimes 1/8.
Then when it seems like it’s all coming together, the clutch will fade away, or I forget how to shift.

 

[Cranky]

That’s a really good setup.

I’m never going to achieve that level of consistency week to week. For one, I race at different tracks, sometimes 1/4 sometimes 1/8.
Then when it seems like it’s all coming together, the clutch will fade away, or I forget how to shift.

Forget how to shift lol! Had a buddy of mine that I helped at the track in the early 80's that was really good at shifting. Lots of people would come up to us in the pits and ask where did we get a 4 speed auto lol. The car had a nicely built 833 with a good clutch and a Vertigate shifter. It was sweet. I found out I could shift good too in the 70's with a T-10 in a 66 Mustang with a Comp Plus shifter when a guy that I ran on the street asked me if I was running a C4 or a C6. Only went through 3 gears....we were on the street after all. Told him T-10 and he had to go look in the car. Man, I love stick cars!!!

My friend was consistent as I was when I got my first 'fast' car which was an automatic. He could cut excellent lights too and was better at that than I was. But it's not hard to make a car consistent so long as everything is in good shape and working properly....and my old car had a tunnel ram with two 750's on top. The car was capable of running 10.50's but it wasn't consistent so slowing it down was the key. I ran brackets most of the time so going as fast as possible wasn't needed. Another buddy was always looking for the last .010 possible and was always working on the car and tuning on it. Weather would change and the car would slow down and off the hood would go. He never ran his dialin. Screw that! I like to enjoy my outing at the track and working on the car constantly isn't enjoyment to me.

 

[dvw]

Racing in the midwest you'll never have a car that always runs the same. There is to much weather swing. Along with the tracks we run at are all different elevations. There are going to be days that it'll be close all day. And days that the weather will change almost .10.
Doug

 

[padam]

Well, I went up 4 jet sizes today.
The car felt pretty good warming it up, but didn’t seem to improve ET.
It was kinda of hard to tell, I was trying some stuff at the finish line, and the tracks timing system sucks ***.

Anyway I went out in the 3rd round with a -.002 red light.

 

[biomedtechguy]

I don’t have an AFR gauge.
The plugs looked good when I did the header swap but I haven’t pulled them since.
From what I understand you must check the plugs at the end of the run to really get good reading, and I really don’t want to go through all that.

I didn't want to pull plugs on a hot engine either, so I got a dual wideband O2 system.
So many things planned that took me years to implement, and once I got everything but the 572 finished, I was forced to sell my Roadrunner.
I avoid thinking about it, but the O2 system is just a reminder of how many things I had accomplished.
Makes me sick with grief.

 

[padam]

I didn't want to pull plugs on a hot engine either, so I got a dual wideband O2 system.
So many things planned that took me years to implement, and once I got everything but the 572 finished, I was forced to sell my Roadrunner.
I avoid thinking about it, but the O2 system is just a reminder of how many things I had accomplished.
Makes me sick with grief.

Damn brother, I feel sick for you. Seems like you put your heart and soul into that car.

All this stuff takes a lot of time. That’s one of the reasons I think I will wind down my racing after this season. It becomes an obsession, not always in a good way, maybe takes too much of your resources.

 

[biomedtechguy]

I did, it was a reliable source of joy, as far as material possessions go.
I read "torque boxes" in an ad for a Hemi B-body and that reminded me I had the US Car Tools boxes welded in, and spring hanger mounting point reinforcements.
Anyway, I have to go back and read the whole thread.
Enjoy your car every chance you get.

 

[oldbee]

Well, I went up 4 jet sizes today.
The car felt pretty good warming it up, but didn’t seem to improve ET.
It was kinda of hard to tell, I was trying some stuff at the finish line, and the tracks timing system sucks ***.

Anyway I went out in the 3rd round with a -.002 red light.

Did you pull a plug afterward?

 

[padam]

Did you pull a plug afterward?

No not this time