[gjn]

Two things, set the preload per Comps recommendations with you or a person of similar weight in the car. You maybe OK, but my guess is the preload is way off (just like mine was when I was in the same boat). Your description of the car lifting in the back is the exact feeling I got when I made the change to the Cal-tracs. The car seems to lift instead of squat like it used too. Your tire pressure is probably to high. Do a burnout and look at the feathering of the tire. Lower tire pressure until the feathering is even across the whole tire, I picked up a good .05 to .08 when doing this.

[gjn]

Well, I ran a best 12.002 @ 112.0 with a all time best 60' of 1.726. I now run consistently in the 1.73 to 1.74 range, but I spin about 8 to 10 ft. Depending on what you pick up in MPH with the new carb, I would guess you would need to be in the high to mid 1.6s.

[78T/A462]

Car weighs 3650 with me in it. I guess im asking if the preload problem is what is causing my car to feel suddenly slow now? What do you think?

[78T/A462]

It feels like it's hooking up. But, Ive always ran 60ft's in the 2.0's so maybe that's why it feels like it's hooking up. I know there is a lot left in the car. When im driving at like 50mph, the car sounds like it's hitting a rev limiter. When I mash it it go's away. It's either to lean or to rich and that's exactly how I ran it at the track.

[screamingchief]

Yep everything went well nice guy too,though I was running around like a mad man yesterday doing a bunch of last minute stuff and all.I'll get back in touch when I get back in town,if you need to get in touch call(I have my cell with me) or e-mail me I have my laptop and I'll keep an eye on my email.Good luck Alvin!

[78T/A462]

I checked the plugs and the color on the strap on the plug doesn't change until the strap gets to the welded part. According to Pontiac Dudes site the plug is to hot of a plug. So im guessing I need a colder plug that way the mark is even bewteen the base and the tip of the strap. What do you think.

[78T/A462]

Thanks for the help. Im going for some test runs tomorrow and im going to take some plug readings. So giving the car full throttle and then shuting it off will not hurt the motor? Thanks for everything. I guess we will find out at the track. One last question, do you think with what I have I can pull a high 1.6 60ft? Thanks

[gjn]

I wouldn't get caught up in the car feeling slow until you take it to the track. The slow feeling may just be the fact that car isn't squating like it used to and the feeling during launch is different. I would be really suprised if the car was slower with the slide a links. Try to set the preload as best as possible. When I put the cal tracks on it didn't feel slower it just felt like the rear was lifting the whole car. I went to a tight 10" converter with 3,300 stall at the same time and it really woke up the combination. I also run a "highway" gear - 3.25s for the same reasons. As far as tire pressure, every car is different. I run 12 to 12.5 lbs in mine 26 x 10.5s. That is what it takes to get the best footprint. My car is really nose heavy, your car maybe different. Start out at about 16 lbs and drop in 1 lbs increments (if necessary) until you have even feathering across the tire.
I believe you will pick up with the DP too; however, I would get the combo "dialed in" from a slide a links standpoint before I made any other changes; otherwise, you won't know what cause what. I am running into this right now because I changed converters, carbs, and added cal tracks. I have to relearn my whole combo. I too run #16 heads that flow 250 at .5".

How hard are you spinning during launch at the track?

[78T/A462]

JoePapa,are you running any slapper bars? What kind? What are your front shocks set at? How do you launch?

[gjn]

Grandville,

A buddy told me this (experienced racer) so I tried it the other night. I was running 12.15s and took off my belt and ran about 1 hour later and ran another 12.15. 15 minutes after that (with the belt back) I ran a 12.25 with no other changes. I think the humidity kick up like it always does as the evening progress which would explain why I ran the same time with the belt off and then lost a tenth with it back on. I am going to try again Friday night and I will let you know.

[gjn]

I agree with your shift point; not going above 6k. Try dropping by 200 rpms at and see if you pick up any mph, if not go back to 6k.

I run the AC Delco R43S in mine and the strap is right in the middle. I would try that or the comparable NGK plug.

On the advance, just make sure its not pinging. I can't imagine it would with as much stall as you are running.

Binding, I am not sure what you mean. I would probably have to feel it to understand it. When you put in the slide a links did you remove your driveshaft? If so, did you torque the U-bolt down to specs? Are the U-Joints in good shape?

[gjn]

Worst case scenario, set the preload with the car on the ground by yourself. You will only be slightly off until you have another person help you. Removing the front sway bar should help your 60'; if nothing else you just lost 15 lbs.

What are the specs on your 400? What gear are you running?

[gjn]

Bronze is good. Try to run the car hard and shut it down quickly and pull the plugs and read again. You may need new plugs? Humidity hurts power. At our track in Kansas City during the summer at grudge night, you always run your best time at dusk. After that, the humidity shoots up and you slow down a tenth.

[78T/A462]

I have only ran the car once at the track and it ran consistent 12.30's @ 110 witha best 60ft of 1.85. I was so happy for running that time with my 400 that I didn't make ant adjustments. Et streets were at 20lbs of pressure. I hope the preload adjustment fixes the slow feeling of the car because in 2 weeks I have an R6 and a YZF600 that I have to go against. Frigin motorcycles pickin on a street car. The best they have ran is 12.2 so if I can improve just a little bit I will pull them. I also set the drag shocks at 90/10 and took the front swaybar off. MY car use to squat the whole way down the track, now with the slide a links it lifts the back of the car and plants the tires to the ground. What do you think about my prload problem GN?

[78T/A462]

I sent you an email.

[78T/A462]

Your car acted the same way, feeling slower after the cal tracs? It worries me. Shaker455 is building me a 840cfm mechanical secondary carb out of my old 780 vac. sec. carb. This mechanical secondary carb should help my 60ft's. What kind of tires are you running at the track? I run 28x12.5 et streets. What pressure do you reccomend I run?

[gjn]

Grandville,

I reviewed my time slips and I did 60' worse after I put the belt back. I will try to do it again Friday night with consistent 60' times and let you know. I will say that it sucked staging, but I liked it better on the big end without the powersteering. I run ET Streets with radials on the front and it seemed to help me from not over compensating.

[gjn]

I run 12 to 12.2 @ 110 to 112 with a 60' of 1.73. I still spin the first 8 to 10 ft. I went to the rancho 9 way adjustable shocks and they helped out about .05. In addition, I installed a line lock last week and for the first time this year I was able to run consistent 60' times. Being able to heat up the tires consistently really helped out in this dept. Have you purchased the slide a links? My leaf springs are way too stiff and do not let the car squat at all. I plan to go to mono's sometime in the next year.

[78T/A462]

Dave also suggested short shifting. 5000 rpm shift into second and 5500 into 3rd. Have you tried this before? Did it help your et's or 60fts?

[gjn]

Forgot to mention, how much smoother the car idles and starts with the four corner idle circuit.