Why are Mach 1's quick
 

I have been reading different forums and see 2003 Mach 1's are running in low 13's high 12's. Why aren't more ls1's running high 12's stock? Is it the 3.55 gearing in the Mach1 that is helping it in the 1/4? both cars weight around the same too..

Seems like some ls1's have 400+ horse and only getting in the mid 12's.

Thanks

This is just my guess, but maybe because they have a 8.8 rear that can take a decent amount of abuse at the strip with a set of sticky tires. Our crappy 10 bolt won't like you very much if you dump the clutch at 4k with sticky tires. 60' times are crucial to getting a good et.

Oh, and also because everyone who owns a Mach 1 has Bob Cosby driving abilities. ;)

Could be a combination of reasons

I believe MM&FF ran it on the dyno and it put 283rwhp. Not to bad for something that is rated 310hp at the flywheel.

Transmission is different to.

T-3650 vs T-56
1st 3.35 2.66
2nd 1.99 1.78
3rd 1.33 1.30
4th 1.00 1.00

FD 3.55 3.42

1st 11.89 9.09

The Mach has the mechanical advantage from the drivetrain. ~23% in first gear alone.
The engine sings all the way up to 6K while the LS1 peaks at about 5.7k-5.8k. At least from the dynos posted for a stock car.

Also the distance from the front wheels to the rear wheels could be different along with the distance the engine is placed from the CG. At least from the looks of it the New Edge mustangs look shorter, could be due to the F-bods long nose, I dunno. No hard numbers to back that up. Point is it helps with weight transfer.

Last but not least, track prep, weather, and DRIVER. A good driver can make all the difference in the world.

saw couple mach 1's at the track . All stock 14.4-14.6 car.

on the hose with tires, 13.0

wow.
neato.

they should race neon srt-4's.

might give them a run for the money.

14.x...they can't drive that's all. last mach i ran had 400 miles on the clock and he turned a couple 13.4x's at 105 on street tires! i was impressed.

man i'm just saying what i saw. not all tracks are alike. I wasn't able to hook for piss either, only could pull a 12.1 with 1.80 60 ft that night at that track.Maybe everyone was running slow.

but the mach 1 is pretty damn slow from what i saw.

13.0 on the hose heh. I'd be returning that car, it was yellow, it must have been a lemon.

I saw a 16yo kid in a Z06 run a 15.0 at the track too. That proves nothing.

Mach 1's are putting down nice numbers. There is no denying that.

I saw a beautiful one last night...18"TTII's, 315 BFG DR's. It was on a hoist getting a turbo kit installed. :devil: I'm not really a fan of Mach1's, but this one was very nice.

Whoever cant run a low 13 in a stock mach should hand the keys to someone that can drive. When mine had 384 on the clock and was completely showroom stock down to tire pressure and stickers on the radio, it ran a 13.23 never cutting it off and pulling into the lanes. I let it sit for 45 minutes and then ran a 13.22. I know with icing the intake, removing the silencer and setting tire pressures, I could get low 13.10's easy. The damn thing is quick for a pure stock car. I plan on taking it to an all night race on April 2nd and drop the clutch at 6k+ on some 10 inch slicks. My guess is 12.8x or quicker showroom stock with just slicks. We shall see!!!!!!!!!!! Also the Brd will be there 150lbs lighter with more converter and some other new tricks! Maybe a 11.teen S/I in the future?????????

damn the track musta sucked, if a nitrous mach 1 (yellow commerce,ga 03/12/04) ran 13.0 and the stock one ran 14.4-14.6.

i guess that means i shoulda pulled a 11 for sure if the track sucked that bad.

lol.

(the track is known to suck, but the yellow mach 1 sucked indeed).

Thanks for the replies. Seems as if gears are everything in a car. Why don't more people use 4.10 gears for the track? m6 should get descent gas mileage on them. Magnus ran 11.99 with bolt ons and a 6 speed. Some guys on here have n20 and all and barely get 11.5-11.8's. If I raced at the track I would go to a higer gear like a 4.10.

Thanks once again gang

I think gear plays a big part in why the car E.T's so well.

If you do the math and give the T-56 the same mechanical advantage in 1st as the 3650 in the Mach 1 you would have a 4.47 gear in the rear. With some slicks you could really take advantage of that.

LS1's trap higher though :D

No doubt about trapping higher but stock for stock a mach will run every bit as good as any ls1 except for the stripped versions like my Bird. But with just rods and pistons and lets say 20lbs of boost, the mach will be a cheap way to FLY! Not to mention I think it was the best car out there for 22,500 at the time. A-plan and a 3750 rebate. I feel sorry for the Gt owners who paid more.