GeorgeC

Here's the long and short of it... I put a TH400 in the car to replace the powerglide. I know with traction, the 3-speed will be quicker than the glide. However, I'm having major problems with traction now, even with my "soft-hit" converter. I'm going to be replacing tires very soon, and may try a 29" tall Hoosier to see if it helps. My current 28x10.5 ET Drags only have ~60 passes on them, but they did sit for quite a long time when the car was broke. They're worn right down close to the wear indicators already somehow, and I usually can't go that far before the tires stop working for me.

Anyway, I have been making some adjustments to the Madman torque arm and the shock settings on all four corners, and didn't really get anywhere tonight. The car doesn't even feel like it tries to hook, and just blows the tires off. I tried one transbrake launch and had a 1.68 60'!!!! It felt like I was on the street with my radial tires on it. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" /> Footbraking the car resulted in 1.48-1.50 60' times, still spinning badly through half of 1st gear.

I'm hoping Madman will see this and respond with some advice on how to set up the torque arm. I have it set right now to what I believe to be the most "aggressive" setting, with the back of the arm in the lower set of holes (on the rear end bracket), and the front of the arm in the top hole. Pinion angle is set ~2deg. down (where I've always run it). The closest I came to hooking was with the front shocks @ 2nd softest setting, and the rear 4 clicks from full soft.

Any ideas, besides "buy some new tires?" The more I think about it, the more I think the tires may just be dead. The car was still hooking great with the powerglide in it (ran it Wednesday night), but there is a big difference between a 1.82 1st gear and a 2.48 1st gear...

Help!

MADMAN

iTrader: (4)

I'm here to the rescue!!!! First put some new tires on. Second do you have the relocate brackets still on???? If so move the lowers up to the stock hole. Then try the car.

Colonel

Buy some tires already! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

Madman, I think I need to talk to you about how to hook my next combo. You probably already have an idea of what kind of engine is going in the car. I'll be running 5.13s, a Glide, and a brake. I need some low 1.3s-high 1.2s without flipping my *** over backwards. Should I call you Monday?

(Not trying to highjack your thread George but I see you got holt to da man so...) <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

Ken

Buy new tires.... I was really to the point of selling all my stuff and getting out of the drag racing bit. My car would not hook at all on a set of 28x12.5x15 ET streets that I bought used but had over 75 percent tred left.Turns out they were just old. They were not dry rotted or anything I think it was mainly in the sidewall hardening.

I was down to the last straw and bought a brand new set of 28x12.5s. Well now the car hooks like hell and I might have to look into getting a new rear bumper.

Ken

CHRISPY

George shoot me an email please <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
Cheers,
Chris

GeorgeC

OK, I'm going to order some tires pronto. Now, another question... M/T now has a stiff sidewall tire in my (28x10.5) size. Should I go try it out, since my car does launch pretty violently? I've studied pictures/videotape and seen my tires do some ugly things from distortion... I just don't want to buy the stiff sidewall tires and hate them, when I've had pretty good luck with the regular 28x10.5's...

Chris, you have mail (but I'm going to bed soon and probably won't see a reply til tomorrow)...

Louis

iTrader: (7)

I may be saying something that has been said in the past, but each time you burn out and make a pass, you put heat into the tires. after so many "heat cycles" the tires get harder. If you were to take a durometer to them when they were new, and then now, you would see the difference. Plus with them sitting since the old 346 died, they had a chance to "cure," which makes them even harder.

Just a little food for thought <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />

Louis

GeorgeC

Exactly. I don't know why it didn't dawn upon me until now that the tires were probably dead. Most likely because it was hooking great with the 'glide in it.

My tires never last long anyway... If you've ever seen one of my burnouts, you'd understand <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> I tend to be a little excessive.

Villain281H

iTrader: (5)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by GeorgeC:
<strong>If you've ever seen one of my burnouts, you'd understand <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> I tend to be a little excessive.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">John Force is a little nervous............

<img border="0" alt="[jester]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_jest.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />

KTamez

Not sure what width rim you're using, but why stick yourself with a narrow ole' 10.5, when an 11.5, 12.5 or even 13.5 can be made to fit pretty darned easily. If you have a class rule to follow on the True 10.5's, I can understand that.

Just throwin stuff out there!

Good luck!

CutlassRacer

Powergilde................You had to know that was coming George <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> I do hope the money you spend making the 400 work equals some way better times though. 9s would definately be cool.

GeorgeC

Kurtis, I've considered a bigger tire, and can fit one with little trouble. But, I'm limited to a true 10.5" for the Thunder Shootout.

Gainesville naysayers beware! The car will hook with the TH400 and be quicker than it was with the glide. I also won't break any more planet assemblies or have the transbrake issues I had with the TH350. The TH400 is staying in. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

I can't wait to do some wheelstands again!

CutlassRacer

We are still voting on where we want dinner <img border="0" alt="[pimp]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_pimp.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[Fluffy]" title="" src="graemlins/fluffy.gif" />

I just like giving you crap George <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

MADMAN

iTrader: (4)

Colonel feel free to give me a call. George, I am trying both stiff side wall and regular and have had better luck with the stiff sidewall.

GeorgeC

Thanks Madman. I ordered a pair of stiff sidewall 28x10.5's last night, and cut the relocation brackets off the rear as well. The rear suspension does seem to move a little more freely now. I think it may have been binding some with the brackets on...

I'll get one more trip to the track before the tires get here, so I'll be able to see if removing the brackets helped out. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />

Reckless

iTrader: (9)

So what's the verdict so far on the Rossler TH400? Talked with Carl last week about building mine. Want to get some feedback on yours first. I figure if it holds up to you, I won't have any issues at all <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

GeorgeC

So far so good, Todd. No issues with the TH400 whatsoever, except for the traction <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

The shifts aren't quite as fast/violent as my powerglide, but aren't bad by any means. The transbrake release is noticeably quicker than the sportsman brake in the powerglide, which is a plus. Honestly, I don't expect any problems out of the TH400.

Villain281H

iTrader: (5)

kevin, i was thinking red lobster, i hear they have catfish on the menu <img border="0" alt="[jester]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_jest.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

CutlassRacer

HAAA HA HA!!! Good one D.

A Powerglide that hooks even on crappy tires and MIGHT be .08 slower than a 400

vs.

A 400 that MIGHT hook on a brand new set of tires and that will cost much time, money and effort to make even marginal gains.

Call me old-fashioned, but dang, gimme something thats gonna hook on a crappy track with crappy tires. Traction is going to win you more races than that inconsistent .08. That 400 is gonna work great with a nitrous hit too <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

GeorgeC

Blah blah blah...

I bet the TH400 goes more than 40 passes without exploding a planetary. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />

<small>[ October 14, 2002, 09:17 PM: Message edited by: GeorgeC ]</small>