Problems at the track

[fourmustngs]

A while back I did a 1/8 mile pass on stock tires...
1.97 60ft and 8.03 in the 1/8th

since then I added fixed lower control arms...adj panhard bar..
sway bar relocation kit
15x10 race stars with nitto nt555r 275/60/15...
that weekend was warmer than previos but all my times was worse...


now I also added a steeda uca and went to a 1/4 mile track
best was 1.99 60ft 8.15 1/8 12.51@113


2012 5.0 automatic 3.15 gears...Airaid coldair intake...bama tunes...ford x pipe...gt500 mufflers



Im wondering if my uca is setup correctly...directions suck with steeda...
plus everything says measure from pinion falnge but there is not a single spot on there thats flat enough to take a proper measurement??


Im also wondering if my drag radials suck...no matter how much I was trying to burn them in the water box...dont seem to be able to get them to smoke and heat up...been runnin 16-18 psi...

I also get more noise from the driveshaft clunking when taking my foot of/on the gas...

 

[irishpwr46]

how long are you heating the tires and at what speed? did you add an aluminum driveshaft? did you set the uca to the stock length? did you buy the tires new? I wouldn't heat drag radials in the water box personally

 

[fourmustngs]

No to aluminum driveshaft...just stock 2 peice..

I set them to what steeda had on there....if I use the diff housing to the rear driveshaft..its a 0 degrees...but pinion flange looks different than housing...

I bought these tires used...I have about 4/32 left...

 

[irishpwr46]

how do they look. do they look like they are getting soft from being heated? they may have been cycled out already. as far as the stock two piece, you shouldn't have to change your pinion angle with it. set the uca to the stock length and leave it like that since you don't need the angle changed with the stock ds.

 

[fourmustngs]

they not very soft...

 

[skwerl]

My first set of drag wheels came with used Nitto 555r tires and they were absolutely worthless at the track. I ended up replacing them within 2 weeks because they weren't any better than my stock street tires. And I also discovered that one of the tires had been plugged before I bought them. Needless to say, I was not pleased with the seller (who had a perfect ITrader rating). I am glad he's no longer active on this forum.

 

[Five Oh Brian]

Nitto 555R's suck. No better traction than a good summer performance tire. And, 5.0L automatics don't need suspension upgrades to launch well, unlike the MT82 cars. If you want better 60' times, a good stall converter will do the trick. Best bang-for-the-buck for our cars after forced induction and tuning, IMHO.

As for heating the tires (when you eventually get "real" drag radials), back into the water box, do a 2nd gear burnout for several seconds and ease off the brakes to let the car roll forward out of the water while still spinning to dry them off. Once they grab/bark, they're ready.

 

[fourmustngs]

Nitto 555R's suck.


As for heating the tires (when you eventually get "real" drag radials), back into the water box, do a 2nd gear burnout for several seconds and ease off the brakes to let the car roll forward out of the water while still spinning to dry them off. Once they grab/bark, they're ready.

I did exactly this way to do burnout....

I have the race stars now but hate the "universal" fit...essentrics needed to bolt on...

Im thinking of getting M/T or hoosier drag radials...

 

[fourmustngs]

Cant afford a Circle D converter and then custom tune anytime soon...

 

[marcspaz]

Dude, don't do burnouts in the water box. The purpose of the water is to slightly wet the tires so you can break traction easier to start the burnout. Water strips heat as it evaporates. Burnouts in water won't heat your tires.

Roll through the water and as you do, spin the tires for one or two rotations, then pull out. Once you are out of the water box in a mostly dry location, put your trans in 1st, slightly apply the brakes and hit the gas with a quick pedal, take the revs to about 5k and shift into 2nd. Depending on your gear and tire size, you may also need to shift into 3rd. You want the tires spinning at about 60 mph for about 3 to 5 seconds. Slowly let your foot of the brake and gas to reduce the shock of the tires hooking up.

Here is a good example..

 

[fourmustngs]

well didnt actually mean in the water box...just used the water box...i usually start the burnout about 3-5 feet out of the box