Finally - 10.94 with LS3 swap in '81 Camaro
11-11-2015, 08:26 AM
#1
Moderator
Thread Starter
Finally - 10.94 with LS3 swap in '81 Camaro Finally got into the 10's on the last season day the local drag strip.
Here was my setup:
'81 Camaro
4L65E Trans, self built, billet shafts, close ratio 2.86 1st gear
Circle-D triple-disk 3600 converter
Reinforced, welded 10-Bolt, Moser Axles, Eaton Posi, Motive 3.73 gears
Aluminum drive shaft
Comp-Engineering traction bars
Welded subframe connectors
Tubular front A-Arms, lowered springs
CPP conversion spindles for C5
Wilwood C5 performance front disk brakes
Swapped rear disk brakes
Hyraboost braking system
Both sway bars installed
MT 275/60-15 drag radials
6-point chromemoly cage
3825 lbs with me in it.
Engine:
LS3 stroker 419ci, all forged
TrickFlow Heads
Cam: 239/251, .620/.632 lift, 113LSA
LSXR intake with 102mm FAST TB
Holley Longtube headers
Pyres 3" dual exhaust with "X", no cats
Electric water pump
SFI Balancer and Flexplate
60lb injectors
411 PCM, self tuned
I found it surprisingly difficult to get into the 10s (with NA).
My previous LS2 swap started off running low 12s. Got it to 11.99 in 2012.
With better headers and exhaust, got it to 11.51 in 2013.
Anticipating breaking 11.50 I got the cage installed in 2014, but with
the extra weight, never broke 11.51 in 2014.
Upgraded to the stroke LS3 in 2015 and first cool spring run was 11.07.
Didn't beat that during the hot summer, but only got to the track 4 times and one time just let my daughter get in 6 runs in the low 11s.
Finally with cooler weather and a good start, I got a 10.92.
This was with locking the (triple-disk) converter in 3rd gear; it was too busy at the track to compare it to unlocked.
The winter plans are to convert the car for road course racing by installing
a Detroit Speed rear suspension, dual adjustable shocks, bigger rear brakes, etc. I will likely install a milder camshaft, probably down to 10* overlap instead of the current 19*. Also plan weight reduction in the nose.
I'm sure there is room for improvement. This car always had traction problems, partly due to the lowered and stiff springs. And the sway bars. Hoping the DSE quadralink rear suspension and adjustable shocks will help. However road course racing is my real interest.
Fun stuff.
Here was my setup:
'81 Camaro
4L65E Trans, self built, billet shafts, close ratio 2.86 1st gear
Circle-D triple-disk 3600 converter
Reinforced, welded 10-Bolt, Moser Axles, Eaton Posi, Motive 3.73 gears
Aluminum drive shaft
Comp-Engineering traction bars
Welded subframe connectors
Tubular front A-Arms, lowered springs
CPP conversion spindles for C5
Wilwood C5 performance front disk brakes
Swapped rear disk brakes
Hyraboost braking system
Both sway bars installed
MT 275/60-15 drag radials
6-point chromemoly cage
3825 lbs with me in it.
Engine:
LS3 stroker 419ci, all forged
TrickFlow Heads
Cam: 239/251, .620/.632 lift, 113LSA
LSXR intake with 102mm FAST TB
Holley Longtube headers
Pyres 3" dual exhaust with "X", no cats
Electric water pump
SFI Balancer and Flexplate
60lb injectors
411 PCM, self tuned
I found it surprisingly difficult to get into the 10s (with NA).
My previous LS2 swap started off running low 12s. Got it to 11.99 in 2012.
With better headers and exhaust, got it to 11.51 in 2013.
Anticipating breaking 11.50 I got the cage installed in 2014, but with
the extra weight, never broke 11.51 in 2014.
Upgraded to the stroke LS3 in 2015 and first cool spring run was 11.07.
Didn't beat that during the hot summer, but only got to the track 4 times and one time just let my daughter get in 6 runs in the low 11s.
Finally with cooler weather and a good start, I got a 10.92.
This was with locking the (triple-disk) converter in 3rd gear; it was too busy at the track to compare it to unlocked.
The winter plans are to convert the car for road course racing by installing
a Detroit Speed rear suspension, dual adjustable shocks, bigger rear brakes, etc. I will likely install a milder camshaft, probably down to 10* overlap instead of the current 19*. Also plan weight reduction in the nose.
