FINALLY going racing!
 

Well, the day is almost here, after nearly 4 years of bench racing, wrenching, tinkering & puttering, I'm FINALLY bringing my car to the track Monday! :3gears: Don't get me wrong, I drive the wheels off this car every chance I get, putting on over 4,000 miles in 3 seasons. But the track has eluded me until now. So...

From the fun launch techniques thread to the when to shift thread to the all important what to bring conversation, I'm finally taking my procrastinating self on the 3 hour drive to the track in a fully rented truck and trailer setup.

Let's see, I've upgraded the driveshaft and 1350 Strange yoke, installed dual driveshaft loops, rebuilt the front wheel bearings and brakes, adjusted the shift linkage, changed all fluids, re-torqued the ring gear bolts that we found to be a bit loose. And of course upgraded the entire fuel system from pickup to newly built Cliff Qjet carb to a .5" stainless steel line, RobbMc pump and more. I'm ready to break in my brand new Nitto drag radials. Let's see if I can get some traction to match my best 0-60 times in the 3.6 range and hopefully get my 3300lb Poncho down the 1320 in the mid-12's. Yes, seeing a 12 to the left of the decimal is my goal. 12.50 would be great. But I know there's always a chance it will be substantially slower.

I'll report back soon. Wish me luck. :thumbup:

Good luck!

I'm trying to get mine on the track this year too!

No quality track closer than 3 hours distance?

We're trying... www.lineedsadragstrip.org

Actually, Englishtown is closer but Atco is where the track rental is. E town is still 2+ hours, and it is New York City, so emphasis on the "+"!

Good luck

Good luck!

:)

Hopefully you meant 'break' your best 60' times?

I'd think 1.8's would be better.

:)

Thanks. I still can't believe you found those ring gear bolts! That was crazy and could have been a disaster!

No, I'm referring to 0-60 times that I measured on the street. But lately I haven't been able to come close to those best times for some reason, mostly wheel spin. Matching 3.6 to 60mph should daily bring me well into the 12's I would think.

Good luck and have fun!

I'll be there too! We must line up for a cool photo! My car is in the trailer ready to roll!! The track after all this rain might not be the best for traction.

I think they were dry and racing there after a late start...

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...02075769880698

Locked and loaded.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ddc73941b3.jpg

Had a blast Adam, even though I broke 1st pass :(
My 4 speed let loose when I hit 3rd. On a bad launch I still got a little air!!

GOING AUTOMATIC over the winter!!!!!

Attachment 465627

I thought your front end came up. I was watching from my car. Everyone see me in the background?

Here's a few others...

Oh, I almost forgot...

So I was having trouble launching. But not the typical trouble, I had TOO MUCH traction! They did a good job drying and prepping the track, and as a result, my M21 / 3.42 combo would do nothing but grab at the line. I'd drop the clutch and the RPM's just came down as the car launched. First at 1800, 2,500, even at 3,000 RPM launches the RPM's just came down as the car left, but not in a good way. In the 1.90 60' time way on passes that were 12.80 @ 108MPH. My best launch was with a quick but soft release of the clutch from 3,000 RPM.

Yup, that 2.20 first gear and 3.42 out back would not get me below a 1.90. And I crossed the line around 5,200 RPM.

But the car ran very strong. I did have fuel starvation twice even with the new 1/2" line and RobbMc pump and pickup. I think it only happened when I idled a lot before launching. I guess at idle there is less fuel in the line because avoiding too much idle before I left eliminated the starvation. The tank was full at the start. After about 10+ runs, I used 6.7 gallons.

So while I achieved my two main goals of not breaking anything and being in the 12's, I was a bit disappointed in not seeing a 12.50 or better, which clearly the car has in it to do. But for my 99% street car, it did fine.

Adam, you did fine, I would have been scared dropping the clutch on that bop rear with that traction. You will get there. It was cool being your pit biotch since I broke. Hated the ride home! Long Island needs a drag strip!!!!!!!!

Yes, that was much appreciated for sure.

Where's the videos?

So true but it is never going to happen. I just gave up and bought a second home this past summer that is 30 minutes from Atco, 40 minutes from Etown, 90 minutes from Cecil and about that from Island. I'm not getting any younger and was tired of waiting, fighting bridge crossings, traffic, the ridiculous tolls and spending 2 to 3 hours each way on the road.

Sorry about the pain on the breakage, I gave up on a Long Island Dragstrip but not the manual....yet.

Adam, good outing. Keep at it.

For some reason I thought you ran a Tremec 5 speed? I went auto years ago after I sheared off first gear and the counter gear in my Muncie launching at 4000 rpm with slicks. A drag race trans and adjustable clutch are about $8500-$9000, not to mention a good rear, a lot easier with an auto.