Pepper Update.
11-30-2002, 11:23 AM
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D(irecto)r Pepper
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Pepper Update. Hey y'all...just thought I would give an update on what all I have been doing and the results of the track last night.
In the last few months, I upgraded my heads to MTI LS6 Stage2's and went to the X1 cam.
...Now this involved having to swap valve covers and coil packs with a buddies 99-up car to replace my 98 valve covers and coil pack retainers.
...And I upgrade the tranny to a Yank TH400 and Pro Thruster 4200 Verter. The Tranny came with a manual valve body and a trans brake. The shifter is a Cheetah reverse pattern with trans brake button on the handle.
....In the late spring I had updated the rear to 28" slicks and installled a 12 bolt from strange and 4.10 gears.
...I also finally got my Raptor Shift light installed. (very easy)
So the car has undergone MASSIVE changes.
Tell you what. Learning to drive the car with a reverse patttern shifter is a whole new world.
The old days of; stage, bring the r's up and stab on the third yellow, then sit back for a killer ride as the tranny shifts itself are loooong gone.
Now, ....NOW, "I" got to do all the shifting when the shift light tells me too and operate the trans brake button when and how...etc. etc.
Sounds easy? well after being programmed to do it one specific way for years... I have to learn all kinds of new "habits". And let me tell you, it aint easy for this old dog to learn new tricks.
For expample:
Burn out in first gear...not enough smoke, so pop the gear shifter forward to second... DOH! at 6000 I just went from first to neutral! DAMN this reverse pattern ca-ca.
Another?: Rev the motor in first with the "brake" on and soon as the third yellow pops, let loose the trans brake and slam it in gear. Wha? in gear? You fool! you were in first, this aint no clutch, so ...I took off in second gear.
etc, etc, etc, ...there were some pretty ugly passes last night.
Sigh, this aint gonna be easy.
In every pass (5) I hit the rev limiter, and in every pass but one, I hit it twice....HARD.
The good news? the car was trapping 124 mph even while running a pathetic 10.91 with a suck *** 1.501 60'.
More good news? the trans brake at 4000 feels pretty good.
I go back to the track sunday for more seat time. I just need to get more seat time I think, a LOT of it. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Embarrassed]" src="gr_emb.gif" /> Hopefully, soon it should all come together....I just got to stop hitting that dang rev limiter.
I took me till the 4th pass to get the shift light figured out. Man I drove so bad, there aint no where to go but up.
On a good note, the car worked great.
A 10.9 pass for me used to be 122 mph. Now i am making more power, as evidenced by the killer trap speed. (124 used to be 10.6~7 territory)
Those 124mph's are on a mediocre-weather night and hitting the rev limiter HARD on both shifts.
It was raining as we left the track last night... so the weather wast'nt very good.
Anyways, just thought I would give a update on what all I have been doing. Hope it wasnt too long.
Mr. excuses. <img border="0" alt="[jester]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_jest.gif" />
In the last few months, I upgraded my heads to MTI LS6 Stage2's and went to the X1 cam.
...Now this involved having to swap valve covers and coil packs with a buddies 99-up car to replace my 98 valve covers and coil pack retainers.
...And I upgrade the tranny to a Yank TH400 and Pro Thruster 4200 Verter. The Tranny came with a manual valve body and a trans brake. The shifter is a Cheetah reverse pattern with trans brake button on the handle.
....In the late spring I had updated the rear to 28" slicks and installled a 12 bolt from strange and 4.10 gears.
...I also finally got my Raptor Shift light installed. (very easy)
So the car has undergone MASSIVE changes.
Tell you what. Learning to drive the car with a reverse patttern shifter is a whole new world.
The old days of; stage, bring the r's up and stab on the third yellow, then sit back for a killer ride as the tranny shifts itself are loooong gone.
Now, ....NOW, "I" got to do all the shifting when the shift light tells me too and operate the trans brake button when and how...etc. etc.
Sounds easy? well after being programmed to do it one specific way for years... I have to learn all kinds of new "habits". And let me tell you, it aint easy for this old dog to learn new tricks.
