since no one reads the drag racing forum...

[Fosters]

and I want some opinions before i hit the sack... here's a repost:p

first time at the track...
96 GT aod, mostly stock, air silencer for sure, and I think pulleys (else I got a lowlife alternator and a sucky water pump), 245 BFGs on the back, check engine light on (misfire cyl 1):

1st run:
1.345 R/T
2.379 60'
6.690 330'
10.179 1/8 @ 70.57
13.169 1000ft
15.715 @ 87.83

2nd run:
1.414 R/T
2.476 60'
6.809 330'
10.305 1/8 @ 70.43
13.325 1000'
15.896 @ 87.97

3rd run:
1.377 R/T
2.338 60'
6.646 330'
10.142 1/8 @ 70.35
13.145 1000'
15.697 @ 88.47


I know my reaction times suck... the last race, I coulda dropped into 14s have I had the other guy's reaction time

first race was against a 94-98 z28, all stock and 1st timer also supposedly, he ran 14.615 @ 94.56, with a 1.212 rt.

second race was a turboed mr2, he ran 15.948@87.06 with a 1.660 rt

third was against an F150 harley davidson blower, intake and some other stuff, ran 14.956 @ 92.33.

btw, 3rd run I dropped the pressure on one of my tires from 35 to 30 (passenger one was already at 29ish).

wish I'd get more traction... those tracks aren't BFG friendly at all first time i spun out about 20 ft easy, second one seemed like an almost perfect launch, spun just a wee bit and got hook soon, 3rd was again a ~1.5 sec spin.


also, first and third launches were in 1st gear, shifted to second (5500 moved lever 5800 shifted on first run, 5000 lever 5400ish shifted 3rd run), similar 5250ish shift 2-3 on both passes; middle pass was with it in drive.

[Autometer]

I wish I can find my timeslip. I think I would have owned you in the Metro 1/8 mile. Maybe not. So what opinions were you hoping for?

Reaction time has nothing to do with your ET. it doesn't start timing till your move that front tire.

[Fosters]

ahh, didn't know the reaction time thing...

how are the times for a 96-98 stockish gt? any tips on how to launch it better on street tires?

water box or no water box? I went around it all 3 times, last 2 times I did a small dry burnout though

what pressure to run in the tires? 30psi ok?

[Autometer]

I don't store any technical data for the stangs. but 96-98 were the slowest of the bunch right? I've seen some just barely hit 200 hp at the wheels.

You can play with the tire pressure and see what works with your car. make sure the track has a compressor so you can put air in it.

Yeah drive around the water box. Don't back into the puddle of water either if there is one.

As for the launch, all I can say is practice. Its your car and you're driving it. You'll have to see what works for you. Try alternating lanes too. One lane may be just slimey.

I just read you have an AOD. How are you launching with an automatic? Try from idle. If you hold the brakes and give it alot of gas at the tree, then all you're doing is preloading your rear suspension then it won't work for you. Thus tire spin.

Mid 15's is good. Have you dynoed it? I've seen an auto 98 make like 180.

[Fosters]

thought about the lanes on the way back... all the cars that ran alone went into the left lane... I always went into right...

the jet car they had also ran in the left lane. God that thing was loud :D

cool, I'll look into that..and I think 2 sand bags to help my traction next time, heh :)

[Fosters]

never dynoed it, launched it with brake held and revved to about 1000 rpm each time, first and 3rd time in 1st gear manual, second in drive. Definately gotta try from idle though... but if it's insta let go of idle and gas it, I'm pretty sure i'll be peeling out for a while :\

gotta practice like you said, still wondering if I can get it down to 14.99 without gears... prolly wont happen tho :(

[Autometer]

Originally posted by Fosters
thought about the lanes on the way back... all the cars that ran alone went into the left lane... I always went into right...

the jet car they had also ran in the left lane. God that thing was loud :D

cool, I'll look into that..and I think 2 sand bags to help my traction next time, heh :)

How is the shape of your tires? Regular radials suck when they're about bald. I don't know why you'd have traction problems.

Put about 20-25 lbs in your rears. Just drive around the water, if you want to spin them, just for a second to clean off rocks, cig butts and crap like that.

Try from an idle at the tree.

