Z/28 at strip bone stock...yuck

[Stephen12ZL1]

I have had a lot of experience with many different cars at the drag strip. The Z/28 is possibly the worst car for the drag strip with the factory R comp tires. I did reduce the rear psi to 25 and did not try to adjust further. A burnout after getting the tires wet results in severe axle tramp and tire shake...problem 1. The car hates the drag strip typical launch and results in more axle tramp and more shaking which feels destructive...problem 2. The last thing I want to do is destroy a speciality rear end or snap an axle due to stupidity. I tried going around the burnout box also and doing a "clean off" scrub of the tires with worse results. I may try again with my ZL1 M/T drag radials instead of the Pirelli Trofeos. Some wouldn't post such an experience, but I felt it necessary. So, here is my best run which happened to be my first: The DA was +1600ft.

60' 2.1081
330 5.6665
1/8 8.5479@85.52
1/4 13.03@110.27

Traction control & stabilitrak were turned completely off. My other runs were aborted due to trials and tribulations...horrible tire shake & wheel hop. I may try again but this car isn't a drag car (duh). The car felt like a bucking bronco begging me not to ride(drive) it...lol! I'm not disappointed, but this car is going to take some patience and some more seat time to get decent e.t.s.

[Stephen12ZL1]

timeslip

[FASTDIESEL]

Thanks for sharing. Just proves what we already knew deep down....IT AIN'T A DRAG CAR! It was born to corner!

On the bright side, you will now be NUMBER ONE, on the (all new) Stock, Z-28 Fast List!!!!!

[Stephen12ZL1]

Ha...fast list...no thanks! That e.t. is an embarrassment.

[zr1chris]

Your 60' is terrible. Get some drag radials. 110mph should be good enough for mid 12s easy.

[ZL1 Spoked]

Damn hate to say it but told ya so. At least someone isn't scare to share it. Props for sharing. Not sure how the et is so bad, how were the shifts?

[MARKSTI]

Shift points?
After dynoing my car found out it was better to shift at 6400 to 6500 rpm on the track...helped pick up some mph on the straight always.

[Stephen12ZL1]

Shift points were in the 6600rpm range. I didn't try many different things because the launch proved to be so difficult. The shifting action is smooth as butter and have no complaints there. My e.t. was so bad because the 2.10 60' wasn't due to wheelspin...it was a slight bog and hesitation. One of my aborted runs due to starting line wheelspin and wheel hop was so annoying. After I let off due to initial wheel hop, I proceeded to go back to the throttle in the middle of 1st gear and the result was more wheel hop!! Frustrated, but not at all surprised. Please, someone else try and post your findings. My '87 Mustang GT in '87 on OEM Goodyear Gatorbacks was more forgiving!

[Blueclyde]

Really not surprising but interesting post. It's a manual transmission and manuals suck at the drag strip.

I suspect it will give you the exact opposite feeling on a road course. Interested in your post after hitting the road course with your ZL1 experience. As fun as the ZL1 is on the road course, I suspect the Z/28 is that much funnier/better.

[Chrispy]

Originally Posted by Blueclyde

Really not surprising but interesting post. It's a manual transmission and manuals suck at the drag strip.

I suspect it will give you the exact opposite feeling on a road course. Interested in your post after hitting the road course with your ZL1 experience. As fun as the ZL1 is on the road course, I suspect the Z/28 is that much funnier/better.

Manuals don't suck at the strip. I went 11.8 @ 120mph in my 4600+ pound CTS V Wagon six speed manual with DR's and Airraid as only mods.

It's the cars suspension and tire setup not the transmissions fault. The Z28 is a road course track specialist.

[Fred 6528]

This car is one dimensional and great at the road course. I believe that when advertised it's not recommended for a hard launch as in drag racing. That's why the OP that said it's a 11 second car completely stock faced so much opposition to prove it. I love the Z/28 and what it can do on a road course but it's not a car I would buy.

[DrkPhx]

Isn't the redline of the LS7 at 7000 rpm? I would shift right there.

[MARKSTI]

Originally Posted by DrkPhx

Isn't the redline of the LS7 at 7000 rpm? I would shift right there.

The power drops off to fast after 6500 rpm on a stock motor..its better to short shift slightly..as has been verified by the chassis dyno.

With a cam no doubt, shift at redline..stock not so much.

Don't be to bummed on the drag strip numbers., tho the 110 mph trap is slighty down from published trap speeds...powering out of a corner on a road course is where the ls7 works best ��

Side note: according to my scanners and dyno time with the car seems like the factory tach at least in my car..is a couple hundred rpm behind real world rpm readings close to redline
For example the rev limiter kick in around 6800 tach reading...but the engine really doing more like 7k

[silver surfer ZL1]

lets us know if the different tire set up works better
good info