Lil bit of a long post...

Truth be told, I'm not very happy with the car. I'm about ready to redo most of it, since the combination seems that it is pretty bad. I didn't really get the chance to pick and choose the parts (referring to cam, gears, converter, headers, etc), they just sort of got tossed in there, so it's not like I chose these parts to go hand-in-hand

The main problem is the car feels like it's driving through the converter a lot at lower speeds. Once it picks up after about 3k it feels fine, but once it hits 2nd gear the car feels like it just hits a wall. Example, I ran a modded STi the other night. He launched at like 5k and hooked good, I only hooked decent enough not to get blown away off the line (cold road and my suspension is not adjusted right working against me there). I was able to hold up and end up about a car and a half on the guy through first, but as soon as I hit second I only got another half a car or so on him, and then at the end of the race that's where we finished, with me about 2 cars on him. The guy only has some basic mods on this STi, nothing major. I know that I won't make the same power to the wheels with the auto vs the 6 speed, but it felt this way with the 6 speed also, sort of dying off in 2nd

Currently it has a hotcam (219/228 112 LSA), factory 3.42 geared 10 bolt, a 4000 stall (a rather loose converter, unknown STR), and a 2.52 - 1.52 - 1.00 geared th350. Rear tires are 275/60 15 on 15x10 wheels. Headers are coated MAC mids with 2.5" duals. Lastly, car has most bolt ons (missing 2 or 3) and all free mods, and some tuning by MadZ28

I'm ready and willing to change out most anything on the car to get the combo right, and I'd obviously like to make more power. The bigger parts I had in mind was a custom grind cam, bigger gears (3.90s are my preferance, and the highest I'd like to go), and a new converter to match it all. I'm also going to switch to long tubes, since it feels like I'm leaving a bit on the table with these mids

Back when the car was a 6 speed, all I was able to get out of it were some 13.1's @ 111-112, at a very poorly prepped track. I'm confident I would have had closer to mid 12s had the track been actually prepped. All they did was brush off the dust after the track had sat through a Kansas winter!. This was on balding street tires also, no drag radials or slicks. I'm not a very great 6 speed driver (when it comes to launching) which is why I switched to the th350

So, any suggestions or input? I don't mind "streetability" too much, obviously since I'm currently running a 3 speed on the street. I might look into a gear vendors or a different tranny, so any suggestions there would be nice also. My goal for the car for now is to crack some 11s N/A, and spray it to the 10s after that. I'm not too interested in any sort of auto-X or much for handling in this car either

TIA

 

So what's it run? Spray or not? wieght, tires, 60' etc.?

 

No idea what it runs right now, the closest track doesn't open until next week

Tires are 275/60 15 which should be 28x11.5. Spray yes, but not worried about that since I want it to be running right N/A before I spray her

When I was running the 13.1s I was getting horrible 60' (zero track prep killed it for everyone, the balding street tires even worse for me) times, I think the best was like a 2.4

Not sure on exact weight of the car, it's roughly stock minus about 160-175 pounds

*edit* The 13.1 @ 111-112 was with the 6 speed, since then there were a few suspension bolt ons, a ported tb, the wheels/tires, and tuning. And the th350 now obviously

 

have the tranny checked out. also you need a good track tune. run it on a data logger and find out what is REALLY going on. street means nothing if you are trying to tune.

 

John you're familiar with my area, who would you suggest to have it looked at? I could only think of Kevin off the top of my head

 

god i ahave no idea. go on mofbody and ask. they have a couple of tuners. i know kieth mccord is damn good but he is in st louis. he is the best hands down in that part of hte country. its what ya get for livin in the sticks!

 

Yeah nothin like good ol Kansas

Well I emailed Fuddle, a new converter will be the first thing I change out. I'm going to try a converter like yours, ~3800 with a ~2.2 str, since the only thing I know about my converter is that it's a 4k. It's very loose, and the car drives through the converter very badly. Maybe it just needs that and higher gears to help with how sluggish it feels

 

Looking at the TRAK cam and 3.90 gears. Gonna try to stay with the converter I have now, and see if new cam/gears helps it off the line. Is anyone running a TRAK or similar cam with 3.90s with good results?

 

the gear is whats killing you, running a 28' tall tire and a 3.42 with that trans is not gonna get you anywhere. with that gear and tire the motor dosent get a chance to catch up to the converter, it needs more gear!! if you are running on hp i would go at least 4.10 if you plan on cruising it alot. But honestly why a 28? thats to tall for that kind of power. and a 4000 converter isnt all that loose, but it all depends on what you want to do , i would start with a gear tho.

 

I went with the taller tire for the future, since I plan on heads and a bigger cam this season, and spraying out of the hole. I just figured why bother trying to get a 26" to hook as well, when I can just toss a 28" on there. Also, so I can get a few more mph out of the car with the taller tire, since I only have 3 gears. If this is gonna be a problem I can always switch these tires out, since I do want some Mickey's instead of these Hoosiers

Would a 4.10 gear be a little extreme since I'm running a th350? I guess gas mileage doesn't really bother me that much, I'm more worried of running out of gear too quick, especially while spraying. And does anyone know if the TRAK likes 3.90 or 4.10 gears?

 

4.10 and 28" et drag/street will run you out of gear at about 130 mph on your setup. you should be able to go at quick as 10.30s on 130 mph. is that "limited" to you?

and good choice on the fuddle 3800. it will love the spray.

 

Well, limited as to if I do a race that goes a bit further than a 1/4 mile. But I don't ever really see that though, so I guess I'll be fine

I'm talking with the Fuddle guy now, should be purchasing the converter in a couple weeks, after I do the gears. Thanks for the advice on it!