For expample:
Burn out in first gear...not enough smoke, so pop the gear shifter forward to second... DOH! at 6000 I just went from first to neutral! DAMN this reverse pattern ca-ca.
Another?: Rev the motor in first with the "brake" on and soon as the third yellow pops, let loose the trans brake and slam it in gear. Wha? in gear? You fool! you were in first, this aint no clutch, so ...I took off in second gear.
etc, etc, etc, ...there were some pretty ugly passes last night.
Sigh, this aint gonna be easy.
In every pass (5) I hit the rev limiter, and in every pass but one, I hit it twice....HARD.
The good news? the car was trapping 124 mph even while running a pathetic 10.91 with a suck *** 1.501 60'.
More good news? the trans brake at 4000 feels pretty good.
I go back to the track sunday for more seat time. I just need to get more seat time I think, a LOT of it. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Embarrassed]" src="gr_emb.gif" /> Hopefully, soon it should all come together....I just got to stop hitting that dang rev limiter.
I took me till the 4th pass to get the shift light figured out. Man I drove so bad, there aint no where to go but up.
On a good note, the car worked great.
A 10.9 pass for me used to be 122 mph. Now i am making more power, as evidenced by the killer trap speed. (124 used to be 10.6~7 territory)
Those 124mph's are on a mediocre-weather night and hitting the rev limiter HARD on both shifts.
It was raining as we left the track last night... so the weather wast'nt very good.
Anyways, just thought I would give a update on what all I have been doing. Hope it wasnt too long.
Mr. excuses. <img border="0" alt="[jester]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_jest.gif" />
11-30-2002, 11:56 AM
#2
Re: Pepper Update. Congrats on finally getting the beast together John. I know it's been a major undertaking. Thanks for reporting the good with the bad. You'll be flying again in no time!!
Patrick
Patrick
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2013 Corvette Grand Sport A6 LME forged 416, Greg Good ported TFS 255 LS3 heads, 222/242 .629"/.604" 121LSA Pat G blower cam, ARH 1 7/8" headers, ESC Novi 1500 Supercharger w/8 rib direct drive conversion, 747rwhp/709rwtq on 93 octane, 801rwhp/735rwtq on race fuel, 10.1 @ 147.25mph 1/4 mile, 174.7mph Half Mile.
2016 Corvette Z51 M7 Magnuson Heartbeat 2300 supercharger, TSP LT headers, Pat G tuned, 667rwhp, 662rwtq, 191mph TX Mile.
2009.5 Pontiac G8 GT 6.0L, A6, AFR 230v2 heads. 506rwhp/442rwtq. 11.413 @ 121.29mph 1/4 mile, 168.7mph TX Mile
2000 Pewter Ram Air Trans Am M6 heads/cam 508 rwhp/445 rwtq SAE, 183.092 TX Mile
2018 Cadillac Escalade 6.2L A10 Pat G tuned.
LS1,LS2,LS3,LS7,LT1 Custom Camshaft Specialist For custom camshaft help press here.
Custom LSX tuning in person or via email press here.
11-30-2002, 01:40 PM
#4
D(irecto)r Pepper
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Re: Pepper Update. Hey y'all, thanks for all the kind words.
Another note ...the dang car and me weighed 3300 pounds.., now I have reinstalled both seats and all my panels...and installed the TH400, but I did'nt expect so much weight gain. I was running more gas than I was used to.. almost a half a tank so maybe that was it?
Just havent seen it weigh so much in a loong time.
But 124 on a horrible pass at that weight and atmosphere...im pretty happy, I guess.
This Cheetah shifter was recommended by all the "top" racers I talked to. No one had any negatives to speak of except that it's not the prettiest thing to look at... it has very utlitarian appearance. Too many folks "in the know" recommended it over the B and M.
Two step? I am highly interested in them... I have a MSD two step in the shop but dont know how to hook it up... or whether I even can with out a MSD box. Any one know?
Rageman, yea, I'll let you know...I plan on being at the track a lot... so I hope you can make it down here when the weather gets better.
Pics of the cheetah? ok. I'll post some on my home page....Here is Jeggs pics and write up of the shifter.
