zigroid

iTrader: (22)

edit: updated results, post #14 (6-19-09)

edit #2: even more updated results, post #23 (6-11-10)

I just picked up this '99 formula on saturday. this is my first time driving stick at the track with the exception of my 110 whp 89 beretta. I also haven't driven anything powerful at the track since I last went with my previous firebird 3 years ago. needless to say, I sucked.

info on car:
1999 firebird formula, 6 speed. 100% stock. paper filter and skip shift. full weight. 265 lb driver. 132k miles. previous owner who drove it 60k miles said its the original clutch, original hydraulics. probably original clutch fluid too. before I bought the car I was told that the achilles heel of a 6 speed f-body is the clutch hydraulics. I found out just how true that was tonight.

my timeslips:

(most are awful)

#1
60': 2.433
1/8: 9.385
mph: 81.55
1/4: 14.158
mph: 103.17
bogged launch, thought I could let it go through the traps in 3rd, ended up hitting the rev limiter before the traps.

#2
60': 2.209
1/8: 9.491
mph: 78.27
1/4: 14.451
mph: 94.17
bogged launch, couldnt get the damn thing in to 4th, coasted past the finish line

#3
60': 2.562
1/8: 9.478
mph: 81.91
1/4: 14.325
mph: 95.04
spun like crazy on the launch. couldn't get it in to 4th again. beginning to think I suck at driving.

#4
60': 2.408
1/8: 10.429
mph: 68.33
1/4: 16.308
mph: 82.42
bogged bad, missed 2nd. gave up.

#5
60': 2.142
1/8: 9.046
mph: 80.61
1/4: 13.912
mph: 95.05
finally figuring out how to launch it. hit 2nd and 3rd nice but once again couldnt get it in to 4th gear and coasted past the finish.

#6
gave dave the keys
60': 2.212
1/8: 9.074
mph: 81.05
1/4: 13.961
mph: 100.42
he said he spun a little on the launch and let it go past the finish line banging on the limiter in 3rd.

#7
60': 2.198
1/8: 9.071
mph: 81.27
1/4: 13.841
mph: 103.27
bogged launch a little bit but not too bad. hit 2nd and 3rd nice and went past the finish hitting the limiter in 3rd.

#8
60': 2.081
1/8: 9.033
mph: 69.79
1/4: 15.613
mph: 68.64
FINALLY got a good launch on the street tires. followed it up by missing 2nd gear some how. cruised the rest of the way.

#9
60': 2.514
1/8: 10.094
mph: 74.27
1/4: 15.192
mph: 97.13
spun like crazy on the launch. I realized the run was a waste so I short shifted at a little over 5000 rpm. it went in to 4th this run...

#10
60': 2.246
1/8: 8.995
mph: 82.16
1/4: 13.723
mph: 103.44
bogged launch a little, still cant repeat my 2.0 60'. hit 2nd and 3rd nice and ran across the finish hitting the limiter in 3rd.

#11
60': 2.196
1/8: 9.023
mph: 81.65
1/4: 13.928
mph: 92.49
bogged launch again. got 2nd and 3rd nice and tried to stick it in 4th but it just wouldn't go. coasted past the line.

#12
60': 2.272
1/8: 9.238
mph: 69.19
1/4: 15.859
mph: 73.81
spun a bit on launch, hit 2nd nice but when I went to go in 3rd the shifter got stuck and it acted as if it was in neutral. I put the clutch back in and the shifter wouldn't come out of 3rd, but wouldnt engage. I yanked on the shifter and pulled it out, shifted in to 4th and coasted past the finish. gave up after this one and then it started to rain.

what I learned:
it is NOT easy to drive a decent powered manual car.
f-body clutch hydraulics and shiters SUCK. SUCK ALOT.
3rd gear ends at 103 mph.
I need a lot more practice. and a shift linkage that doesn't suck
I varied launch techniques. most runs I just slipped the clutch and eased in the gas and it would bog. if I got slightly more agressive it would spin. I started off launching around 2000 and bogged. 3000 spun. somewhere around 2500 is the sweet spot. I could only do it once.

I think if I could have consistently launched with the 2.0 60' I had on the one run and been able to shift in to 4th it would have gone 13.3-13.4 @ ~105. other thought was to raise the rev limiter to 6200 rpm and just ride out 3rd. that should take me to 106.

all in all I left not happy but not really displeased. I think I ran OK considering I am a complete newb and the circumstances.

98TADRIVER

iTrader: (36)

its easy after some practice. if u can cut a 2.0 60' and get her thru the gears, low 13s @ 107-108 arent out of the question by any means. goodluck!

zigroid

iTrader: (22)

damn I dont know if it has a 107 or 108 in it. thats moving. I want to fix the clutch hydraulics and save up for a good rear.

ndfrsd6

iTrader: (5)

i was going stock on a drag radial with an air lid 12.96 @ 108 plus i put a 4.10 in and dropped to a 12.60 at 110.8 so yes you have it in you...... just seat time !

zigroid

iTrader: (22)

nice, I guess not being able to get it in to 4th is hurting me more than I thought. I sat in my buddy's LT1 T/A and tried out his pro 5.0 shifter. I liked that, may pick up one of those to help me out. it sucks because all my ford buddies are going "I TOLD YOU SO" when they said stock LS1 cars were high 13 second cars lol.

PewterScreaminMach

iTrader: (7)

Get those shifting issues figured out and then keep practicing! That's a mid 13s car all day long with some more seat time and fresh clutch hydraulics!

rk_2000_Z/28

iTrader: (3)

You need to look into these:

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...yp=Competition

Try different air pressures and don't be afraid to heat them up.

