Thread: Kind Of A Drag

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Originally Posted by Good Wrench

this is G.W.s wife steph...he asked me to log in and say thanks to you 1g the calculator worked like a dream and he has taken ppls advice and used it
right now he's under the car...AGAIN!!!

and many thanks from me too

With a crew like your wonderful wife behind you there are no limits!!!

By the way, I drive a $1,000 go-cart to work and cruise on the weekends in the elky, but it helps to keep the bills inline!

OR, maybe a cheaper alternative?? LOL.. Always liked a White with blue stripes!

Exhaust Notes - A Blog from MSN Autos - MSN Autos

This link might help on used stuff:

Race, performance & street cars, engines, engine parts, trailers for sale

Being used,buyer beware.Know what you looking at and how to ask the right questions.In fact might want to run whatever interest in parts pass the guys here.

Hiyall,

We,, Been thinkin about all the advice which I appreciate. Best thing I can think of is Just building another drag car, towing it with the Monte. Although heavy it's still a kick-butt street machine. Looks pretty too we take it to car shows sometimes and that car is me Just gotta love that 70's shape! Besides, it's part of the family and there's one car event that the Monte would be tops, The demolition derby!

I got a buddy who's rebuilding the engine of a 87 Honda Accord and says it's for me to go to work in. There's our 10 year old Japanese car.

I keep mentioning motorcycle to the wife but she's allergic to the sun and breaks out something awful.

Soooo, for the time being we got the Monte to play with still. I traded the 3.73 gears for 3.43. Gonna put em in next day off. At any rate, those 2.73 gears in it are a bit too tall anyway.

The race shop said I need to put in a Holley carburetor so I did it. I had a Holley 600 an put in 66 jets and 6.5 power valve. I rebuilt the thing and had all my adjustments dead on. It worked just fine. Problem was I lost all my bottom end torque. It was slower than my dad's 68 Chevy wagon. So I put in 69 jets. It idled smoother but still no deal. I put in a bigger can for the accelerater pump and bigger nozzles. No flat spot but no change in performance either. So I put that Edelbrock I keep working on back in. Now I can do burnouts again. Go figure!

I'm keeping the crush bars in the doors on account of if we get t-boned on the highway, Well, i'd rather have the wife than the car. But, Man! those doors are heavy! I was thinking of fabricating my own fiberglass hood. Been on the back of my mind.

Oh, 1Gary, that link didn't work for me. Page not found.

I asked my buudy to join my pit crew. His job is to drive his Camery to the track and drive me home if the car breaks.

Well, the Monte is retiring as a drag car anyway. However, I'll still drag it on special occasions, like when I change a part. I'd like to see if I can get it into the 13's just for kicks. That way i'll be sure to manuver around all those prophylactics on the freeway.

If you google Racing Junk .com.You'll find it is a good link.Guess their site is having issues right now.

Well, I went an done it. I put the 3.42 gears in the rear. Then I took it on the freeway. Suddenly Deja-Vu hit me. I wanted to pull the car on the side of the road and run from it as fast as I could. It felt just like that 4.11 geared Chevelle I ran so long ago. I ran home and picked those old gears out of the trash like a homeless Hot-Rodder. But as it is, work won't allow me to put em back in until I get another few days off.
Meanwhile, i'm having to drive the car. I must admit, those new gears do have an advantage at least on the freeway. The engine is more in the power curve and I can manuever better when five prophylactics in four lanes try to occupy the lane in front of my bumper at the same time. But man! I feel like i'm running around in second gear all the time. I floor the car on the freeway and I don't even get passing gear anymore. I used to cruise at 2200 rpm. Now it's 2800.
I voiced my concerns to Mrs Good Wrench and she just said; "Its all right, just enjoy it"
Enjoy what? That it took a quarter tank of gas to go 24 miles? That the speedometer lies to me worse than the present administration? That the engine being wound up so tight that it spun my alternator pulley off and is now being trampled on interstate 35?

Gary1 is right. I need another beater to drive. But, I know me. I really have never owned a car that i can just leave alone. If I can make a car go faster, I'll do it. Even if i got a clown car I'll hot-rod it out I swear! Then what will I have? two cars that I can't afford to drive.
Life is just too short to drive a slow car. Or a clown car. I know, I know, I hafta face facts. I'm driving something that burns more fuel than a space shuttle two stage rocket. But I just can't help feeling the need...
I know what I'm gonna do. Much to the detriment of all that good advice about not dragging our only set of wheels. I know, but i know me. I'm gonna hafta drag it. At least one more time just to see what it'll do.
I was hoping some day I could get it out of my system. I had high hopes when cars started getting uglier, smaller, weaker and more freaky by the minute. But it's no use. I tried to slow down once. I got a Chevy Nova. After a few adjustments it turned into a super nova. Dang! I even bought a Ford Pinto! A station wagon! Yep, I did it. The only thing keeping me away from the strip is work. Dang blasted work.

