Longhornd00d's Drag Racing Notebook

[LegendLives]

Hey, congrats on the virgin runs. Fun as hell, untill something breaks...LOL Enjoy it and be safe.

 

[Sharad]

Awesome! I think I'm going to try to find someone selling a used set of stock rims to put them on.

Also, would LCA's by themselves help with the wheel hop? I don't really want to lower the car since the roads around here are horrible. After all of the searching I've done on the forum most people say yes, but they usually are lowered at the same time.

Yep, some Mickey Thompson Drag Radials on a spare set of rims would be a day and night difference for your ETs!!

As for the LCAs... yes, LCAs by themselves help a ton, lowered or not. I strongly recommend UPR Products "street" control arms. They are made of tubular chrome-moly with polyurethane bushings so they are EXTREMELY durable. Much stronger than the factory arms. Also they have a LIFETIME Guarantee! They are on sale for $199 for the set of three. http://www.uprproducts.com/mustang-chrome-moly-street-control-arm-package-05.html

Between the control arms and tires, you will 60 foot in the 1.70s which should drop you into the 12.60 zone!

 

[HEMI LOL]

lol, welcome to the sickness!

with my limited 3v seat time, i think that 12.90s are just impossible on a street tire. you can launch the car hard enough to get the good short time. i had a hell of a time getting the time in my sig. that was with a 4k launch IIRC.

 

[3VPOWA]

Didn't see these replies until today. Might have been because of classes starting back up this week.

Nice job for a first time! I allways wanted a 12 sec ride growing up. I had a 289 65 4 spd Mustang that I built to GT350 specs and it would go 14.30's on street tires and a 13.0 with open headers and 7" wrinkle wall slicks. Never got my 12. That was early 70's. I now have an 08 GT 5spd stick and would like my 12' now! I need suggestions on launch rpm, clutch release, tire pressure, burnout etc. on stock 17" P Zero's. Which yellow can you leave on with a shallow stage. After seeing your results it sounds doable in cool florida winter air. I imagine summer heat won't let that happen. What will it take to get 12 sec times? Tires? I have not been down a track since the 70's but I can still remember the goose bumps and the rush as open headers sing as the lights count down!

Thanks, man! In all honesty, I cannot tell you how to get 12's in these cars. lol I ran about 11 or 12 times that day and just messed around with the launches and whatnot. Definitely get a tire, though. Mine would spin off of the line and I noticed it spinning when I hit second midway down the track as well.

Hey, congrats on the virgin runs. Fun as hell, untill something breaks...LOL Enjoy it and be safe.

That's what I've been thinking lately. She's my DD (have a backup car if something does happen), but I don't really want to have to fix anything anytime soon. I'm still have my ESP until Dec. '12, so if the transmission or something goes out I'll just put the factory shifter back in and take it in. Only thing I'm thinking that I might need sooner than later is a new clutch if I start going to the track regularly.

Yep, some Mickey Thompson Drag Radials on a spare set of rims would be a day and night difference for your ETs!!

As for the LCAs... yes, LCAs by themselves help a ton, lowered or not. I strongly recommend UPR Products "street" control arms. They are made of tubular chrome-moly with polyurethane bushings so they are EXTREMELY durable. Much stronger than the factory arms. Also they have a LIFETIME Guarantee! They are on sale for $199 for the set of three. http://www.uprproducts.com/mustang-chrome-moly-street-control-arm-package-05.html

Between the control arms and tires, you will 60 foot in the 1.70s which should drop you into the 12.60 zone!

Thanks. That's what I like to hear! I just want to reach a 12.9 or better with the way she sits mod wise (less tires and LCA's). And then maybe save up for a small shot of N2O for the track to see what she does.

lol, welcome to the sickness!

with my limited 3v seat time, i think that 12.90s are just impossible on a street tire. you can launch the car hard enough to get the good short time. i had a hell of a time getting the time in my sig. that was with a 4k launch IIRC.

Yea, every time I'd come off the line all I would hear were the tires squealing and then it would catch and take off.

 

[1fastpony]

It's a blast 5 years ago after I had my car for about 4 months I made a visit to the track, car in full stock setup. It had been over 25 yrs since last blast down the track, in college. Then a couple of times later in the military...LX 302 and Buick Grand National cars in the late 80's early 90's.
Get some DR'S whether m/t, Bfg or nittos. But when you get sticky tires do not do LCA's without doing the UCA or you will still have traction issues. Gears will help reduce et and remove front sway bar.

106mph trap is good for 12.8 - 12.7 et all things being equal with a 1.7 60ft time.

 

[TexasBlownV8]

Started my 'addiction' about 5 years ago. The thrill and fun is there every pass!

Drag radials on a stock 17" rim is a decent choice and will gain you a little time. Just tires alone, I picked up 4/10s compared to stock Pirelli's.
For wheel hop, you only need a set of fixed-length lower control arms.

A little different gear will get you faster, too.

...soon you'll be inquiring about nitrous, boost, etc...all so you can go a little faster...

Enjoy the addiction and have fun!!

 

[3VPOWA]

It's a blast 5 years ago after I had my car for about 4 months I made a visit to the track, car in full stock setup. It had been over 25 yrs since last blast down the track, in college. Then a couple of times later in the military...LX 302 and Buick Grand National cars in the late 80's early 90's.
Get some DR'S whether m/t, Bfg or nittos. But when you get sticky tires do not do LCA's without doing the UCA or you will still have traction issues. Gears will help reduce et and remove front sway bar.