I'm sure there is room for improvement. This car always had traction problems, partly due to the lowered and stiff springs. And the sway bars. Hoping the DSE quadralink rear suspension and adjustable shocks will help. However road course racing is my real interest.
Fun stuff.
11-12-2015, 04:32 AM
#2
Good job and congrats on getting into the tens. I got out to milan later after 2pm that day. My best was a 10.93@ 125 that day. Did you race a silver Hellcat out there? Btw I love your car.
11-12-2015, 11:40 AM
#4
Moderator
Thread Starter
Yeah, I lost to the hellcat on an earlier run, partly because he had a better start than me - IIRC a 1.60 60ft; he stayed 2 cars length ahead the whole way and finished at 10.85. I suspect he had drag radials for such a good start.
Pretty neat that one can buy such a fast and comfortable car at a very reasonable price.
I still like building my own car - to me it is the journey and not the end result. (As long as the end result is decent of course.)
Pretty neat that one can buy such a fast and comfortable car at a very reasonable price.
I still like building my own car - to me it is the journey and not the end result. (As long as the end result is decent of course.)
11-12-2015, 03:39 PM
#7
Yeah, I lost to the hellcat on an earlier run, partly because he had a better start than me - IIRC a 1.60 60ft; he stayed 2 cars length ahead the whole way and finished at 10.85. I suspect he had drag radials for such a good start.
Pretty neat that one can buy such a fast and comfortable car at a very reasonable price.
I still like building my own car - to me it is the journey and not the end result. (As long as the end result is decent of course.)
Pretty neat that one can buy such a fast and comfortable car at a very reasonable price.
I still like building my own car - to me it is the journey and not the end result. (As long as the end result is decent of course.)
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11-13-2015, 10:25 AM
#13
Moderator
Thread Starter
Sure, here are some pictures:
Here is my daughter racing the car at Milan about 4 years ago:
She races most years when she visits for a few weeks.
Here is a video of her racing two Mustangs last summer (at around 11.4 with the previous LS2 engine):
When she raced the white Mustang in that video, it was already her 7th run and she was so comfortable, she shot a video holding her iPhone:
(So my daughter is on her phone racing at 120 mph. )
Here is my daughter racing the car at Milan about 4 years ago:
She races most years when she visits for a few weeks.
Here is a video of her racing two Mustangs last summer (at around 11.4 with the previous LS2 engine):
When she raced the white Mustang in that video, it was already her 7th run and she was so comfortable, she shot a video holding her iPhone:
(So my daughter is on her phone racing at 120 mph. )
08-15-2016, 10:42 PM
#16
Moderator
Thread Starter
In the past few months I made some major and minor updates:
* Installed the Detroit Speed (DSE) quadralink rear suspension (lots of plasma cutting and welding; entire interior had to be removed)
* 9" Ford-style rear end (by Strange)
* Wilwood rear disk brakes
* New carpeting
* New Corbeau seats
* New Grant steering wheel
* Dash removed and painted; air vents replaced
* Roll cage (mostly) painted
I took my daughter to Milan dragway again a few weeks ago and let her drive. With the supposedly power robbing 9" rear, nearly 90F temps and no recent tuning, I didn't too much, but she ran a 11.08 @125 on her first try. I was pleasantly surprised as my 10.94 was in 50F temps. The track/tires then got slippery and she had no more good runs.
I going to buy a new set of 17" Nitto NT05R as my 15" M/T no longer fit around the big brakes.
* Installed the Detroit Speed (DSE) quadralink rear suspension (lots of plasma cutting and welding; entire interior had to be removed)
* 9" Ford-style rear end (by Strange)
* Wilwood rear disk brakes
* New carpeting
* New Corbeau seats
* New Grant steering wheel
* Dash removed and painted; air vents replaced
* Roll cage (mostly) painted
I took my daughter to Milan dragway again a few weeks ago and let her drive. With the supposedly power robbing 9" rear, nearly 90F temps and no recent tuning, I didn't too much, but she ran a 11.08 @125 on her first try. I was pleasantly surprised as my 10.94 was in 50F temps. The track/tires then got slippery and she had no more good runs.
I going to buy a new set of 17" Nitto NT05R as my 15" M/T no longer fit around the big brakes.
08-16-2016, 09:44 AM
#18
TECH Veteran
I love seeing the disco camaros!! 
