Dave M

I bought my car last fall and held off doing any mods until I could get it to the track this spring and get some baseline numbers. Today was the day. The car already has some mods and since I bought it from a dealer who didn't know anything about the history of the car I don't know what all might be done to it.

I'll post the mods I know for sure to be on the car and my times and would appreciate some insight and advice. I feel disappointed with the numbers but I'm not sure where I should be given my mods and driving ability.

The car: '97 Trans Am, M6, 118,000 miles, CAI, airfoil, 180 degree t-stat, MSD ignition, pacesetter shorty headers, Borla cat-back (stock y-pipe), 315/35/17 in back. Suspension is stock. Car was thoroughly heat soaked for essentially every run. I varied the rear tire pressure from about 30-25 psi.

The driver: It's been a long time since I've driven a manual, other than this car which I just picked up last fall. This is the first time I've ever driven one at the track. The last time I was at the track was about 10 years ago with an auto. I had a really hard time getting a good launch. I'd either spin or bog it, and I'm sure my shifting down the track could use some improvement too, especially the 1-2 shift. The first several runs down the track I was shifting into 4th before the traps but ended up winding out 3rd to about 6,000 rpm for the last several runs. My other shifts were at about 5,700 rpms.

Now that the excuses are over, here are the numbers.

When I was shifting to 4th, I was running pretty consistent 14.6xx @ ~96 mph.

I made 12 runs total and my last one of the night was the fastest in both e.t. and mph. I had let the car cool down for about 15-20 minutes for this run, tires were at 25 psi. Kept it in 3rd through the traps.

60'... 2.278
330... 6.180
1/8... 9.395
mph... 77.05
1000... 12.116

e.t. ... 14.400
mph ... 98.66

My fastest 60' of the night was 2.233

I've got control arms and panhard rod in a box in the garage waiting to go on that I'm hoping will improve the 60' times.

Any thoughts?

guppymech

iTrader: (7)

With 3.42s stay in 3rd through the lights. Your runs look right in line with my times when I was stock, with more practice you should be in the 13.9s with the mods you have. Your next mod should be a 160 stat, a performance tune and some 4.10 gears. You have to develop a feel for the launch on street tires with a M6.

madmike9396

iTrader: (29)

looks accurate to me. you just need more seat time

96capricemgr

iTrader: (1)

Stock stat is 180degree.
MSD ignition is not helping anything.

Dave M

I was under the impression stock stat is 195

senicalj4579

iTrader: (41)

Street Tires?

Dave M

Yes, 315's street tires.

hrcslam

What track was this at?

When my car had similar mods I ran a best of 14.4 @97.17mph. (CAI, street tires, high flow cat back, free mods, ram hdx clutch).

My DA was high that night at 5800ft.

Dave M

Maple Grove Raceway. I believe the elevation is only a couple hundred feet.

Dave M

How much is the stock y-pipe holding me back?

Cajun ELESS-ONE

the stock y could be hindering some power as well as the shorty headers gears would help alot. more seat time is always good

hrcslam

Track elevation is 206ft. Your DA was about 685 ft around 1pm yesterday.

Your power is good, 98mph aint too shabby (278rwhp at 3700lbs of race weight). To get your ET down you need to drop your short time. That would be gears, launch, traction, track prep, etc.

Dropping to a high 13 or low 14 can be done with the power you have now on street tires. The LCA relocation brackets will help bite off the line for sure.

What make/model are your 315's?

bufmatmuslepants

iTrader: (3)

1. You need to shift at 6-6100 into every gear
2. Are your powershifting at all or really slow shifting letting the nose drop with each shift
3. Best way to launch on street tires is start at 2000rpm, bog it down to 1000-1500 and then let the torque pull you out.

My buddy did 13.8 at 101 his first day ever at the track in a 95 formula 6 speed, your only mod you have that does anything is the CAI, none of the others add power, and those big rear tires offer more rolling resistance

senicalj4579

iTrader: (41)

I would be more worried about the street tires holding you back before you look into the stock y pipe being a problem.

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

More seat time. When I ran street tires I'd deflate them to around 17 to 20psi. Don't do a burnout either. Just do a quick clutch pop to scrub the tires and that's it.

madmike9396

iTrader: (29)

do your self a favor and get some drag radials

moderate Z28

Those tires are too wide for that amount of power. That's slowing you down. And get rid of those shortys.

bowtienut

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, 25-30 psi is too high for the ***-end weight of an F-body with tires that big.
With my fat *** car on the stock street tires (255/50/17), I found the sweet spot at 25 psi.

MiniLSx

Like others have said, the big rear tires and shorty headers are your biggest problem. I ran a 12.9 on 255 street tires in my mild cammed car. Stay in 3rd through the traps with 3.42 gears. It will bounce off the rev limiter if you go to far, so you wont overspin the motor.

bowtienut

iTrader: (1)

OK, I can't sit idly here any longer and see one more "helpful soul" tell you that shorty headers are your problem!
Come on guys, get REAL. STOCK MANIFOLDS wouldn't even be holding him back at this point!
Dave, hopefully you've been able to decipher the decent advice from the crap. Traction and seat time with the 6-spd will pay the biggest dividends right now.