So, now what do I do? Taller back tires? Another transmission with overdrive? Hooks on the front bumper so I can latch onto the car in front of me? Or a frontal lobotomy? Well, the back tires are already 235-70-r-15's already. Can I go bigger? Is there a transmission that has the same dementions as a THM-350?
A Fiero owner named "Jack" said I should get a quick change rear axle. Have gears for street and strip. Good idea. But I don't see much for the axle that fits the car now. Coil springs with four links. And, what's it cost, man?

And, as I drive the car more,I'm getting less buyer's remorse over those gears. I may just leave it alone now.

And now, what about a higher stall torque converter? do i go for it? If so, what stall? Or, should I go back to the engine? Not much more I can think of doing to that. The new race shop I went to says I need a higher stall converter and possibly a bigger carburetor now. Oh, yeah.. And a supercharger. I don't think they're helping me much. Besides, I can't afford all that.
The engine is repeatedly hitting over 6000 rpm. Do I set my limiter to 5500? Or do I get new lifters? And a new intake?

The old speed shop has some slicks and they're cheap but they specify "Dirt" on the sides. I can get em with rims for $300. Is it worth it or am I just spinning my wheels? They're only good for racing. I can't drive on em.

Is there a really good street tire that could be used for the strip as well? Can I really have my cake and race it too?

Well, I think Mrs GW and I will go shopping for junkers next week. Our limit will be $100.
I saw a distressed purple camaro ragtop that looked interesting. And an old 80's Mustang. And a 65 Ford Country Squire. Cream yellow it was with rust in strategic places.

What to do, what to do...

Do I go for more speed?

Or, do I put the old gears back in the car and try to act normal? If I can.

I had to go back and reread this.3.42's really isn't much of a gear change.Should be a highway cruise gear.3.73 should be a good all around gear and 4.10's and up are where you get into limitations for prolonged highway use.Kind of sounds like with the 3.42's your leaning on the new found power band with the gas peddle.

Looser convertor??.Let's say the best advise first and foremost before any changes is you should already have a tranny cooler.Better yet a tranny cooler and a tranny temp gauge.A looser convertor(somewhat depends on how lose too)adds heat.These trannies do not like heat.

I think it was Dave that suggested you find a beater for a D.D'er.I have been saying you should find a candidate to build for solely racing.Enjoy your cruiser for rod cruiser nights having at home a race car.Build that race car towards a E.T. class you afford.Don't have to be shiny necessary.Primer is good.Spend the money on the go fast parts for that E.T. class that you can afford.You need for a race car to look for a lighter wt car or one that has a history model that does very well in a E.T. class.Like I suggested the 80's Malibu station wagons with a SBC 406 are real contenders in what used to be called Heavy E.T.It has a ability to "bolt on" a whole range of engines.That way you get to apply race car only stuff to it.Like locker rear ends,slicks,open headers,race car only cams,etc.Hell flat tow it to the track behind the Montie.

Are there dual purpose cars??.Should are.But like everything else there are trade-offs.With my1973 Dodge dart 340 sport years ago in my third yr racing it,it was due to be freshen up.I actually had a 440 set aside to put in it that needed to be gone threw.I had gotten so competitive by knowing the car so well,it was putting me in the top four on every outing.I mean it was like being so focused that the car and me melted together as one unit on some nights.A guys walks up to me in the pits(while I was laying once again on my back corking the headers back up and about to change the slicks back off.Btw,in the rain at the end of the night when most had left to go home,now that is real fun racing.NOT!!) and says he and his wife have been watching me for two yrs and wanted to buy the car.Thief's and never know what they look like I gave him my phone number telling him I had a second 440 engine for it and still a lean or payments from the back loan.(remember me telling you you don't finance race cars with payments.)So the guys calls me and I arrange a meeting place.He tells me he and the wife talked it over and the offer was to take over the payments,pay for all the mods I have done along with buying the 440,and alittle extra cash for the fact he thought I had built a winner.I am thinking oh yeah what a waste of the gas and time,just another want-to-be tire kicker.I shoot him a price and he has rolls of cash on him asking if I would follow him home saying he would give me a ride back.NOW THAT IS A WINNING FORMULA.LOL.All the win money was mine as a bonus.SOLD!!!!.One thing I found to be very proud of.I had seen him with the car and it never ran as good.Surprised to in the end some of it was me as a driver.All the truth,but the learning curve I am passing on to you,is there is race cars and then there are street cars trying to be race cars.Two entirely different things that should not be confused.

As I said-the wagons can be winners.Might not be everyone's cup of tea,but a true contender.Best part is generally you can buy into one cheap.

My (wifes) wagon was a drag car when I bought it the frames is SOOOO messed up but I got the body to fit right and now will be her grocery getter

Gezzz Charlie.That is a sweet heart wagon.