106mph trap is good for 12.8 - 12.7 et all things being equal with a 1.7 60ft time.

I just wish I would have known about this track 3 years ago when I first bought the car!

I'm thinking some Mickey Thompson ET Street Radials on OEM 17" wheels. I don't need anything too fancy. Do I really need to alter the UCA's without being lowered? I was hoping to avoid that in all honesty, especially since I drive the car ~400 miles/week for work and school.

4.10's definitely aren't out of the equation. A local Ford dealership quoted me ~$550 parts and labor to get them installed.

Started my 'addiction' about 5 years ago. The thrill and fun is there every pass!

Drag radials on a stock 17" rim is a decent choice and will gain you a little time. Just tires alone, I picked up 4/10s compared to stock Pirelli's.
For wheel hop, you only need a set of fixed-length lower control arms.

A little different gear will get you faster, too.

...soon you'll be inquiring about nitrous, boost, etc...all so you can go a little faster...

Enjoy the addiction and have fun!!

Wow, 4/10's just out of a tire? The Nitto 555's I have on there didn't do too bad getting some traction. I just know that there's more on the table that can be taken with a better tire.

And I'm already looking into a small shot of the giggle gas...

 

[Noclutch]

lol, welcome to the sickness!

with my limited 3v seat time, i think that 12.90s are just impossible on a street tire. you can launch the car hard enough to get the good short time. i had a hell of a time getting the time in my sig. that was with a 4k launch IIRC.

It can be done. Get the control arms, upper and lower and an adjustable set. You will regret not going with them. Also drop the sway bar, I still run with mine but it will help you getting it off.

Bone stock I was 14.1 @ 100 and did the cai and tune at the track and went 13.6 @ 104. I was mod hooked!!! Started building from the back with 4.10s and it was 13.3 consistent. UDP's and delets got me to 13.1 then some cams I ended the season with 12.9s @ 107.5 mph, all on the stock tires and at full weight. 1.94 60' is the best so far thanks to the control arms. Tires are near spent and last race was mid Oct. and track wont open for another 3 months.....agggggghhhrrrrr!!!! AlGore...where is that global warming at????

Good luck and happy spending.

 

[fdjizm]

Definitely get DR's, I couldn't get out of the 13.2's with street tires.
I was scared of the dr's spinning actually but learned to trust the tires.
After some advice from a few guys on here I reved to 5k rpm and dropped that bitch and chirp gone!

 

[Mike K]

I drop mine at 5k with no issues besides my heavy as fuck tire/wheel combo but that will change this year

 

[fdjizm]

I was scared to do it at first besides how sticky could mickey be? I was wrong! I got my best 60ft slipping just a bit from 5500 though :/

 

[3VPOWA]

Definitely get DR's, I couldn't get out of the 13.2's with street tires.
I was scared of the dr's spinning actually but learned to trust the tires.
After some advice from a few guys on here I reved to 5k rpm and dropped that bitch and chirp gone!

That's what I'm talking about!

I plan to purchase some by this spring and hopefully can get my 12.9 or quicker.

 

[Big50]

Haha, your story sounds almost exactly like mine. 2 years ago i went out with my brother with my mildly modded mustang and was hooked. Now, i am still dumping money into it. Next up is a new tranny and built rear, when money permits that is.

 

[3VPOWA]

Need Pointers (Drag Radials)

Alright, fellas. I'm headed back to the track on Saturday, May 7, but with some ET Street Radials this time. I've never ran on a DR before so I'm not too sure how to go about running with them.

Setup: MT ET Street Radials 275/50/15 on Race Star 15x8's.
3.55 Gears, Manual Transmission, SLP Line Lock

Decent PSI to set them at? 17-20?

I've read on here to light them up for a good 3-4 seconds in 2nd gear (50-55mph) to get them sticky. Now how about launching on them? With the street tire runs I was basically dumping the clutch. However, I don't think that'd be a good idea with something that might actually hook. lol

What would be a good RPM to launch? I would drop it around 4K on the street tires. Slip the clutch?

Any pointers/advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm hoping to get a 12.7 or better!

EDIT: Wanted to add, no suspension work has been done on this car. Factory LCA's, struts/shocks, springs, etc.

 

[stang1971]

i have the mt 275/50/15... 15 psi.... healthy 2nd gear burnout..... i would start off at 5k and go from there.... i had a set of 18" nt05r's that at 16 psi i would launch at 5500 and would pull high 1.6's with..

 

[GT.350-R]

With the 3:55 gear and a tire that hooks I think you will need to slip the clutch quite a bit at a higher RPM to stay in your power range.

 

[stang72]

You may have already,But if not jerk the front sway bar before you go.It might help a little.

 

[808muscle]

My first mistake with running race tires was I set the psi too low and was bogging. So dont be afraid to start at 20 or higher and adjust from there. Track conditions and weather all play into it.

 

[Diabolical!]

I have 275/60/15 ET Streets. I light them up in second gear for about 5 seconds and launch hard at 4K rpms. I run about 14psi. This works well for me at my power level.

 

[D98GT]

Yeah a nice healthy 2nd gear burnout will get you the results. Try to avoid the water when pulling up, reverse into the water, pull out and do a SECOND gear burnout.




I am so glad I got rid of that exhaust setup haha...It would have been crazy loud with the o/r midpipe that I have now