Drag Racing Technique Improve your track times

1st time with a stick

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-20-2010, 03:44 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
spina74's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Southern NJ
Posts: 109
1st time with a stick

I've been driving a stick for about 3 years now, but I've never raced with one just autos. I ran my trans am lastnight for the 1st time, but I couldn't hit the 13's. I was in the 14 -16 sec range all day. Everytime I raced I had wheel spin all through first, but I kept trapping in at 98mph..even when I ran a 16.5. I was doing light clutch dumps all day until my last run when I ran a newer mustang gt. I tried easing into the clutch and still had wheel spin. I almost caught him but came up short. I know my car has way more potential, but I'm not getting the whole launching part. What do you guys hold your rpms at and how do you take off. I'm still currently using the stock 3.42 gears and a 315 street tire.
spina74 is offline  
Old 03-21-2010, 10:24 AM
  #2  
Administrator
 
Injuneer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 1998
Location: Hell was full so they sent me to NJ
Posts: 70,650
What year is your Trans Am? What engine? What modifications, if any? You need to include this info in all your posts, so people can answer your questions. Why not add a "Signature", with basic info - year, model, engine, trans, major mods. That way, the info will automatically be appended to every post.

I'm guessing its a 4th Gen..... What diameter are the wheels? What brand are the "street" tires, how old are they, how much tread left? What did you do in prep, before pulling into the beams? How well was the track prepped? What, if anything have you done to upgrade the suspension?
Injuneer is offline  
Old 03-21-2010, 12:40 PM
  #3  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
spina74's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Southern NJ
Posts: 109
I was running 17" sumitomo 315's.
spina74 is offline  
Old 03-21-2010, 06:12 PM
  #4  
Registered User
 
bkpliskin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Snow Belt, PA
Posts: 654
how in the $%*& are you trapping slower than stock with a fully built motor??????
bkpliskin is offline  
Old 03-21-2010, 10:16 PM
  #5  
Jlo
Registered User
 
Jlo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: B'ville
Posts: 877
Originally Posted by bkpliskin
how in the $%*& are you trapping slower than stock with a fully built motor??????
What he said ↑...those time's seem misleading..
Jlo is offline  
Old 03-21-2010, 11:34 PM
  #6  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
spina74's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Southern NJ
Posts: 109
thats the reason why I'm asking, I know the car has WAY more potential. Maybe my launching and spinning 1st was causing that. When I saw 16.5 at 98mph I knew something was up. How do you guys launch, maybe I'm really screwing up.
spina74 is offline  
Old 03-22-2010, 08:22 AM
  #7  
Moderator
 
AL SS590 M6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 1998
Location: Charlotte,MI USA
Posts: 6,249
Where do you live/race? Very high altitude/DA will make a fast car seem slow to those at low altitudes.
AL SS590 M6 is offline  
Old 03-22-2010, 11:08 AM
  #8  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
spina74's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Southern NJ
Posts: 109
I live in southern nj and race at atco raceway. I believe its 33 feet above sea level
spina74 is offline  
Old 03-22-2010, 12:29 PM
  #9  
Registered User
 
Mikes 1994 z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Posts: 622
What are your 60 ft times?
Mikes 1994 z28 is offline  
Old 03-22-2010, 01:52 PM
  #10  
Registered User
 
slomarao's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,705
i dont see an aftermarket cam in your sig? Do you have one?

Who tuned the car?
slomarao is offline  
Old 03-22-2010, 01:59 PM
  #11  
Super Moderator
 
JakeRobb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Okemos, MI
Posts: 9,479
Originally Posted by Mikes 1994 z28
What are your 60 ft times?
Post ALL of the data from your best timeslip.

Are you granny shifting? To match the MPH of an equivalent auto with a good converter, you'll need to learn to powershift.
JakeRobb is offline  
Old 03-22-2010, 02:07 PM
  #12  
Registered User
 
canuck94z28's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 518
Yes that 60 ft. would tell a lot.Also those large tires must be totally shot< the bigger size doesn,t neccessarily mean great 60 ft.s.
canuck94z28 is offline  
Old 03-22-2010, 02:23 PM
  #13  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
spina74's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Southern NJ
Posts: 109
I'm still on a stock cam as of right now.
R/T - .295
60' - 2.306
1/8 - 9.299
1/8 mph - 79.49
1000 - 1.034
1/4 - 14.324
1/4 mph - 99.40

the computer was tune by Brian Herter at PCM For Less

my tires had about 600 miles on then when I got to the track.
spina74 is offline  
Old 03-22-2010, 02:58 PM
  #14  
Registered User
 
slomarao's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,705
your car is actually very similar to my setup. We both have pretty much all the bolt ons aside a EWP and have head/intake work. My heads only have a valve job and are gasket matched. Not sure what yours consist of but anyway, you should still be trapping quite a bit higher mph.

The 60ft explains your ET's but you should still trap 106-108 ish with bolt ons and heads. I would do a tune up and try to find out whats holding back your power. Than if could hop on a dyno it would be great to see your hp and tq curves.


I think your car is missing out on a ton of power. Your time slip looks like one from a stock car with a bad 60ft time. If you would of cut a 2.0 60ft you would of went 13.8ish @100mph. find out whats wrong and things should get better. also get a pair of drag radials. those two should solve your problems.
slomarao is offline  
Old 03-22-2010, 03:37 PM
  #15  
Registered User
 
kazman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Fort Myers Florida
Posts: 1,326
Check the plug wires. You might find one burnt from the LT's.
kazman is offline  


Quick Reply: 1st time with a stick



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:55 AM.