just wondering why their so fast, i mean, theres not really much allowed to change.

 

Gearing, weight transfer, weight relocation.

Things like camshaft is limited to max lift but not duration, LSA etc. A stocker camshaft doesn't usually idle below 2000 rpm and they're very hard on valve springs.

 

I think they are allowed to change just enough, through a coverter for autos
and rear gears, to keep the engine in the right rpm range for the whole run.

 

A stocker with an automatic will run a 5000+ stall converter and 5.13 gears. Don't forget, they're limited to a 9x30 tire and if they can squeeze a 30" tire under the fenders, they will.

 

Look at a stock eliminator car next to a truely stock car, and you will see the differences.... very subtle, but they are there. Modified wheel openings for those 30" tires, exotic suspensions, crazy transmissions, aftermarket ECU's, major weight reduction to the limit of the class. NHRA rates the 4th Gen F-Body engines' HP far in excess of the GM published ratings.

The answer to the original question "Why are stock eliminator cars so fast?" is "because they aren't stock". Displacement can be increased slightly, "square" cam lobes, etc.

 

Stock Eliminator cars are not street cars but they are good sources to find out how to make a street car faster.

 

As an example would be DFIA(13.20 and lower)These cars will run 1.2 secs.under this time and must run a 48mm tb and can,t even run a airfoil!To even get your car to run that time would be difficult and yet be legal even tougher.The cars in CFIA/DFIA also aren,t driven to the track and probably be marginally streetable.There is also some serious money invested!Realistically,if i could run under 13.2 and drive my car to the track 150 mi.both ways,driveability,etc i,d be darn happy.