Drag Racing Tech - Torque Arm/Suspension/Pinion angle/ General 60' and launching Thread

Basically car is making the change from a daily driver/ track car, to a track car that gets driven on the street (hopefully) TH400 is in 3500-3800 Stall torque Converter, 12bolt and 4.10's with 28" Quick Time Pros.. QA1's.....you get the idea of what is going on.


So my Questions are, What is the diffrence between the cars that pull 1.6x 60's and the cars that pull 1.3's and low 1.4's. Their seems to be a big diffrence in how some cars are doing it, Now last year i though my car would have 60' better but the best i could pull was low 1.9s (stock internal stock shocks) but full rear suspension. What REALLY WORKS, I see all these bad boy times from the Madman Torque Arm whats going on with that, what are they doing diffrent or is it just the fact that the people using his stuff are really putting some time and effort into setting up the suspension and really spend time at the track tuning the suspension, whereas some of the others are just "bolting the suspension on and hoping for great 60's?

This is my Suspension for this year
BMR K-member +upper +lower a-arms
QA1 front shocks+ springs

BMR Cro-moly LCA's
BMR Cro-moly ADJ. Panhard Rod
Spohn Torque Arm
Stock Shocks in the back (soon to be changed with QA1 or Strange shocks)
Removed Relocation brackets (to solve rearend alighnment issue with the slicks, open to reinstall if needed car is stock height in the rear though)

What are you using for pinion angle? What works what doesnt? What are you using for Shock settings? Im using a 28X11.5X15 Hoosier QTP big enough? TO BIG?


Just looking to start a good thread to help some people learn something (MYSELF included)


Andy

P.S. YES I HAVE A TRANS BRAKE, and I think i have procurred a MADMAN Torque Arm :jest:

With pinion angle I find -3 to -6 degrees works well. Airbags in the rear work well if you do not have a solid swaybar.

:cheers:

if you are using hal's set them to 2 up front and stiff out back. like chris said on the pinion angle that should work for ya. A good sticky tire and the right launch rpm will get you some really quick short times.

The 11.5 might be a bit overkill for mph, but you'll et like a madman. a 10" slick should be fine. personally I would try those mickey thompson drag radials they are supposed to be real good and you won't be loose on the top end like you get with slicks.

The difference in 1.6 60fts and consistent 1.3s or better has alot to do with the whole suspension not just the rear. The Qa1s are good shocks but they limit adjustment. The window of fine tuning is very small. I like a good double adjustable shock. I donot like stock or the QA1 springs on the front. I believe the spring rate isnt correct for a drag only car. On the rear the same applys for the shocks. The rear spring out of a Formula or Z28 or a V-6 is betterthan Eibach or Hotchkiss. Get a good Torque arm that has instant center as well as pinion angle adjustments.