Hi folks it's been a while since I went over the progress of the car, but since I am stuck here at the desk I'll talk about the things we have tried since the last big update.

December 01
Well at the end of last year I had run the Formula at US41 Dragway and clicked off a 11.15@120mph. I cut a 1.53 60 ft which was good but I was underwhelmed by the MPH. I did some more runs and noticed that the shift points were all really low, like 6100 on the 1-2 shift. But Old Man Winter was around the corner and the track closed and I was done.

A pic from a couple months earlier... https://ls1tech.com/moderators/psj/p9150016.jpg

January 02
Got to run the car in late January when we had a freak warm spell. Drove the car 70 miles to US41 and went 11.20@120mph into a headwind. Discovered that removing the air filter (left the airbox on) yielded an increase of 1 mph and a reduction of about .08 in ET. I cut a 1.51 on one pass with the filter in but with the headwind only went 11.25 that day.

March 02
Well I showed the car at World of Wheels in McCormick Place which was a ton of fun but it did make me realize that the car was starting to accumulate some scratches under the front nose and some on the rocker panels from racing and from getting towed a few times.

Dynoed the car a bunch at www.LS1Speed.com. Got up to 450rwhp unlocked and about 490-502rwtq... Improved driveability and idle quality.

April 02
A few months later it was finally nice out and I put on some 275-60-15 MH Racemaster (full tread) bias ply tires on some 15x8 Pro Stars on the car to cut down the 4.10 on the highway. RPMs dropped bigtime, no more 3000 rpms at 75-80mph. But with radial skinnies up front and bias ply monsters in back the car has that shimmy where the rear feels like it's skating, and it's only worsened by the bigger sidewall of the 28's... So the car handles like it has ET Streets in back. Drove the car about 300 miles in one day on the www.MFBA.org annual Spring Cruise. I was the only car on skinnies... Here is a pic of the car North of Milwaukee which is almost two hours from my house...

http://www.boxofwires.com/mfba/mfba0...02-46-jpg.html

May 02
Well raced the car a few times with the ghetto MH tires... Won't hook better than a 1.60 with them and the average run is a 1.65 or so. Ran a string of 11.3's on 1.65's where I spun about a car length but I still managed to get air under the fronts... Only went 120-121mph on the runs which is a huge bummer, thought the car would run 122-123mph with the new dual exhaust and tuning... Sure the car is a tank but something is holding the car back...

June 02
Did some weight reduction, removed the stock carpeting, front bumper support and located some used PA K-member/A arm stuff that I need to jump on.

July 02
Slow month for the car, went on vacation, barely drove it so far. Pulled the trigger on some changes though. I am an ARE guy so I called up Nick and we talked about the 120mph of the car. Car ran 11.15 at 3650 raceweight back in December.

We determined that a few changes are in order to shift the car to more of an NA car. I have backed off from using nitrous and may only use a little bit in the fall but we'll talk about that some other time.

First order of business is to get the new 28x10.0x15 /15x10's on the back. I hear I need to cut the bump stops off and clearance the front inners a bit so the tires won't rub. Next I need to check a bunch of things on the to make sure they are all snugged up...

Third is engine modifications. I will be installing a set of stage III LS6 heads. They will bump my compression up from 10.7:1 to 11.7:1. I will need to reduce my timing from 31 degrees to about 27-28. I will run the car with that change on the dyno.

I'm going to need more stall too I think. Current stall is about a 3600. It's a Yank Thruster Pro Extreme 3600 with the 6 lug setup. I could use a bit more stall out of the hole and I need more shift extension, the rpms are dropping too much on each shift (6500 rpm shifts). But I will wait to see how the motor performs unless I can sneak in a converter swap in the next two weeks.

I might run this weekend and might squeak out a a 10 second pass but the last time I weighed the car it was still 3550 with me in it... (sigh) But all of the weight reduction was in the front of the car which is nice. The new 28's might work out great, but I might pick up some 28x11.5x15 ET Streets and put them on my 15x8 rims since the MH's feel real greasy and hook like crap...

I will say my ARE 422ci Iron block has not been superfast thus far but has probably been one of the most reliable big motors out there. I have like 4000 miles on it and have never added coolant. The weight increase hurts but I like the reliability!

Once I get the new heads on and loosen the stall I will ask the coach to put me back in the game.

<small>[ July 10, 2002, 08:03 PM: Message edited by: Pro Stock John ]</small>

 

Good update John

That's great that your going to upgrade the heads. I think they will pick you up a couple MPH. Between the heads and compression update maybe 3-4 mph.

That's interesting about the PYE3600. I actually have one that I was planning on installing behind my ARE 422 when I get it. Can you give some specifics about the shift extension rpms? I may send mine back to Yank and have them turn the wick up a little bit. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> I don't want to go thru that "too little stall" thing again.

