Why could my 1/8 mile times be getting worse?

hmarv347 · 03-23-2003

Ok, I'm starting to get really confused here. I had 4.10's installed and an aluminum drive shaft. My times were ok. They were in the mid 8's I then added axle braces and that improved me a little. I got for the first time an 8.29 in the 1/8. I have not been able to repeat it again. Since then I've installed subframes and had gotten ride of the Stock Goodyears and installed Firestone Firehawk SZ50 EP's. Now I can't get my times below 9. I had also installed a phenolic spacer and really didn't see any improvement. The rest of the mods are in my sig. I'm also thinking of putting my stock rear springs back on and keeping the sportline fronts. Will that help or hurt me more?

Does anyone know what I possibly have done wrong. My reaction times aren't real bad, around .6 but the 60' times have gotten worse. Now I'm in the mid 2's. I'm at a loss here and need help. Can anyone tell me what I need to do please!

Thank you!

Twister · 03-23-2003

I really think that it is a tire issue, my Protenza's are not too good off the line, but they handle great

hmarv347 · 03-23-2003

I have a few more items onthe shopping list yet to do.

What would everyone recommend?

LCA's

Drag radials - MT ET streets or Nitto 555R's or another brand?

Off-Road Pipe - Is BBK any good? Who makes the best one
?

Twister · 03-24-2003

I would get LCA's, and see how they help

hmarv347 · 03-25-2003

Ok..now for LCA's. What is a good LCA to get for a reasonable price?

I've seen UPR's adjustables(althought I have no idea how to adjust them), Steeda's, H&R's, and FRPP's.

I'm so darn confused

JayC · 03-26-2003

hmarv, if possible post all the #'s from your 8.29 run and a couple of your 9+ runs. You know 60',330',ET and mph.Then we can break them down as see where you're dropping off. Are these all run at the same track under similiar conditions? Gotta be something simple, don't you think?

hmarv347 · 03-26-2003

The times got really bad after the tires where swapped out. As per time slips..well the wife cleaned everything out. I didn't expect to need to hold onto them. I do know that with the 8.29 I had my best 60' of 1.7X with a .53 R/T. My R/T's have now been more in the .7X times and 60' have bee in the 2.0X range.

I've only run at the local track. My time have really gotten bad after we had a week of terrential rains and the track wasn't real sticky. I was able to walk across the track and not feel like my shoes were coming off. They didn't have much time to get the track ready and we think there wasn't enough rasin down.

I'll be back there this friday night and I'll make a few runs and post the latest terrible times.

Quick4.6 · 04-07-2003

the sportlines definitely aren't helping. drag radials will help the situation.

what kind of tires were you cutting a 1.7 60ft on?

don't worry about R/T, its irrelevant to E/T.

hmarv347 · 04-07-2003

Actually the 1.7 60 ft i got on the stock BALDING Goodyears. It just launched like crazy that night. Everything was clicking good. It was just one of the freaky nights that everyone was running new personnal bests. But since we've had bad rain storms the track has not been real good either.

I did notice that my times suffer if I'm after one of the cars with slicks. They still drag water to the line. We also have a problem with people running there A/C and leaving water at the tree.

I know about the e/t's being irrelevant until I have to bracket race then I need them consistant.

I know the sportlines probably are hurting everything now. I was thinking of placing the stock rear springs back on.

Quick4.6 · 04-08-2003

i would think that it would be the street tire guys dragging water onto the line... or the fwders that drag the back tires through the waterbox.

usually people running slicks know better. last time i was at the track the techs were making a conscious effort to mop up water at the starting line.

regardless a 1.7 60ft on street tires is insane.
it was a high 1.7, right?

hmarv347 · 04-15-2003

Yes it was a mid to high 1.7, but I usually run in the 1.8/1.9 range 60ft's anyway with my car until recently were they are suffering in the 2.0 area.

I had brought this all to the attention of my chip programmers at JMS Chip. They had asked if I had made any changes to the car. Well I had added one o those Phenolic spacers. I was quickly told to remove it because they personnally know of people who have installed those and their times got worse because of it. Well Off it will come and we will see if the times improve back.