This will help get those 60' times below 2.0. Tires and get that shifting down, than you have a 13 flat easy.

tacklebox

iTrader: (10)

When i was basically stock (lid & catback only) i ran 13.5-13.6 @ 106ish with 2.1 60's. It helps to learn how to feather the clutch off the line, it just takes practice. Were you on street tires?

zigroid

iTrader: (22)

too bad they dont have a "buy 2 nitto tires, get a 9" rear for free!" deal or else I would be all over it. ive already stripped gears off the ring gear in my last firebird, dont need to have a sequal lol.
yes, street tires. well worn hancooks.

LS1crazy01

iTrader: (14)

What issue are you having putting it into 4th gear? Does the pedal stick to the floor?

zigroid

iTrader: (22)

pedal is stuck to the floor, got some brake fluid and a turkey baister today, gonna suck out the old fluid. hopefully this helps some. if not im gonna pick up a new master cylinder and do the drill mod.

LS1crazy01

iTrader: (14)

Do yourself a favor and do the slave and clutch while your at it.

'99bluez

iTrader: (6)

Just so you know your stock rev limiter is already at 6200rpm.

zigroid

iTrader: (22)

updated times, went to the track again today. results werent exactly what I was hoping for but I guess I did OK.

only differences are:
SLP lid
spare and jack removed this time
driver is 255 lbs, not 265
was able to use 4th gear
it was about 10-15* warmer and considerably more humid.

here are all of my runs. I bolded my best times/ETs.
#1
60': 2.164
330': 5.936
1/8: 8.897
mph: 83.87
1000': 11.429
1/4: 13.665
mph: 101.25
my first run was my best run. bogged slightly but otherwise launched ok. hit 2nd nice, hit 3rd nice, then it wouldnt go in to 4th on the first try but I managed to stuff it in on the 2nd try. wish I could have run it out, this run yielded my best 8th trap speed by 1.5 mph. had I been able to run it out I bet I would have gone 13.5 @ 106.

#2
60': 2.404
330': 6.193
1/8: 9.377
mph: 70.81
1000': 12.275
1/4: 14.580
mph: 99.16
launched too high and spun too much. shifted in to 2nd and spun some more. tried shifting in to 3rd and missed first time, got it in the second time and rode it out. pretty shitty run.

#3
60': 2.227
330': 6.004
1/8: 9.206
mph: 70.23
1000': 12.513
1/4: 15.726
mph: 65.49
bogged a little on the launch, spun going in to 2nd, and got it in 3rd but for some reason it acted like neutral. I pulled it back out and stuffed it back in and just putted.

#4
60': 2.343
330': 6.157
1/8: 9.177
mph: 82.15
1000': 11.737
1/4: 13.895
mph: 104.56
launched too high and spun a bit but the rest of the run went pretty well.

#5
60': 2.308
330': 6.417
1/8: 9.853
mph: 75.01
1000': 12.586
1/4: 14.893
mph: 93.89
I dont even remember this run. it sucked so im not missing much.

#6
60': 2.207
330': 5.998
1/8: 9.014
mph: 81.80
1000': 11.564
1/4: 13.758
mph: 103.63
bogged, spun second, hit 3rd nice and finally got it in 4th gear but had to shift a little early.

#7
60': 2.262
330': 6.002
1/8: 9.006
mph: 82.16
1000': 11.565
1/4: 13.725
mph: 104.38
bogged, spun 2nd, hit 3rd and 4th shifting early.

the track prep was **** as usual. I couldn't find the right rpm to launch at, I couldn't even launch above 1800 rpm or it would spin. 1500 rpm would bog. shifting in to 2nd resulted in about 50 foot of rubber due to lack of traction. at least I could get it in 4th gear for some of the runs but only if I shifted a little earlier than I wanted to. still cant wind it out in 3rd and hit 4th, it refuses to go in.

this is about all the modding ill be doing on the car. I may borrow someones DRs the next time I go to the track and try to get some low 13s out of it, going back in the fall should yield some better trap speeds too. everyone seemed a little bit off.

zigroid

iTrader: (22)

my friends took TONS of pics. only one I have as of right now, racing my friend in his '71 chevelle.



I ran him twice, second run I messed up (pictured). first run is the run im missing the timeslip for. we both ran 13.8 @ 104, before he started to figure out how to launch the car. his best was a 13.07 @ 104 with a 1.9 60'

GG01SS

iTrader: (1)

Keep practicing your ET's will drop. Bleed that brake fluid, or do the turkey baster deal again. Get a shorter shifter-lous short stick. Get some new plugs and wires-if not done yet. Do all free mods.
With nitto DR, and only lid with cutout open I ran 12.8's at 109. Good luck.

zigroid

iTrader: (22)

I have a new master cylinder with the drill mod done, just need to find the time to get it done. I dont see it dropping too much, at least not in the warm weather. most everyone was off a little last night. Ill be sure to go during the fall with some good air.

my friends uploaded some pics. heres a few:

















video soon hopefully

zigroid

iTrader: (22)

heres a video of some of the runs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UMvGiK0lZY

GG01SS

iTrader: (1)

Nice runs Pete, way to run down that rustang. Car looks very clean for having 130K+miles.
Get a good DR tire and you will not need to make up that 2 car lenth jump he gets out of the hole. With intake/exhaust bolt-ons and some traction you should be in the 12's. My car stock with only 500miles went mid 13's at 103-105mph.

b-ron

cool clips