Talk to ya

John

 

John, once you get your new changes done, and see some nice fall weather, you'll accomplish your goals, I'm sure.

Persistance is one of the most important factors with going fast.....Your dyno #'s are impressive. Just need to put the power to the ground. Good luck!!

 

Nice update.

Best of luck with your plans!

SIII LS6 Heads - Sweeeeeet!

Later,
Mike

 

<img border="0" alt="[boring]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_zzz.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[boring]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_zzz.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[boring]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_zzz.gif" />

**** it...lose the skirt and throw in a UT4600 <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

<small>[ July 10, 2002, 09:28 PM: Message edited by: Richie Carbone ]</small>

 

Pro Stock John,

Very Cool update. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />

"Once I get the new heads on and loosen the stall I will ask the coach to put me back in the game". <img border="0" alt="[hail]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_hail.gif" />

Now this is what Iam talking about! Get your helmet and your fire jacket and get into the game, my drag racing friend. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_tounge.gif" />

I sure would like to read about you running a 10's pass this weekend. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

I am going to race at RCR on Saturday(hope to get a new best 1/4 mile time), and on Sunday I will race at TAD for track points and maybe a little more money. <img border="0" alt="[devil]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_devil.gif" />

Good luck to ya this weekend. <img border="0" alt="[angel]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_angel.gif" />

 

Thanks Coach I'll try!

I just need to round up a trailer kinda scary to drive 85 miles and then slap on some 28x10 slicks. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

 

Hey PSJ, what kind of cam do you have in there. Maybe you should upgrade that too with the new heads (possibly a solid setup). I am sorry to hear you are staying away from the juice, I was hoping to see you unleash that 300 shot on Marco. <img border="0" alt="[Firebird]" title="" src="graemlins/formula.gif" />

 

244/244//114 lsa//112ic

I hope for 10.5's...

Marko's best is 9.70 and he blew a head gasket he could went faster.

If I hit my NA goal I will spray the car that is a promise. I have access to two kits, and also a fogger.

 

Looking good John! With better heads you should pick up a lot.

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Pro Stock John:
<strong>
Once I get the new heads on and loosen the stall I will ask the coach to put me back in the game.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"><img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

its all in the setup john. either you spray the **** out of it right now like its meant to be, or you change it for an NA setup. i vote to spray the **** out of it and see what it runs first.

can i borrow a kit for the caprice this weekend?

 

Good stuff PSJ <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

You wouldnt believe the difference a set of NA specific heads will give you over a set of nitrous specific heads.
The exhaust porting and swirl differences between the two are HUGE!

I went from 118mph with my blower ported S1 heads and 221/221 cam Naturally aspirated in a SIX speed to 122.60mph THROUGH an A4 with NA specific ARE 5.3L heads and 226/234 cam. That is 4.6mph difference through a mph robbing A4.

Cheers,
Chris

 

Its about time you work on that car and stop vacationing you slow ***!

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="gr_tounge.gif" />

Give me a reason to go quicker <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />

Tony

 

John I would like to see you put a little more track time on this set up.You haven't even run slicks since the last tuning session.I knew your heads were not the best for your application.

Good Luck!

 

I did run my old 26x11.5x15 ET Streets the second time I ran but I could not cut more than a 1.65 at GLD.

Roy I really have no interesting in blowing up my car in the middle of the year, I will wait until the end of the year to do that.

If I can find a trailer I will run on Saturday.

 

john your car is setup to spray.....so spray it. There are compromises with running a motor n/a and running a motor on spray

also, your cam/converter is setup for BIG spray. I say start with a 100 shot and watch the car pick up big time....and then ease it up. you'll be very surprised with the results i know it

 

Jimmy, I really have no interest in slapping the TNT F2 kit on and wacking it. I'd be doing it just to run a # that I won't bother running again.

Now I like my iron block a lot. No big bore problems for this this guy.

I'd like to run 10.5 in a true street car. Heck I am putting quiet exhaust back on and probably most of the interior back in.

 

If the heads and cam were setup for nitrous...why are you suprised that they aren't working well NA? Seems like you are sitting on the fence. I am glad to see that you are optimizing the car for NA performance...seeing as that seems to be what you are set on at the moment.

 

The original goal was to go 10's NA and 9's N20.

I'd now like to go as deep in the 10's NA as I can and still have a street car.

At the point I am at now, 11.1's maybe 10.99, I would need to spray a 225 shot to hit 9's for sure and I am not wanting to push the block that hard in the middle of the year.

 

grow some and spray it john <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> . it will not break with a little 150 kit. what are you planning on doing in the middle of the year anyways? get a tow strap and ill tow you home in the caprice if need be <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />