Padre's SS: Let the Modding Begin! (pics&vids)

[Padre]

Originally Posted by 10spokess

Do you think it is because of the lowering springs that you gained nothing?

I honestly don't know.

Problem is that I did the gears, UDP and all the suspension mods at the same time.

My guess is the gears. I experienced something similar on my old GTO when I went to 3.91 gears and really gained nothing. However, I love the gears, because it made the around town driving GREAT with the torque converter. It had been sluggish and rev happy with the TC alone.

Padre

[10spokess]

Yeah thats true. You just don't have the power to weight ratio to get the full benifit of the gears? I had to remove my rear springs because when I drag raced it it was just to stiff and it wouldn't squat right. Therefore all it did was spin.

[Padre]

Originally Posted by 10spokess

Yeah thats true. You just don't have the power to weight ratio to get the full benifit of the gears? I had to remove my rear springs because when I drag raced it it was just to stiff and it wouldn't squat right. Therefore all it did was spin.

Since I'm running 1.6's again, I think the squat is OK.

I should add that since I'm running 112.78 now in 75* and my previous best was 112.89 in 60*, I SHOULD be over 113 now.

So technically, it is running a tad faster, just not what I had expected.

Padre

[10spokess]

Yeah I should of looked at that! I think the best way to judge it is the butt dyno. as long as it's fun its good enough for me

[Pro Stock John]

I have a theory or two...

Thanks for taking all the vids and doing the write-ups very interesting.

[Padre]

Originally Posted by Pro Stock John

I have a theory or two...

Thanks for taking all the vids and doing the write-ups very interesting.

When you have time, let's hear them.

Padre

[Pro Stock John]

12.19@112.89 / 1.65

Best from last outing (do I have this right or can you correct?)

12.381, best mph 112.88, best 60' 1.810

I'm not sure if I have your best ET from your last outing posted here or one of the bests.

My thoughts:
-12.3 on a 1.8 is spinning or it left lazy. I'm guessing it's spinning off the line?
-Probably won't be able to really see the power gain until the 60 ft gets back to a low 1.6... I'm thinking the MPH will go up with a better 60 ft.
-I would be curious if you could try different launch techniques to try to get to a 1.59 60 ft.
-I'm also wondering what 6200 shift points would do.

[Padre]

Originally Posted by Pro Stock John

12.19@112.89 / 1.65

Best from last outing (do I have this right or can you correct?)

12.381, best mph 112.88, best 60' 1.810

I'm not sure if I have your best ET from your last outing posted here or one of the bests.

My thoughts:
-12.3 on a 1.8 is spinning or it left lazy. I'm guessing it's spinning off the line?
-Probably won't be able to really see the power gain until the 60 ft gets back to a low 1.6... I'm thinking the MPH will go up with a better 60 ft.
-I would be curious if you could try different launch techniques to try to get to a 1.59 60 ft.
-I'm also wondering what 6200 shift points would do.

I did try the 6200 shifts, and they fell in this range:

Originally Posted by Padre

Six of the runs ranged from 12.310 to 12.363. So that's a narrow 0.053s variation. Trap speeds 112.03 to 112.78 for a variation of 0.75 MPH.

IOW, no significant change. I did not try it on the perfect tune (no KR). But since even my runs with KR and with the 6200 shifts fell in the above range, it was not significant enough.

I think the main reason for going from 1.8's back into 1.6's is the launch technique with the new gears and suspension. The 1.8's were with significant spin.

Once I figured out the launch (jab it to about 75% throttle, let it hook, then jab it to 100%), 1.70's and 1.6's were no problem.

I just ran the corrected numbers on my best times of the night:

12.126 @ 114.394 MPH.

Best corrected before the gears, suspension, UDP and EWP:

12.067 @ 114.051 MPH.

Padre

[Camarowguy]

Padre, before the gears, what gear and rpm where you going through the traps at? And now what gear and rpm are you going through at? I was a thunder racing a couple weeks ago discussing a situation like this. I can't remember exactly, but what they said is when they have put gears in an l99, it slowed down because it shifted to the next gear a little before the traps. They had to retune the shifts to get it to go through in a lower gear. I dunno, but if you can't run it out without shifting, I see that slowing you down. 3.73 might have been a better choice. I'm just speculating for now till I see your response.