<img src="http://www.jegs.com/photos/91270001.gif" alt=" - " />
http://www.jegs.com//cgi-bin/ncommer...31&prmenbr=361
It was a somofabiatch to install.
John
<small>[ November 30, 2002, 01:44 PM: Message edited by: Raughammer ]</small>
Another note ...the dang car and me weighed 3300 pounds.., now I have reinstalled both seats and all my panels...and installed the TH400, but I did'nt expect so much weight gain. I was running more gas than I was used to.. almost a half a tank so maybe that was it?
Just havent seen it weigh so much in a loong time.
But 124 on a horrible pass at that weight and atmosphere...im pretty happy, I guess.
This Cheetah shifter was recommended by all the "top" racers I talked to. No one had any negatives to speak of except that it's not the prettiest thing to look at... it has very utlitarian appearance. Too many folks "in the know" recommended it over the B and M.
Two step? I am highly interested in them... I have a MSD two step in the shop but dont know how to hook it up... or whether I even can with out a MSD box. Any one know?
Rageman, yea, I'll let you know...I plan on being at the track a lot... so I hope you can make it down here when the weather gets better.
Pics of the cheetah? ok. I'll post some on my home page....Here is Jeggs pics and write up of the shifter.
<img src="http://www.jegs.com/photos/91270001.gif" alt=" - " />
http://www.jegs.com//cgi-bin/ncommer...31&prmenbr=361
It was a somofabiatch to install.
John
<small>[ November 30, 2002, 01:44 PM: Message edited by: Raughammer ]</small>
11-30-2002, 01:55 PM
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Re: Pepper Update. Very nice....I'm sure you'll get things figured out in no time flat, and the car will once again be near the top of the heap.
For reference, I ran the DA numbers from last night in the Baytown area. With the high humidity, the temperature didn't change much (right around 59), and the pressure stayed pretty steady, giving a pretty constant DA of right around sea level (+50 to -50) for the balance of the evening between 6 and 10 pm.
For reference, I ran the DA numbers from last night in the Baytown area. With the high humidity, the temperature didn't change much (right around 59), and the pressure stayed pretty steady, giving a pretty constant DA of right around sea level (+50 to -50) for the balance of the evening between 6 and 10 pm.
11-30-2002, 02:18 PM
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D(irecto)r Pepper
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Re: Pepper Update. Yea, bob, thats what James Day said last night... it was essentially "ZERO" altitude.
Hopefully with some practice I can get a little better... I am itching to get a good launch with the brake on a "good night".
John
<small>[ November 30, 2002, 02:22 PM: Message edited by: Raughammer ]</small>
Hopefully with some practice I can get a little better... I am itching to get a good launch with the brake on a "good night".
John
<small>[ November 30, 2002, 02:22 PM: Message edited by: Raughammer ]</small>
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11-30-2002, 02:22 PM
#9
Re: Pepper Update. Boy I miss these posts <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
U shouldve been a writer John..
That is great MPH in *** air and on your first time out with a TOTALLY new setup.Its gonna come John,Just give it time...
Good luck and have a Merry Xmas
JS
<small>[ November 30, 2002, 02:23 PM: Message edited by: JS ]</small>
U shouldve been a writer John..
That is great MPH in *** air and on your first time out with a TOTALLY new setup.Its gonna come John,Just give it time...
Good luck and have a Merry Xmas
JS
<small>[ November 30, 2002, 02:23 PM: Message edited by: JS ]</small>
11-30-2002, 07:41 PM
#12
Re: Pepper Update. John Boy, you are WAY too hard on yourself. It's all going to come together before you know it. It's good to have ya back in the game and even better to be able to witness it. The "Pepper" is looking sweet as normal. Keep your chin up and kick some more ***. That's scary....I'm starting to sound like you.lol. The wife says she finally found someone with more energy than me....I'm not sure if that's a compliment or not.lol.I hope the weather falls in our favor Sunday. I'll be there shooting for that majic number. See ya there!
11-30-2002, 07:50 PM
#13
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Re: Pepper Update. All I got too say Is HA! HA! HA! HA!!!