Dang!! Love them draggin wagons! That launch in the Malibu could be on the cover of Hot-Rod magazine! And frame or not I'd drive that Nomad!

Well, Mrs GW and I went to the car lot with a back lot and looked at the beaters until the salesman said his boss won't sell us a car from there, "Liability Blah,blah,blah". No prob. Buying an all out light drag car makes sense. Keep the Monte for cruising, grocery getting, It's a fun car to drive, Just wouldn't want to take it on any long trips. Them new gears sure do find torque I never knew I had. At least I can out-maneuver the Chevy Suburbans.

Yeah Gary, I got a tranny cooler. Got one for free from a buddy that asked if I needed one. I wouldn't run without one regardless. Not even in a grocery getter.

Now I need a new water pump. Anybody got experience with the aluminum ones? Speed shops got one for $80. Says that it moves the water faster. I got a 185 thermostat and the car's running up to 190 on these hot days and I even got a desert cooler radiator. But I was wondering if the light pump would be strong enough. And what coolant should I use? I do have an aluminum intake but a pump is something different.

I pulled the plugs finally. Gas fouled, a couple even wet kinda. May drop the AF mixture some but if I do that it kicks the legs out of acceleration. NOS may have fouled em anyway as there's four big holes dumping into the intake. I'll keep an eye on em.

I just checked the plugs now, Black and wet but no gas smell. Oil I guess. Need to fluff up the block I guess. I could try Engine Restore "mechanic-in-a-can" meanwhile. Thing is, I don't see smoke. Heads are new too. Those Moly rings never did seat anyway. Rats!

A good time for a stroker. 383. Ought to be fun.

Forgot to ask, What's a good timing setting on the crank? 8, 10 or 12? or am I splitting hairs. 91 octane gas, no pinging anytime.

Hiya,

Well, I went an done it again. Took our family car out and dragged it. Got low 15s all night and only busted a power steering belt and had lifter noise after a run. Best et was 15.001. Lower gears and those cheap drag tires should have done better I supposed. Couldn't feel the pull of the NOS either. But better than last time.

Got a dyno done on the car too. Talk about strain! First pull was 226.73 power and 283.91 torque. (Boo Hiss)

Took off the air cleaner,
Power 238.27 Torque 289.98

Moved timing from 10 degrees to 11,

Power 236.50 Torque 290.22.

Bought 2 K&N elements one for the top, one for the sides. $170 bucks (bollocks)

I Think the engine sucks after the dyno so I did a compression test to find out why.

Left side is 1-185 3-190 5-195 7-190
Right side is 2-180 4-185 6-190 8-185

No leakdown as I have no 220 for the compressor and no gauges besides if there was a problem there i'd see blow-by anyway.

Carb was 13.1 AF all the way slightly dipping to 12.5 at WOT . I had changed the secondary jets from 65 to 68 a while back.

Changed the primary needles richer a stage and a half appox 8%. Car runs smoother now. Slight hydrocarbon smell but still steam coming out the pipes and no smoke. Although I got black sooty smoke at WOT. Had it when it was leaner anyway. May change secondary jets back to 65.

Heads are fresh World SBC 170 cfm-67 cc 2.02/1.60 valves with 5500 springs.
Pistons are TRW 4 valve relief flat-tops. Can anyone guess the compression?

Cam is Lunati barebones 10001 lift at .443 intake .465 exhaust. Duration is at 214 intake and 224 exhaust. Cam is 5 advanced at TDC by design. Spark kept blowing through carburetor too many times so I moved crank timing back to precisely 9.5 No pop now.

Well, I'm at a loss as to what to do now. I'm hoping at least to get the car into the 14s and 100 mph by the end of the season. But I can't think of anything else I can do short of throwing the radio out the window with the back seat.

Where am i going wrong?

Dragged it again. Changed to NGK plugs, colder but works fine. Cleaned out filter on NOS, Put on drag dirt tires at 17 PSI. Best time was 14.132. Got low 14s all night. Season ending soon. May try for 13s but perhaps next year. Mrs GW says we'll get a stroker next tax rebate. And with a bullet proof tranny 350 I got for a rebuild. With a looser torque converter. Just not sure how loose yet. Saw an OLDS 80s station wagon running 10s. Impressive.
Sure will miss the racing. Stupid winter.

HIYA,

Got spare nos bottle on the cheaps at speed shop. Yay!

Got tranny temp Gage. Shouldn't have bothered Tranny runs below 100 all the time. Now at least.
Got a purge solenoid for the nos.
Question as to where to mount the discharge pipe? I guess I need to see it but if it's too close to the winshield on a hot day I may crack it.

Where do others put it? and how?

Heya, Last drag slip was 14.132@98.9mph. I can smell 13s.