[Padre]

Originally Posted by Camarowguy

Padre, before the gears, what gear and rpm where you going through the traps at? And now what gear and rpm are you going through at? I was a thunder racing a couple weeks ago discussing a situation like this. I can't remember exactly, but what they said is when they have put gears in an l99, it slowed down because it shifted to the next gear a little before the traps. They had to retune the shifts to get it to go through in a lower gear. I dunno, but if you can't run it out without shifting, I see that slowing you down. 3.73 might have been a better choice. I'm just speculating for now till I see your response.

Before the gears, mine shifted into 4th right before the traps. Now it is in 4th longer and in a better part of the power band before the traps.

I do agree 3.73's might be a better gear, but I do like the 3.45's because it was basically cheaper.

Padre

[Pro Stock John]

Thanks for all the info Padre, one of my favorite threads on the web.

So basically traction is a big issue right now.

Do they make QA1's for the 5th gens?

[Padre]

Originally Posted by Pro Stock John

Thanks for all the info Padre, one of my favorite threads on the web.

So basically traction is a big issue right now.

Do they make QA1's for the 5th gens?

In my research, QA1's came up most frequently, but for 4th Gens. But I've never gone beyond sways and drag bags before now, so I want to research more before I go coilovers or the full Pedders treatment.

I think Mickey Thompson DR's would give me the 100% jab on the launch that I am looking for. But I don't see below 1.60 without more power.

Oh, I forgot, I got under it yesterday: one U-mount of the rear sway (not on the links, but where it bolts to the frame) is partially pulled out. Still appears to work. I'll get a pic later, but it was that way for all my runs yesterday, including the 1.6 and 1.70's.

Padre

[Camarowguy]

Originally Posted by Padre

Before the gears, mine shifted into 4th right before the traps. Now it is in 4th longer and in a better part of the power band before the traps.

I do agree 3.73's might be a better gear, but I do like the 3.45's because it was basically cheaper.

Padre

Very weird

[Pro Stock John]

I'm not familiar with the Pedders stuff, but if the suspension stuff is all focused on handling it's not necessarily going to help with drag racing. I'll poke around, I'm curious. I've run multiple sets of QA1's on 4th gens, I'd personally be interested in a front set for a 5th gen. My buddy is running double-adjustable Strange shocks in his 7 second drag radial 4th gen, so I'm learning more about those too.

I kinda forgot you are running Nittos. I never worked them too hard in the past, but I did go low 1.6's with some back about seven years ago. MT's would be better for sure, they are softer by a wide margin.

But if your suspension is real stiff right now, maybe your car has less weight transfer now...

[Pro Stock John]

There are 30 positions to the Xa damper settings from OEM soft to R compound tire race track ready hard. The positive click adjustments are easy to make and alter the bound and rebound as Camaro Xa rear Coilover showing Sub-Frame Bush well as the high and low speed circuits. Many adjustable dampers only allow the end user to change the low speed settings. For the enthusiast having the ability to alter both high and low speed operation is a huge plus.

The difference between full soft and full hard feels as though the coils were actually changed on the vehicle. This range of damping adjustment makes the Pedders Xa Camaro coilovers well suited to a vehicle that will be driven daily and when take to the track quickly clicked into a track ready state.

Interesting. If the shocks are adjustable, giving the user the ability to select more compression, then I'd find them interesting. I'll have to ask a friend of mine.

[Padre]

Originally Posted by Pro Stock John

But if your suspension is real stiff right now, maybe your car has less weight transfer now...

JusticePete at Pedders did recommend disconnecting the front sway bar.

Padre

[Pro Stock John]

That would help weight transfer for sure. I took them off my 4th gens.

[Padre]

OK, I removed my front sway bar completely.

Also pulled the fog light to let air directly in on the air filter. A gimmick, yes, but it was easy to do. I have a piece of grey foam to secure it from water when not racing.

Last chance at bolt-on 11's: tomorrow night aty Steele. All the other tracks in the SE are close for the NHRA bracket finals in Montgomery this weekend.

