Big embarassing traction issues, need help!
I'm really starting to sort some of these problems sorted out I think. Looking forward to getting some new best short times.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/suspensio...l#post11793629
Well, I think I got onto a little something here. I don't know how I'm not going to do better timewise this weekend.
Well, I think I got onto a little something here. I don't know how I'm not going to do better timewise this weekend.
Allright, went out last night after some adjustments. I went from this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_Vz4HzxfZ8
To this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_FAbHk7KLA
That ATV is really annoying!
This was after putting in a UMI adjustable TA, and adjusting my LCA's to a higher setting. I also adjusted the coilovers in the back to level the car out a bit more. The tires are different, but I don't think that's making a huge difference at this point.
The biggest difference is the weight transfer and how it carries so much better throughout the 60'. Tire spin was greatly reduced and I'm able to launch at a higer RPM. I can still get it to blow the tires off, but it's definitely hooking better, more consistent and easier.
Top video was a 1.87, bottom was a 1.84. But besides that I was just able to get it alot easier. I believe I had a few 1.86's and 1.87's as well.
Funny thing is was the 1.84 was my first run. I really think my fuel level started playing a big role in my 60's. That was with half of a tank and I ran about 13 times. Worst shorts were at the end of the night.
I thought about taking the swaybar off like many of you all have said and others at the track last night, but wanted to see what these adjustments were going to do which was cool. I also remember about 2 months ago I installed poly swaybar bushings. Probably isn't helping me pull the front at all.
I'm still debating whether to go to some 300 lb. ground control front springs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_Vz4HzxfZ8
To this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_FAbHk7KLA
That ATV is really annoying!
This was after putting in a UMI adjustable TA, and adjusting my LCA's to a higher setting. I also adjusted the coilovers in the back to level the car out a bit more. The tires are different, but I don't think that's making a huge difference at this point.
The biggest difference is the weight transfer and how it carries so much better throughout the 60'. Tire spin was greatly reduced and I'm able to launch at a higer RPM. I can still get it to blow the tires off, but it's definitely hooking better, more consistent and easier.
Top video was a 1.87, bottom was a 1.84. But besides that I was just able to get it alot easier. I believe I had a few 1.86's and 1.87's as well.
Funny thing is was the 1.84 was my first run. I really think my fuel level started playing a big role in my 60's. That was with half of a tank and I ran about 13 times. Worst shorts were at the end of the night.
I thought about taking the swaybar off like many of you all have said and others at the track last night, but wanted to see what these adjustments were going to do which was cool. I also remember about 2 months ago I installed poly swaybar bushings. Probably isn't helping me pull the front at all.
I'm still debating whether to go to some 300 lb. ground control front springs
TECH Resident
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 869
Likes: 0
From: In the moment...
Seems like youre asking for help but disregarding everyone elses suggestions. Theyre all saying youre trying to drag race with a road race setup because the Ground Control setup isnt a drag setup. And the taking the sway bar off helps the nose of the car to come up. Youre completely nuking your setup.
Taking the sway bar off is one of the free mods you can do from the get-go as soon as you get your car to get your 60 ft down. The sway bars first job is to help keep the front of the car planted. In drag racing, youre doing the exact opposite so it only seems natural to lose it.
As for the sidewall, I wont say you need more because Ive seen some 1.6s on 18" rims. Its there you just have to set your combination of front/rear suspension, and tire pressure up for what youre doing. And I would lose as much weight off the front as possible so you can get some more weight transfer on top of those tires so you wont spin.
Taking the sway bar off is one of the free mods you can do from the get-go as soon as you get your car to get your 60 ft down. The sway bars first job is to help keep the front of the car planted. In drag racing, youre doing the exact opposite so it only seems natural to lose it.
As for the sidewall, I wont say you need more because Ive seen some 1.6s on 18" rims. Its there you just have to set your combination of front/rear suspension, and tire pressure up for what youre doing. And I would lose as much weight off the front as possible so you can get some more weight transfer on top of those tires so you wont spin.
I will tell you what side wall helps but in a M6 car bias ply tires makes a big difference. I was struggling for traction with my 275 50 15 ET street radials and swap to 26x11.5 15 ET street bias plys and it is a completely different car. I can punch the car in a first gear roll on the street and the car hooks. Things that also helped me were going from my lowering springs back to Stock springs and installing a set of QA1 shocks in the rear.
Just on a side note I run no front sway bar, and I have a BMR rear drag bar.
Yes getting a stick car to hook with Drag Radials is possible but it is much easier with bias plys
On a side not the only way I got my car down to 1.7 60's on a 275 40 17 ET street radial was slipping the clutch not dumping it.
