I'm going to the track next saturday and i'm trying to get my lunch down to the t . But every time i come off the line i'm side ways.I have 373 posi, 245/50/16,350 vortech,and a borg warner 5-speed. if that can not plant me on the ground what the hell will. don't know what i'm going to run but i'm taking my seats and my sound system out. i'm hoping for a mid to high 13's. I know thats a lot but let keep hope alive. any other easy weight reductions please let me know.

 

If you're getting sideways you need more traction. Check out Mickey Thompson, Hoosier, and Goodyear for drag tires that fit your rim. Mickey Thompson makes a 26X10.5 X16 and a 26X11.5X16" ET Street that would do wonders for traction and they fit your 16X8" rim perfectly. BFG Makes a 255/50/16 Drag Radial that's a little more streetable(ie; it has tread) but still sticky as hell. Adding relocation brackets to the rear axle is a cheap traction enhancer also. www.spohn.net sells a good set.

Removing the front sway bar is always a cool weight loss option and it helps the car transfer weight to the rear much better in the process. Empty your windshield washer fluid bottle, pump your front tires up to about 45 PSI, remove those empty seats like you mentioned, try to run with 1/4-1/3 tank of gas...Do a search on weight loss, drag racing tips,etc..Goodluck!

 

yep, plus - if you want to go all out, you can remove all of the sound insulation and carpeting from the rear hatch area as well. The drag radials ( as mentioned above ) should help bigtime.

 

Losing weight from the car is a good idea, but if you arent going to be on a sticky tire, taking weight off the back of the car will probably hurt you more on your 60 ft than you will gain in the 1/4 by getting rid of the weight.

Whenever I race on radials I fill my gas tank, my best 60 fts (and in turn my best 1/4 times) have been with a full gas tank.

 

ok that's great advise so maybe i don't want to take everything out or I might gain no traction what about putting to 25 pound weight in the rear trunk area to help plant thoses tires and still move the seat back out and little stuff like that.

 

A loose weight in the car is kinda dangerous but you have a good idea of moving weight around. How about relocating the battery to the rear in a sealed box? A couple gallons of fuel in the tank weighs close to 25lbs so id just fill up Goodluck!

 

Try to get some weight in the back. I think they make a battery relocater kit for the 3rd gens, try that. Maybe some sandbags in the back, lose a little weight in the front? I have the same problem in the streets, it's scary not knowing what your rear end is going to do on you. But given you're at a track, may as well go for some slicks. I think your rear end can handle it. Good luck and let us know how things go

 

Traction is a battle with our cars, we have a fat low rpm torque curve. Believe me I still struggle with this one! My best 60' came b/c I was the first to run and they just librally sprayed VHT on the track!
I agree with whats said so far:
A) Remove the front sway bar. Which will let the front come up transfering weight to the rear tires.
B) There are brackets from BMR that will lower the rear of the LCA which will plant the tires harder. An Idea that SSM(South Side Machine) had, but they wanted to sell you completely new, modified LCA's.
C) Decrease air pressure in the rear tires to aprox 20-25# and increase the fronts to 40-45#(even radials).
D) While I'd never "fill" the tank, running close to 1/2 tank wouldn't hurt much. Gas weighs aprox 8#/gallon.
E) DON'T "Power-Brake" and bring up the revs, just let off the brake and mash the gas...or even just r-o-l-l into it then stomp it!
F) Adjustable torque arms will allow you to tilt and change the angle of the rear end or pinion, going negative a couple of degrees will help.
G) Drag radials or slicks will stick it, but your rear end might protest by breaking...You need a rear end girdle and solid pinion bushing first.

Avoid the water(if you don't already), and don't line up on everyone elses black marks at the lights. And heats those tires up GOOD! Don't be afraid to give'em a really good burn!

 

I will be different and suggest replacing the 3.73's with 3.42's. If you are running TPI, this is a must. If you are running a carb, then its just going to take practice learning how to feather that clutch off the line without the tires spinning. You shouldn't be holding the car at say 3500 rpms and dumping the clutch. You'll either spin the tires or break something. Need to feather it out to stay in the power band.

 

well after a long day at the track i only got one run before some guy decided to go off roading and hit a light pole. knocked out the hole power in the city almost. my first run was a 13.8 at 105 mph which is not bad and I probley could not do better but i have to think i can well until nov.... i just have to hope so.

 

Cool! You should have no problem running low 13's in that car. Lose weight, and 12's are probably there!