LOL... John Sunday more seat time... The car is doing great!! It's makeing some big power!! It looked great too!!
Your goal is going too be met pretty soon.
Brent
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<small>[ November 30, 2002, 07:52 PM: Message edited by: One Monkey ]</small>
LOL... John Sunday more seat time... The car is doing great!! It's makeing some big power!! It looked great too!!
Your goal is going too be met pretty soon.
Brent
Speedaholics
Engines & Cylinder heads.
<small>[ November 30, 2002, 07:52 PM: Message edited by: One Monkey ]</small>
11-30-2002, 08:29 PM
#14
Re: Pepper Update. Awwww, poor John, he actually had to drive his LS1 for once. You won't get any sympathy from this 6-speed owner <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_tounge.gif" /> LOL!
Welcome to real racing amigo, see what fun you've been missing? hehe
-Tony
Welcome to real racing amigo, see what fun you've been missing? hehe
-Tony
11-30-2002, 09:47 PM
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Re: Pepper Update. i used to DRIVE my 6 speed car to 10.5 ETs. im with you now as a th400/cheeta/manual VB/transbrake driver. this is easy! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_tounge.gif" />
11-30-2002, 10:34 PM
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Re: Pepper Update. </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by 01-Z:
<strong>Since when is 0 DA "*** air"?I'd kill for sea level. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No kidding! That's what we consider "killer" air here in Florida. It does occasionally drop way down into the -DA range, but most of the time the cool fall air is good for 100 to -100 or so DA.
Seems like the track is never open when the air gets really good. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
<strong>Since when is 0 DA "*** air"?I'd kill for sea level. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No kidding! That's what we consider "killer" air here in Florida. It does occasionally drop way down into the -DA range, but most of the time the cool fall air is good for 100 to -100 or so DA.
Seems like the track is never open when the air gets really good. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
11-30-2002, 10:50 PM
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Re: Pepper Update. Damn its good to see John posting about the track again! Don't worry man, you'll LOVE the t-brake in no time! Hehe sounds just like my first day running the t350.
I'll try and send you a pic of my transbrake button setup.
Good luck sunday amigo! I'll be stuck working <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> .
Call me from the track and give me an update <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_tounge.gif" /> .
I'll try and send you a pic of my transbrake button setup.
Good luck sunday amigo! I'll be stuck working <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" /> .
Call me from the track and give me an update <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_tounge.gif" /> .
12-01-2002, 12:14 AM
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Re: Pepper Update. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="gr_eek2.gif" />
Wow, John. 124 MPH with those conditions is something to be proud of! I have no doubt in my mind that low 10's are in order for you once you learn the new tranny. AWESOME! Good luck, buddy. Lemme know when you're gonna be at the track after the new year (January, February, etc.). I want to see this!
Take care, friend.
Wow, John. 124 MPH with those conditions is something to be proud of! I have no doubt in my mind that low 10's are in order for you once you learn the new tranny. AWESOME! Good luck, buddy. Lemme know when you're gonna be at the track after the new year (January, February, etc.). I want to see this!
Take care, friend.
12-01-2002, 12:15 AM
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Re: Pepper Update. John, you'll get the hang of it... I've had a Cheetah shifter in my car for over two years now. As used to it as I was, when I made the change to a reverse shift pattern, it screwed me up for the first few times! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
If you're going to play with the tranny brake, you really should get yourself one of Harlan's two-step boxes.
Also, you may want to try putting the transbrake button somewhere else, where your hand is not on the shifter at all. It can really screw you up. A lot of guys like to put it on the steering wheel. Mine is in the dash where the heater/AC controls used to be.
<small>[ November 30, 2002, 12:18 PM: Message edited by: GeorgeC ]</small>
If you're going to play with the tranny brake, you really should get yourself one of Harlan's two-step boxes.
Also, you may want to try putting the transbrake button somewhere else, where your hand is not on the shifter at all. It can really screw you up. A lot of guys like to put it on the steering wheel. Mine is in the dash where the heater/AC controls used to be.
<small>[ November 30, 2002, 12:18 PM: Message edited by: GeorgeC ]</small>