Poor sixty foot ET need help?

[swampdonkey]

I went to Winterport drag way in northern Maine a while back first time ever with my 1965 Plymouth satellite.

I new traction was going to be an issue and it was worse than expected. I made one decent pass 1/8 mile track

8.6 ET with a 60' time of 2.2 sec. most of the sixty foot times were 2.5 sec. OK so I have a 440, 490 HP, 535FT TQ, 4:10 gears, and of course street tires. I need to correct this and so far I have added US car tool sub frame connectors (Awesome) I am thinking of getting 9 1/2" wide 28" tall MT Drag Radials on 7" rims. Here's the question I have SS Springs do I get Cal Tracs or not? I Installeed a longer pinion snubber and seems to go straight at least. Any help here would be appreciated. Thanks Swampdonkey

 

[SUPERSTOCKRACER]

You'll need other parts 1st before you get Caltracs.
Get yourself a decent set of front shocks like a set of strange double adjustable front shocks and try to get 5" of front end travel and loosen up the shocks.
A decent set of rear shocks preferably double adjustables out back would help.
Bias Slicks for the rear and a torque converter matched to your engine specs is a start.

 

[67Satty]

I've had a best 60 foot of 1.68 with way less power and torque but I used Hoosier bias ply DOT slicks. I also have Calvert 90/10 shocks, no sway bar, 3400 pound Superstock springs, long rear shocks, set pinion angle to 4 degrees down and I use a Dynamic 9.5"'converter that is supposed to stall at 4200 rpm. Best 1/8 mile ET is 7.86 but it usually runs 7.90s. I'm guessing the 440 has 425 hp tops. I switched to the new M/T Street R drag radials but I haven't had them at the track yet. Hopefully they will 60 as good or better. Hope some of this helps.

 

[Coyoteduster]

Slicks would be my next purchase, then go from there.

 

[swampdonkey]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I forgot I also have a Dynamics 9.5" street strip converter. I have 10" BF Goodrich 275R-50/15 street tires and seems like soon as I give it any throttle it spins the tires. I believe I will do the tires first like Coyoteduster says and go from there. I had lots of fun all the same and can't wait to try again with a little traction. 67satty that's awesome and hope I get into the 7.90s it feels pretty strong to me.

- - - Updated - - -

67Satty your car seems light I thought that body style was heavier than mine, I believe my car weighs 3,700 lbs. with me in it and forgot I also had a full tank of gas which Im sure I didn't need when I ran the car. That was my first time at any track racing and the wife is chewing her nails hoping I stay away. Huh! Ill be back

- - - Updated - - -

Superstockracer thanks for the information I may look into those shocks along tires. I can only purchase in small steps cause I don't have total control of all my money. LOL

 

[bobtile]

I started racing with BFG tires like you have. You won't get under 2 second 60 ft.times with them. Mickey Thompson drag radials will help immensely.

 

[SUPERSTOCKRACER]

I started racing with BFG tires like you have. You won't get under 2 second 60 ft.times with them. Mickey Thompson drag radials will help immensely.

^^^^Listen to this guy^^^^^ He made more gains than anyone I have ever seen in the shortest amount of time except for me.lol

 

[67Satty]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I forgot I also have a Dynamics 9.5" street strip converter. I have 10" BF Goodrich 275R-50/15 street tires and seems like soon as I give it any throttle it spins the tires. I believe I will do the tires first like Coyoteduster says and go from there. I had lots of fun all the same and can't wait to try again with a little traction. 67satty that's awesome and hope I get into the 7.90s it feels pretty strong to me.

- - - Updated - - -

67Satty your car seems light I thought that body style was heavier than mine, I believe my car weighs 3,700 lbs. with me in it and forgot I also had a full tank of gas which Im sure I didn't need when I ran the car. That was my first time at any track racing and the wife is chewing her nails hoping I stay away. Huh! Ill be back

- - - Updated - - -

Superstockracer thanks for the information I may look into those shocks along tires. I can only purchase in small steps cause I don't have total control of all my money. LOL

When I weighed my car it was 3600 pounds, so 3800 or so with me in it.

 

[swampdonkey]

Thanks again for all your help everyone, my goal would be 60 ft. 1.5 sec. and 1/8 mile ET of 7.9 just need to take in all the great info here and put it to good use. I'll start with MT drag radials. What tire and rim sizes would work here any recommendations I have custom 10" rims tire are real close to the leaf springs so new ones would be in order anyways. Thanks

 

[67Satty]

If you can get it to do a 1.5 60 foot, your 1/8 mile ET will be closer to 7.40 or so.