Padre

[Supercharged SS]

If traction is a problem what about some better tires? But you need to drive to and from the track, correct? I guess you could always swap on something at the track. I know that a good suspension will bring great benefits but if I can play devils advocate for a second.My car 60's in the 1.4's, with some spin, with the stock suspension. I do have a set of trailing arms but that's it. And I leave at 1400 rpm. I'm hoping that with the 14.50 slicks I'll be able to leave at 2k and get a high 1.3 with the stock stuff. Time will tell. I doubt that it will do it in GA. Ted will still need to make some adjustments and the weather is gonna suck. I just think good tires will to more than anything else.

Padre, are you comming next weekend?

[Padre]

Originally Posted by Supercharged SS

If traction is a problem what about some better tires? But you need to drive to and from the track, correct? I guess you could always swap on something at the track. I know that a good suspension will bring great benefits but if I can play devils advocate for a second.My car 60's in the 1.4's, with some spin, with the stock suspension. I do have a set of trailing arms but that's it. And I leave at 1400 rpm. I'm hoping that with the 14.50 slicks I'll be able to leave at 2k and get a high 1.3 with the stock stuff. Time will tell. I doubt that it will do it in GA. Ted will still need to make some adjustments and the weather is gonna suck. I just think good tires will to more than anything else.

Padre, are you comming next weekend?

If I get some good runs tomorrow night, then it may be worth the trip to Valdosta. I'm supposed to be on vacation on the beach that day, so I'm trying to plan my time.

With the suspension mods, my traction worsened. I have cut 1.65's with stock + trailing arms and 555r's. I have matched that, but with a staggered launch (roll, punch).

So it does have a 1.5 in it, with the 555r's. I just want to get the suspension down first. Then the next step is Mickey Thompsons.

If anything, it will be a learning experience to see if removing the front sway gets me back to where I was.

Thanks for the input. Hope to see you in a week.

Padre

[Supercharged SS]

Originally Posted by Padre

If I get some good runs tomorrow night, then it may be worth the trip to Valdosta. I'm supposed to be on vacation on the beach that day, so I'm trying to plan my time.

With the suspension mods, my traction worsened. I have cut 1.65's with stock + trailing arms and 555r's. I have matched that, but with a staggered launch (roll, punch).

So it does have a 1.5 in it, with the 555r's. I just want to get the suspension down first. Then the next step is Mickey Thompsons.

If anything, it will be a learning experience to see if removing the front sway gets me back to where I was.

Thanks for the input. Hope to see you in a week.

Padre

Good luck!

[Padre]

Run #2 tonight @ Steele:
12.152 @ 113.69, 1.677 sixty, 7.784 @ 89.65

New personal best.

Padre

[Padre]

OK, here's the rundown on last night at Steele, Alabama International Dragway, Midnight Madness.

This week, two changes: ditched the front sway (it drives fine around town and on the higway, so no worries). Also popped the driver's foglamp to get some cool air on the filter (works like a charm - kept the IAT sensor from getting heat soaked - it was about 9* over ambient in the staging lanes, and ambient in the runs).



Very nice night for racing. DA was between 1300 and 1000. Clear, wind died down, big temp/dewpoint differential (good thing). Temps were between 64* and 60*.

The electric water pump worked even better in the low temps. This is with the EWP on, motor off, sitting in the staging lanes for 3 minutes. By the time I was staged, it would be at a perfect 180*.



First run was a 12.3 @ 112, with a 1.7.

I then added 1* of timing. That's it.

1/4: 12.152 @ 113.69, 1.677 sixty
1/8: 7.784 @ 89.65





Just about as a perfect run as I could hope for. Launched off idle, and you can see, quick steady roll-in, and it hooked perfectly.

Meanwhile, they let the big boys run. One fellow must have sprayed oil on the track, because TVWilkes in his new race car (2000 Z28, 410 iron LS-motor, 4:30 gears, slicks, skinnies) pulled a wheelie off the line, but had to dodge the wall before the 1/8th.





Well, the track was shutdown for about an hour for clean up. But they only cleaned it to the 1/8th (didn't help) and the track was worthless. Here's my run against a Honda that runs as good as 12.8 - he treed me as I was struggling just to keep it straight. As you can see, I backed out of it, and went home.



All in all, very happy with the performance of the car right now and my new personal best. I think before I go cam, I'll be redoing the suspension - Pedders adjustable coilovers? - no sense in going halfway, especially if I'm going to add another 100rwhp to it.

Padre

[Pro Stock John]

Congrats!!

[Moody'sSS]

congrats..

Sent via Moody's EVO