[BruceWilkie]

3.23-4.10 got my 60 ft times down from mid 1.80's to mid 1.60's a later change to 4.56's brought me down to 1.52 best (and more consistant) 60 fts. 4.56's cost me mph in the quarter over 3.23 or 4.10's.(a 29.5- 30" tire would have helped lots) I was running McCreary(now American Racer) soft compound "DOT" dirt track tires 285/60-15(about 28.5" diameter @11" tread) I drove the 4.56's to the track(40+ miles one way) on the back roads and at 55 mph was a bit annoying(My 100 watt stereo sounded like a transistor radio) but mileage was about the same. The biggest portion of my 1/4 mile gains were in the eigth mile. I'll see if I can find my notes for actual #s and post them.

[Cliff R]

"BTW, do you shift to 3rd in the 1/8?"

Yep, it really doesn't matter when I shift into 3rd gear. I can actually bypass 2nd gear completely and it has very little effect on ET/MPH. Typically for bracket racing I'll shift around 5000rpm's, even though the engine pulls strong to at least 5800rpms (rev limiter).

The real key to running quick is the launch. Have you ever watched a Pro Stock car make a perfect launch, then break something a couple hundred feet out......and COAST thru in the low 11's at about 100mph!......Cliff

[DiamondJim]

Yea, it is kind of depressing to watch the Pros break 200 feet out and still run a better time than I do-LOL. I know a few guys with combos similar to mine(but lower gearing) pulling 1.5X's 60's to my mid 1.6's. I also know I have my work cut out for me! -Jim

[Cliff R]

Jim, over the past few years I've widdled 60' times from 1.90-2.0's down to 1.60 to 1.67. For my car, the tires make more difference than anything else. I've tried all sorts of traction devices, welded in sub-frame connectors, added drag shocks, removed the front sway bar, installed an adjustable pinion snubber, etc. The tires are the KEY to hooking up, no doubt about it. If the tires don't try to bite, all the bolt on devices in the world ain't gonna help. As I kept getting better tires, we immediately saw improvements in traction, and 60' times, THEN I could fine tune the traction devices to even further improve 60' times.

The reason that I have so much trouble is that we hit the tires with near 600ft lbs torque, and only have room for tires with about 9" of tread, 27-28" tall. A set of 12" wide tires would quickly improve everything, but I refuse to jack the car up, or start hacking away at it, to get them to fit. I also LOVE the stock look, and refuse to have a bunch of junk hanging under my car. I'm trying to keep the "stock" look, and go really fast, which has proven to be quite a challenge......but we are making good progress!......Cliff

[stimpy]

one question? what the tread on those dirt track tires look like after a run they should look like 1000 grit sandpaper across the tire you might have too soft a tire .

[DiamondJim]

Stimpy, me? BTW, hows Ren? I used to watch Ren and Stimpy with my children, loved the show. Cliff, not much more I can do but move to the anti-roll bar. On the front I have stock worn out springs,I have removed the front sway bar and put on 90/10's, on the rear I have Lakewood No-Hops and boxed lowers, adjustable uppers preset per Dick Miller Racing, air bags(10 left/15right), Lakewood 50/50 drag shocks on rear, 275/60/15 MTETDR's. Depending on track prep and who I run after, I can hook pretty good. -Jim

[BruceWilkie]

Stimpy the first set I ever used there was no compound choice. The second set I was given a choice and chose soft. My burnout was reduced to a light hazing of the tires to clean them then stage immediately. Had no issues but had to run rim screws or tire would slip 1/2 turn. Even though they werent wrinkle wall slicks they did "wrinkle". Bias ply tire very light 13-14 psi for my combo. 20 psi more comfortable on highway. Got a couple thousand miles out of a set. http://www.americanraceronline.com/
Download catalog and See catalog page 6 for tire sizes tread pattern GG on page 8 was what I was using. Guy that bought my car switched to 275/60 ET streets and never hooked anywhere near the McCreary's. He since tubbed the car 4 link etc. MT street pros(big) not 60 footin significantly better for the money he's tied up.

[Cliff R]

Jim, we've ran quite well on the MT Drag Radials, but they require WAY too much burnout for my liking, and are slam worn out. I check them closely today when I bolted in the new Mosier axles, and they are GONE. No cords showing yet, but they are thin. Some say they work better once the tread is gone, we'll find out this Friday?