My last motor in the Malibu ran 1.98 60ft on regular 16in radials with 12.77 at 107. Our cars have a similar 4 link control arm design and my car is too stiff for drag racing. Who knows, it could be just track preparation. :dunno:

[Autometer]

Originally posted by Fosters
never dynoed it, launched it with brake held and revved to about 1000 rpm each time, first and 3rd time in 1st gear manual, second in drive. Definately gotta try from idle though... but if it's insta let go of idle and gas it, I'm pretty sure i'll be peeling out for a while :\


When you held the brake, did the car tweak when you brought up the rpms to 1000? I don't know what the stock specs on your stock converter but I'm guessing around 1500 to 1800. At 1000 you may not preload the suspension.

[Fosters]

they're in decent shape, not bald yet, but dont see them lasting more than 5-10k miles, depending how hard I drive em. They're the ZRs so they got a decent pattern. The traction was an all around thing I guess, everyone was complaining. everyone's mph supposedly was ~2-3 off. guy with a bone stock 99 cobra ran 14.1 on slicks and 14.7 on street tires. guy next to me in a 92 camaro with a 305 in it ran 16.3 or so, street tires.

Also, the track was waaaay crowded, in 4 hours I barely got to do 3 runs, which i'm told it's horrible... gonna try another track after I get my gears and see how it goes.

Hoping to be able to bark the tires in second with gears and maybe a shift kit... been wanting a car that does that for a while :D

Originally posted by Autometer



When you held the brake, did the car tweak when you brought up the rpms to 1000? I don't know what the stock specs on your stock converter but I'm guessing around 1500 to 1800. At 1000 you may not preload the suspension.

no, I thought I was being conservative and letting some room to get traction. Originally I was planning on 1500+ rpms but when I saw tires break loose at that speed, decided it'd be wise not to :p

[Ghetto]

Reaction time has nothing to do with your ETs,the clock doesn't start going until you break the 2nd stage light beam.

96-98GTs ARE TURDS

:D

[AV8R]

Originally posted by Autometer
I wish I can find my timeslip. I think I would have owned you in the Metro 1/8 mile. Maybe not. So what opinions were you hoping for?

Reaction time has nothing to do with your ET. it doesn't start timing till your move that front tire.

Don't forget that Arizona is several thousand feet in elevation. I'm sure there is some correction factor that you can apply to covert it to mean sea level.

[Carson]

Originally posted by Ghettostang
96-98GTs ARE TURDS :D

I'm with you! :p

[PNYXPRS]

You need to get you 60ft times down. I don't know much about launching an automatic so I will stay away from that.

My friend ran a stock 94 GT with 115K on the odometer and only a K&N filter and turned a 14.7 on street tires. The 96's had about 15 more HP than the 94-95's.

As for the tires, you should not go below 28lbs of pressure on street tires. If you do, the radials are very stiff and will cause the middle of the tire to concave upwards causing less tire contacting the street. Go around the water box, and do a quick burn-out just to clean the tires. Street tire do not hook as well when they heat up. My suggestion would be to get a cheap set of rims and get some drag radials. Every tenth you can save in the 60ft = 2 tenths in the 1/4.

[96gts]

Originally posted by Ghettostang

96-98GTs ARE TURDS

:D

Oh no, not this again. He has an auto, so there's no controlling shift points, and it sounds like he just needs practice.

It seems that you always label them as turds because of some guy who's first time at the track was a real eye opener for that person, and the realization that practice is needed.

[dantheman]

Originally posted by 96gts


Oh no, not this again. He has an auto, so there's no controlling shift points, and it sounds like he just needs practice.

It seems that you always label them as turds because of some guy who's first time at the track was a real eye opener for that person, and the realization that practice is needed.

No, really, its true :)

[96gts]

Originally posted by dantheman


No, really, its true :)

Uh, maybe for people who can't drive.

I know I don't run the fastest times in the world, but do you think I ran those times after going to the track once or twice??? No, it takes practice.

And please quit calling them slow, b/c not all 96-98's are.

[dantheman]

Modded V8 + 95mph traps = turd

Stock headed 96-98 GT = turd

Prove me wrong :)

[96gts]

Originally posted by dantheman
Modded V8 + 95mph traps = turd

Stock headed 96-98 GT = turd

Prove me wrong :)

I didn't know this was going to turn into a pissing match..... :rolleyes:

So I guess my car is a turd?? How many other 96-98 stangs have you seen hit 13's with just pulleys, gears, tires, and an off-road H?? NONE.