I Want Faster Take-offs At Track In A 1998 Mustang Cobra
Okay fellows, heres my problem. I' ve been to the track 3 times last month and I was greatly dissappointed. When I'm at the "tree" at the track, I am stuck burning rubber as I am taking off. What can I do to get a better take-off? I lost all 3 times but because I am burning out while the other car is taking off. M y car is fast ,my mods are 4.10 gears,BBK X-pipe,Steeda tri-ax short shifter, cold air intake and I have new tires,( no slicks). Are there better cams ,heads out there and I was told 98 Cobras can't get bored, they are bored to the max stock,true or untrue. Is my only choice a $uper charger ?$$$$ Or am I just not shifting right?? Any advice is appreciated.
Your issue is not a lack of power issue but a lack of usable power issue. Air the front tires to 40psi and deflate the rears to 18psi. Of course a set of drag radials coated in VHT trackbite would work even better. Launch at lower RPM and try to "bog" launch it. You are needing to transfer the weight from the front to the back to get proper traction hence usable power. A set of 90/10 front shocks would help as well. Post in the drag racing section and you'll get better responses.
What you need is this... some rear control arms, both upper and lower, adjustable shocks, and drag radials at the least. These will give you the best possible combo for the street without going into major money and modifications.
Reducing air pressure with street radials will cause you to go up in even more smoke because street radials don't act the same as drag tires on low pressure. The tread face will actually raise up in the middle and you'd be rolling on the tread edge only. The steel bands draw up when under a load and underinflated. Ever see tire marks that are dark on the edges and light in the middle? Underinflated tires. On drag tires or drag radials reducing the air pressure increase the tread face width but NOT with street radials. They're designed to give maximum possible traction at full pressure. Please don't drop the pressure on street tires.
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What is your 60' time? Don't expect much better than 2.0 with street tires. You could get drag radials and lower the pressure to >20 psi. On stock suspension you should be able to pull a 1.8 or better. A tenth off your 60' = 2 tenths+ in the 1/8 more in the 1/4.
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DHG #01434 Bullitt - full JLT intake, MGW shifter, Accel coils (I wish I had 4.10s, o/r H, tune)
Black 89 LX(the drag car) best 8.75 at 80 mph in the 1/8
97 Mountaineer V8 AWD
My 60' time was 2.267 but my RT time was 1.568. I need traction to better my RT and overall time. This was at 1/8 mile track,Irwindale Speedway. My top speed was 77.54. I gotta do better to represent for us Ford Fanatics. So I guess I'll get the drags 1st, thanks.
Your ET is not affected by your reaction time at all. The time starts when you move. I'm guesing your et is about 9.0.-9.2. With a good 60' you should be well into the 8s. BTW try leaving on the last amber light instead of waiting for the green.
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DHG #01434 Bullitt - full JLT intake, MGW shifter, Accel coils (I wish I had 4.10s, o/r H, tune)
Black 89 LX(the drag car) best 8.75 at 80 mph in the 1/8
97 Mountaineer V8 AWD
Your ET is not affected by your reaction time at all. The time starts when you move. I'm guesing your et is about 9.0.-9.2. With a good 60' you should be well into the 8s. BTW try leaving on the last amber light instead of waiting for the green.
Yeah I always wait for the green, this Thursday I'll go again and I'll let you all know what happens. This time I'll leave on last amber light.
The Eibach pro drag launch made a modest improvment on my 96 Cobra. What type of tires do you have? I have F1 Eagles, they are kinda expensive but worth it. I drove a buddys 98 Cobra with 4:10's. To tall of a gear in my opinion, granted it gives you more pop out of the hole but at what cost. Traction or spending an a-- of $ on on tires and suspension upgrades. Not to mention gas is $3.00 a gallon. I have 3:73's in my car with allot of other mods and I love them. It comes outta the hole hard with little tire spin and the bottle makes up what I lose by not having lower gears. A 100 shot is fun and really won't tear anything up if used with alittle restraint.
The Eibach pro drag launch made a modest improvment on my 96 Cobra. What type of tires do you have? I have F1 Eagles, they are kinda expensive but worth it. I drove a buddys 98 Cobra with 4:10's. To tall of a gear in my opinion, granted it gives you more pop out of the hole but at what cost. Traction or spending an a-- of $ on on tires and suspension upgrades. Not to mention gas is $3.00 a gallon. I have 3:73's in my car with allot of other mods and I love them. It comes outta the hole hard with little tire spin and the bottle makes up what I lose by not having lower gears. A 100 shot is fun and really won't tear anything up if used with alittle restraint.
True,but at the track they don't allow NOS. I didn't have a chance to hit the track,next week I will though. 4.10 gears I really like in my 98 Cobra,I feel the immediate response.I remembered the last two cars I raced had slicks and took off before green and I lost by a little less than 2 cars. The Cobras power is at higher rpms damn 1/8 mile track!!
I'm on stock suspension with 4.30 and my average 60' is 1.7 with MT ET Street radials, I cut a 1.6 on a 100 shot. I ran a few 1.7's with the stock gear as well, so start with DR's and go from there.
I Want Faster Take-offs At Track In A 1998 Mustang Cobra 
