3 window

iTrader: (1)

Shocks are as important as the right converter. Do you need $5000 worth of Menscers??? Probably not, but quality on all 4 corners is worth it IMO.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Menscers are like $750-800 with springs per pair.

So would you go Menscer if they were $800 or go with something else? I'd be really happy to have the ability to click off 1.25 60 foot times assuming the track was good. I've been 1.35 with past cars with hardly any effort put into shock settings though we put thought into how we set them.

3 window

iTrader: (1)

People have gone really quick with 3 ways and slapper bars too. IMO it’s all in how much “resolution” you want out of the shock. Would you go 1.2x with the Menscers, probably. Could you do it with a cheaper AFCO or Viking, probably. It’s when you start really asking for the shock to work wringing out that last bit that the more engineered stuff is going to shine. Just my opinion.

spray280

iTrader: (5)

For $750-800pr yes-all day!!! Those are fell off the truck prices. My Afco 3870BG's were $449ea for off the shelf.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Actually I mis remembered, I think Menscers are 1100 with springs.

C5_Pete

iTrader: (8)

John, it only hurts the wallet once… after that, you get to enjoy the best there is available on your car….

Now, are Menscer D/As required? Of course not…. Especially for a street strip car like yours. In fact, it seems like they’re not as “street” friendly as, say, the Vikings. Add to that the relatively easy and cheap rebuild properties of the Vikings, and it seems like they’d win out.

Best of success!

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Yeah good points.

I'm local to Strange too I should ping my buddy Jake there and find out if they over different valving.

MIAmotorsports

If your running a radial at the track, the front don't mean ****. Full tight and strap them down. The rears are where it's at unless you like big wheelies and a busted front end. Slicks and no prep stuff is different.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Hmmm new strange shocks and springs are about $700, $1100 for Menscers suddenly doesn't sound that crazy.

Launch

For that difference i'd do it once and get the menscers. You guys in the USA are lucky to get menscers for only $1100

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Yeah my NJ buddy is going with the Menscers, and I might go for them for the rears.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

So before Xmas I logged a total of 10 hours of street driving in Thee Hairy Banana. We also swapped out the old ladder bar setup which all had poly ends to similar bars, running a set of heims up front and solid ends in back. My talented buddy Eddie V also squared up the back of the car, and then cut down and welded a new track locator bar (the diagonal bar) for the rear too. Difference was night and day.

What I have left:

• Absolutely need an alignment, only reason it didn't happen was my buddies were too busy.
• I got another steering wheel because it looks cool and more race car. (pic of similar one attached).
• I need double adjustable shocks for the rear, I need to measure what I have, talk to 1-2 buddies about what I can fit and order some. Leaning towards Menscer.
• I need a diaper, will order one shortly from Summit.
• I need a new helmet.
• I should change my WG springs to 7 lb springs.
  

Jimbo1367

the brand of fan may be some of the problem.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

I don't have any cooling problems anymore, fan is still going strong.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Finalized my LC9/TFS 220 engine build.

Will be working with:
https://www.summitracing.com/
--Ordering all the parts from them,

http://www.fasttimesmotorworks.com/
--All machining, assembly, will dyno the engine, possibly with the turbo kit.

https://www.capizziautomotive.com/
--Did final tuning with current combo and will keep that going. Will probaby hit the track with him in Michigan once the new mill is the car this summer.

https://www.facebook.com/JayWireSolutions/
--Jay Blanchard fixed my wiring and cooling issues last year. I hope to have him rewire the car this year.

https://www.facebook.com/people/Cair...0057372073414/
--Plan to have them do alignment and will likely order all tires from them.

https://www.holley.com/
--Will continue to work with Holley as I have their high ram intake Dominator ECU already on the car.

Will continue to work with Eddie Villadonga, local fabricator on an as-needed basis. Outstanding welder used to crew for Spiros Pappas and knows drag cars.


Next step:
Graham @ FastTimes is going to hone the block and then he'll determine which pistons will work.

I'll write up a build article fairly soon detailing the plan. Goal is for this engine to support 1100-1300 crank hp.

Excited!!!

The BallSS

iTrader: (9)

Are you going to start a separate thread for the engine build or keeping it on this one?

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

I think a separate thread.

3 window

iTrader: (1)

Not sure what you do for a living, but this is definitely in a “proposed operations agenda” format. Goals and deadlines is how to get things done!

The BallSS

iTrader: (9)

John if I might ask, what made you decide to do a 5.3 and not something larger like a 370?

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Yeah I like action and planning that is my default but a car build like this with so many options along the way can sometimes make me a little crazy... I tend to work better when i have only 2-3 options with one of them as the clear #1.

Like with the engine build there were several big considerations:

• How long should I run SBE, and how hard should I run it? My thinking based on input from Capizzi and a few others was to get a summer out of it, since I want to go for mid 8s. Based on my buddy Kevins' build over in NJ, been 8.8@155 on 18 lbs very similar combo. I figured mid 8s might take 20-21 lbs. But he's running a forged iron 370 with LSA heads.
• Would it make sense to add TFS 220's to my SBE shortblock and swap out the 799s? No. Advice was don't, because if the SBE rotating assembly dies there is usually collateral damage to the heads.
• Would it make sense to do a forged shortblock and run my 799s? I decided probably not, the thicker deck and better clamping of TFS 220s is something I think I'd need if I push the car hard. But I do know a bunch of folks who've run mid 8s with a forged bottom end and stock head castings. I don't want to do it twice.
• I even considered going 6 bolt. It was an easy decision to pass because I can't even find blocks they are scarce and as a result they are pricey. I would not have even considered a Dart aluminum block because I figured I'd be $7K into the block based on cost and machining. I used to know folks with LSX blocks and they used to trade around NIB for $2500, but now kinda hard to find.
• Capizzi been 4.20 in the race car with an LC9 at 2500 raceweight, shewww. The street car has been 7.40@181 @ 2850 with a forged LC9 and good heads. So based on that, I sold my L33 and bought a bare LC9 last year.

I'll start a different engine build thread next week.

I wish it was April already.