Strange DAs, need help tuning!
Strange DAs, need help tuning! Sorry for the long post in advance?
Quick summary, 99 Camaro, m6, 3450 race weight, 380-400 rwhp, 16x8 stockers on rear with 26x10.5 mt et streets, full suspension except for drag springs in rear (stock 1le rear springs), car has about a 1/2 rake.
Currently before the Strange DAs I had cut a best 60ft of 1.71 with stock springs and shocks however I did have the tunnel mount TA, LCAs, PHB, SFCs on both scenarios I'm listing. The only variable changes are the Strange DAs and hotter weather.
Tonight in much hotter weather (roughly 30 degrees hotter than previous runs) I had a best 60 ft of 1.70.
1st pass - Started at front comp 4 ext 2, rear comp 6 ext 2, tires 15 psi cold, hook then spin. 1.90 60 ft
2nd pass - front comp 5 ext 2, rear comp 5 ext 2, tires 15 psi, spin on hit. 1.75 60ft
3rd pass - front comp 5 ext 1, rear comp 5 ext 1, tires 14 psi, spin on hit. 1.78 60 ft
4th pass - front comp 5 ext 0, rear comp 5 ext 0, tires at 13.5, spin on hit. 1.74 60 ft
5th pass - front comp 6 ext 0, rear comp 4 ext 0, tires at 13.0, spin on hit. 1.70 60 ft (car was a little bouncy this pass, the others pass were not)
Questions
1. Keep going with the video taping and shock adjustment, if so what specs?
2. Go to a full slick? If so 15' or 16'?
3. Take out rake using adjustable front coilovers?
4. Install drag springs on rear, if so what height and should it still be raked, level or front a little higher than rear to help transfer?
5. open for suggestions
Over all the frontend looks like it is lifting really good and holding, car is just not planting the tires, I'm getting about 2-3 full turns on the hit before pulls out. Any help is greatly appreciated1
Andy
Quick summary, 99 Camaro, m6, 3450 race weight, 380-400 rwhp, 16x8 stockers on rear with 26x10.5 mt et streets, full suspension except for drag springs in rear (stock 1le rear springs), car has about a 1/2 rake.
Currently before the Strange DAs I had cut a best 60ft of 1.71 with stock springs and shocks however I did have the tunnel mount TA, LCAs, PHB, SFCs on both scenarios I'm listing. The only variable changes are the Strange DAs and hotter weather.
Tonight in much hotter weather (roughly 30 degrees hotter than previous runs) I had a best 60 ft of 1.70.
1st pass - Started at front comp 4 ext 2, rear comp 6 ext 2, tires 15 psi cold, hook then spin. 1.90 60 ft
2nd pass - front comp 5 ext 2, rear comp 5 ext 2, tires 15 psi, spin on hit. 1.75 60ft
3rd pass - front comp 5 ext 1, rear comp 5 ext 1, tires 14 psi, spin on hit. 1.78 60 ft
4th pass - front comp 5 ext 0, rear comp 5 ext 0, tires at 13.5, spin on hit. 1.74 60 ft
5th pass - front comp 6 ext 0, rear comp 4 ext 0, tires at 13.0, spin on hit. 1.70 60 ft (car was a little bouncy this pass, the others pass were not)
Questions
1. Keep going with the video taping and shock adjustment, if so what specs?
2. Go to a full slick? If so 15' or 16'?
3. Take out rake using adjustable front coilovers?
4. Install drag springs on rear, if so what height and should it still be raked, level or front a little higher than rear to help transfer?
5. open for suggestions
Over all the frontend looks like it is lifting really good and holding, car is just not planting the tires, I'm getting about 2-3 full turns on the hit before pulls out. Any help is greatly appreciated1
Andy
Now that you have had a chance to try some stuff, I would try this:
Put the rears at 5/5, put the front extension back to 2, and see what that gets you. I think, that what is happening (without seeing the video it's hard to see) the car is probably throwing the suspension around too much now, and that's not allowing the tires to plant.
If that works, try stiffening the rears up to 6/6, if that helps, then try 7/7.
Not sure where you have the tires pressure wise, but I would get them to 14 psi cold, and then heat them up good. My exp with 16 inch rim setups and 26 inch tires has been similar to 15 inch with 26 inch tires, you get the air pressure too low and they don't work right, they take about 2 to 3 psi more then a 28 inch tire setup would to work, so it seems anyway.
You're probably starting to get to the limit of what the tires are capable of. I have seen people with that tire setup go high 1.5's with a light 3200 lb car, but that's the best we coudl do with them. If you get the car to consistant low 1.6's you're probably close to what the tire will hold.
At that point, it's time for a 15 inch rim setup and a real slick. 26x10.5S et drag and you can probably go bottom 1.5's at your weight and power all day long on that with no problems.
If you change to that type of tire setup and the above shock settings I think you'll probably immediately see a .1 drop in the 60 foot, which should put the car somewhere close to needing a rollbar if you don't already have one in the car.
Try that and see what that gets you. You're on the right track, with the weather like you stated the car was probably 15 hp down from the last time you ran it and that never really helps.
Put the rears at 5/5, put the front extension back to 2, and see what that gets you. I think, that what is happening (without seeing the video it's hard to see) the car is probably throwing the suspension around too much now, and that's not allowing the tires to plant.
If that works, try stiffening the rears up to 6/6, if that helps, then try 7/7.
Not sure where you have the tires pressure wise, but I would get them to 14 psi cold, and then heat them up good. My exp with 16 inch rim setups and 26 inch tires has been similar to 15 inch with 26 inch tires, you get the air pressure too low and they don't work right, they take about 2 to 3 psi more then a 28 inch tire setup would to work, so it seems anyway.
You're probably starting to get to the limit of what the tires are capable of. I have seen people with that tire setup go high 1.5's with a light 3200 lb car, but that's the best we coudl do with them. If you get the car to consistant low 1.6's you're probably close to what the tire will hold.
At that point, it's time for a 15 inch rim setup and a real slick. 26x10.5S et drag and you can probably go bottom 1.5's at your weight and power all day long on that with no problems.
If you change to that type of tire setup and the above shock settings I think you'll probably immediately see a .1 drop in the 60 foot, which should put the car somewhere close to needing a rollbar if you don't already have one in the car.
Try that and see what that gets you. You're on the right track, with the weather like you stated the car was probably 15 hp down from the last time you ran it and that never really helps.
Yes. Just tighten teh extension up a little, leave the compression alone on the fronts, and just try stiffening the rear's up. I suspect that you've gone too loose, making the back of the car just move too much to work right.
I wish, the guy that was going to let me use his scales has not got back in touch with me. I have another friend in Tallahassee that is checking on a set for me. I have some great PMs from JL ws-6 I'll send you to help at your first track outing, he has helped me out tremendously so far!