 

[dvw]

A pair of M/T radials to start. Shocks would be next. We've gone 10.50's on M/T's,S/S springs and 9 way rancho's. You 1.50 60 ft is a lofty goal. I'd bet high 1.60-low 1.70 Here's optimized calculations from true 490hp@3750lbs
Power to Weight Ratio: 7.65
60 Foot E.T. : 1.60
1/8 Mile E.T. : 7.24
1/8 Mile Trap Speed : 93.85
1/4 Mile E.T. : 11.48
1/4 Mile Trap Speed : 117
1/4 Mile Trap RPM : 5,748
Doug

 

[swampdonkey]

Wow! I guess my thinking 1.5 sec. 60 foot is way of the mark so should say just getting to 7.9 se. 1/8 mile would be awesome.
Doug! holly cow that seems fast anyways I will try to get to the track this weekend and see what happens. thanks again

 

[mopar 3 B]

You might take your foot out of it a little to. Spinning tires will get you no where fast. Just practice take off's with out spinning the tires.

 

[67Satty]

My drag race calculator says 490 hp in a 3750 pounder should get you a 7.38 ET and 1.59 60 foot. So, pretty close to what Doug said.

 

[swampdonkey]

That 490 HP is at the fly wheel on a dyno not the rear wheels.

 

[dvw]

Wow! I guess my thinking 1.5 sec. 60 foot is way of the mark so should say just getting to 7.9 se. 1/8 mile would be awesome.
Doug! holly cow that seems fast anyways I will try to get to the track this weekend and see what happens. thanks again

Remember this is optimized and uses true 490hp
My bet is if that if your's is a flywheel dyno number, they're higher than the chart uses. I know a lot of cars I run against have dynoed close to 950hp. At similar weight they are slower than mine by anywhere from .20-.40. The calculator shows mine was making 865hp yesterday. Yet it was between .30-.50 quicker than the 900+hp dynoed cars it ran against. Mine has never been on the dyno.
Doug

 

[swampdonkey]

Thanks Doug I just remembered I also need to install a driveshaft loop this week also so new tires, rims and driveshaft loop then give it a shot. thanks again

 

[Mike Gaines]

The FIRST THING you want to do is to budget how much TOTAL MONEY you want to (or can afford to) spend on your car. Get that figure in mind and then see what you can do with that money.....

If you currently have SS Springs the consensus of opinion is that you DO NOT run a pinion snubber with them.

If you just want to have a good time at the drags I would suggest buying a nice set of slicks and correct wheels to match and maybe a set of 90/10 Cal Track front shocks and then go race.

Do NOT keep saying if I just do a little more I will go faster,,,If you want to go significantly faster then you are talking 4 or 5 thousand dollars.

If you want to "work on your car" just do little things that may make it a better ride and don't cost hardly anything...

(But remember the 90/10 front shocks are a real bitch on the street (not really suitable for street driving so you will have to take them off for street driving)>

 

[bobtile]

I don't think 1.50 60ft. Is going to happen with your setup. My car weighs 3575, Stock leafs, Mt 275/60/15, 90/10 front shocks, double adjustable rears. My best 60 was 1.57. 11.247@ 119.35. Very similar HP numbers.

- - - Updated - - -

The FIRST THING you want to do is to budget how much TOTAL MONEY you want to (or can afford to) spend on your car. Get that figure in mind and then see what you can do with that money.....

If you currently have SS Springs the consensus of opinion is that you DO NOT run a pinion snubber with them.

If you just want to have a good time at the drags I would suggest buying a nice set of slicks and correct wheels to match and maybe a set of 90/10 Cal Track front shocks and then go race.

Do NOT keep saying if I just do a little more I will go faster,,,If you want to go significantly faster then you are talking 4 or 5 thousand dollars.

If you want to "work on your car" just do little things that may make it a better ride and don't cost hardly anything...

(But remember the 90/10 front shocks are a real bitch on the street (not really suitable for street driving so you will have to take them off for street driving)>

Tuning on the engine will help with the 60 ft
Times also. I don't agree with the 90/10s on the street. I have had them on for two years now and do a lot of street driving. 75 mile round trip to a car show today. Highway and winding back roads with no problem. It's different from normal shocks, but I wouldn't hesitate putting 3-4 thousand miles a year on them.

 

[67Satty]

I have to agree on it not being a big deal to run the 90/10 shocks on the street.