Seems like youre asking for help but disregarding everyone elses suggestions. Theyre all saying youre trying to drag race with a road race setup because the Ground Control setup isnt a drag setup. And the taking the sway bar off helps the nose of the car to come up. Youre completely nuking your setup.
Taking the sway bar off is one of the free mods you can do from the get-go as soon as you get your car to get your 60 ft down. The sway bars first job is to help keep the front of the car planted. In drag racing, youre doing the exact opposite so it only seems natural to lose it.
As for the sidewall, I wont say you need more because Ive seen some 1.6s on 18" rims. Its there you just have to set your combination of front/rear suspension, and tire pressure up for what youre doing. And I would lose as much weight off the front as possible so you can get some more weight transfer on top of those tires so you wont spin.
Taking the sway bar off is one of the free mods you can do from the get-go as soon as you get your car to get your 60 ft down. The sway bars first job is to help keep the front of the car planted. In drag racing, youre doing the exact opposite so it only seems natural to lose it.
As for the sidewall, I wont say you need more because Ive seen some 1.6s on 18" rims. Its there you just have to set your combination of front/rear suspension, and tire pressure up for what youre doing. And I would lose as much weight off the front as possible so you can get some more weight transfer on top of those tires so you wont spin.
All I'm really trying to get at this point in time as an 11 second slip. Could be 11.999 and I would be happy for awhile.
FWIW, this is a buddy of mine launching, WITH A GROUND CONTROL setup and the same shocks that I have, same spring rates and everything. He does 5 and 6 thousand RPM clutch dumps spraying a hundred shot. This is also a H/C car putting down over 500 RWHP. You can hear it, and I know it's a ground control because I put it in for him. He also has 3.73's and ET streets bias pli tires though. Pretty consistent with the 1.6's, front sway still on the car also. He however is not in the eleven's either, 12.20's are his best. Our altitude is very high.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSBbiOCjTvI
All the spring and shock bashing when I've SEEN this setup work pretty well. Not perfect but it gets him what he wants.
Last edited by joblo1978; Jun 28, 2009 at 04:10 PM.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
No, I've taken lots of peoples suggestions and got some gains. The ground controls aren't an all out "drag" setup I know, but neither is the stock suspension. Everyone is bashing my shocks and springs when I can use any spring rate I want AND adjust my ride height independently. My Trans Am is not a "drag" only car so I'm just going to have to make this work. I will be pulling the front sway off very soon though to see what kind of gains I get from that. Some slicks and skinnies will come eventually along with some more weight reduction. Unless someone else wants to buy them for me they'll get here faster, any volunteers? Anyone wanna hooke me up? I didn't think so. If I could **** drag race suspension parts and tires I would but I'm bent on making THIS setup work.
All I'm really trying to get at this point in time as an 11 second slip. Could be 11.999 and I would be happy for awhile.
FWIW, this is a buddy of mine launching, WITH A GROUND CONTROL setup and the same shocks that I have, same spring rates and everything. He does 5 and 6 thousand RPM clutch dumps spraying a hundred shot. This is also a H/C car putting down over 500 RWHP. You can hear it, and I know it's a ground control because I put it in for him. He also has 3.73's and ET streets bias pli tires though. Pretty consistent with the 1.6's, front sway still on the car also. He however is not in the eleven's either, 12.20's are his best. Our altitude is very high.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSBbiOCjTvI
All the spring and shock bashing when I've SEEN this setup work pretty well. Not perfect but it gets him what he wants.
All I'm really trying to get at this point in time as an 11 second slip. Could be 11.999 and I would be happy for awhile.
FWIW, this is a buddy of mine launching, WITH A GROUND CONTROL setup and the same shocks that I have, same spring rates and everything. He does 5 and 6 thousand RPM clutch dumps spraying a hundred shot. This is also a H/C car putting down over 500 RWHP. You can hear it, and I know it's a ground control because I put it in for him. He also has 3.73's and ET streets bias pli tires though. Pretty consistent with the 1.6's, front sway still on the car also. He however is not in the eleven's either, 12.20's are his best. Our altitude is very high.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSBbiOCjTvI
All the spring and shock bashing when I've SEEN this setup work pretty well. Not perfect but it gets him what he wants.
That white camaro did transfer weight nice but you can tell by teh body it unloaded quick, probably from the sway pulling the body back down, with the sway off he probably would have pulled the front wheels off the ground.
I will be taking the rest of your advice this weekend
Results should be good, it launches way different without the sway, id remove the entire sway just to get the weight off but it will still transfer alot better.