I may be buying tires next weekend at Norwalk. I'm going back to the bias ply version. They weren't nearly as stable on top end, but required little if any burnout, and lasted over 3 seasons. The radials are gone after half a dozen outings....but they did serve us quite well, we won most the races we entered with them.......Cliff

[BruceWilkie]

The McCrearys were very inexpensive compared to the other brands. Dont know how the prices compare since they became American Racer. If they are still around when I finish my project they will likely be a tire choice if their prices are reasonable.

[quick67bird]

Originally Posted by BruceWilkie

The McCrearys were very inexpensive compared to the other brands. Dont know how the prices compare since they became American Racer. If they are still around when I finish my project they will likely be a tire choice if their prices are reasonable.

They are still around and very affordable. I went from 1.92 60's to a 1.71 with the change of tires from a 295/65/15 BRG Drag radial to a 280/60/15 tire. I run 4.10 gears and have gone 11.65 with just slapper bars with my old motor.

Robert

[BruceWilkie]

I was sixty footin 1.52's with the 285/60-15's only 11.70's though due to 4.56 gears being out of rpm way before the lights and on the 6800 rev limiter a few hundred feet. I liked those tires. Got introduced to them at a dirt track and noticed how hard they were hitting the throttle and not spinning on dirt. Got me thinking if you can hook up that good on dirt how good would they be on concrete. I found out. Back when I bought my last set about 10 years ago they were only $100.00 a piece with tax. Wonder what they go for now?

[455firebird1969]

Why not put more converter in it?

I race half track 90% of the time, but 1/4 mile racing is what my car is geared for...

[quick67bird]

Originally Posted by BruceWilkie

I was sixty footin 1.52's with the 285/60-15's only 11.70's though due to 4.56 gears being out of rpm way before the lights and on the 6800 rev limiter a few hundred feet. I liked those tires. Got introduced to them at a dirt track and noticed how hard they were hitting the throttle and not spinning on dirt. Got me thinking if you can hook up that good on dirt how good would they be on concrete. I found out. Back when I bought my last set about 10 years ago they were only $100.00 a piece with tax. Wonder what they go for now?

I knew of them during my street racing days in the late 80s and early 90s. Alot of fast cars on the street were using MCCrearys and I remembered them. I picked mine up last year for about $125. Still a very good deal for what they do.

I never quite got my car dialed in and got to run the 1/4, but I think I would have gone low 11s as my car was running the 1/8 in 7.71 at 92mph. That is a full 3/10s faster in the 1/8 than what my fastest 1/8 mile time was when I ran an 11.65 in the 1/4.

Robert

[DiamondJim]

Originally Posted by 455firebird1969

Why not put more converter in it?

I race half track 90% of the time, but 1/4 mile racing is what my car is geared for...

You know, I thought about that. I can buy the gears/install kit and have them swapped for 435 bucks. All 3 places around here that bracket race (Atlanta Dragway, Silver Dollar, Atlanta motor Speedway) are all 1/8 now. I trailer my car anyway now because it is just too hot to drive a Black car with no A/C on a 3 hour round trip. A good converter alone is more than I will have in swapping the gears, plus I would have to spend most of a Saturday installing the converter(or pay someone). I am saving my 3.73's for the future. I am anxious to see how this works out. -Jim

[BruceWilkie]

The 4.56's will help you dodge the golf carts easier when your driving around Peachtree too. Loose convertor might lead to overheating if you get caught in traffic. (In 1980 there was no traffic there, sure has changed over the years, glad I never accepted a few job ops there.)

[DiamondJim]

Hey Bruce, sounds like you know the place. 1980? You wouldn't recognize it now, I think there are more golf carts than people and more police officers than carts-LOL. I usually go over near you to get away from it all(Lake Guntersville), I had an aunt in Franklin Tenn., use to fish that whole area. You a big orange fan? -Jim

[BruceWilkie]

The kids are orange fans I have no allegience to sports teams. I was in your neighborhood about 15 months ago. I've been there frequently over the years. Sure has changed. I work for Pitney Bowes taught quite a few classes down there over the years as a field instructor. Was a time when you had 1 bar there. People new me by name and what I was going to order. I remember when you HAD to go thru Tyrone to get there. Yeah it sure has changed.