Hooking up a 71
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Belton tx
Hooking up a 71
Been working on my 71 soft top big block Vette. I can get it to run 13.1 @ 104 at the track but cant seem to go any faster. Issue seems to be traction. I am running automatic with street tires and I am thinking about putting drag rad or slicks on it but have some concerns. Looking for ideas on how to get the car to hook up better or not break drive componets.. Love to hear you ideas. How fast old vetts go with stock drive train and tires anyway?
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,734
Likes: 2,582
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,926
Likes: 739
From: Youngstown Ohio
Street tires simply do not "hook up" with any decent amount of power, especially at the track. Drag radials are what you need. Automatics are more forgiving than stick shifts, as they have a slight cushioning effect on launch. Experiences vary, but I have the stock rear end (with 4.11 gears) and use MT ET Street Radials at the strip......hooks right up, mid 10's ¼ mile, and so far no breakage.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 680
Likes: 5
From: Denham Springs LA
David,
I am running the Mickey Thompson drag radials on my 76 vette, with 468cu in (540hp on engine dyno), turbo 350 transmission, with 3.36 gears.
No problem hooking on dragstrip.
Average 1.65-1.66 60ft, not the best but not bad for my gears. Best 1/4 mile so far is 11.58 at 115mph.
Where are you located? Wondering if you are in South Louisiana (Worked with a fellow named David Shaw a few years ago).
Roger
I am running the Mickey Thompson drag radials on my 76 vette, with 468cu in (540hp on engine dyno), turbo 350 transmission, with 3.36 gears.
No problem hooking on dragstrip.
Average 1.65-1.66 60ft, not the best but not bad for my gears. Best 1/4 mile so far is 11.58 at 115mph.
Where are you located? Wondering if you are in South Louisiana (Worked with a fellow named David Shaw a few years ago).
Roger
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,086
Likes: 786
From: Lebanon Township New Jersey
At 104 mph, you could run 12.7. Drag radials will work. What converter and gear do you have. I have a 383 with TH350 with 3,000 stall converter and 3.73 rear. I've run 12.40s at 107, with 60 ft times of 1.73 or so. No other real changes for traction. I have stock springs in front, with the sway bar and a stock 9 leaf rear spring.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 845
Likes: 54
From: Bangor, Northern Ireland
I have trouble hooking up too, and that's with 285/40/17's, I think drag radials will be the only thing that gets me faster.
Although I get a better 60ft time than my mates 11 second C5 so perhaps our cars arent that bad?
from memory my 60ft time is 2.1 seconds, what's yours?
Oh just saw your time is 2.3
My car is lowered with hard suspension and is not at all set up for dragging, and it's a manual..and it has the spare wheel weight removed ( it's all against me!), so perhaps you can improve on 2.3?
Have you let your rear tyres down to approx 12psi? Not sure if it helps me but I do it
Although I get a better 60ft time than my mates 11 second C5 so perhaps our cars arent that bad?
from memory my 60ft time is 2.1 seconds, what's yours?
Oh just saw your time is 2.3
My car is lowered with hard suspension and is not at all set up for dragging, and it's a manual..and it has the spare wheel weight removed ( it's all against me!), so perhaps you can improve on 2.3?
Have you let your rear tyres down to approx 12psi? Not sure if it helps me but I do it
Last edited by aaroncorvette; Nov 22, 2012 at 04:31 PM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Belton tx
Still working on it... Keep hearing that the Front SWAY bar will hold the front end down. Running into guys with other types of cars that are disconnecting it and launching better.. My car launches like a skate board... really Flat with no raise to the front end....BKbroiler... saw the pick of yours wow... mine does not squat at all. Anyone else disconnecting front sway bar????
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,086
Likes: 786
From: Lebanon Township New Jersey
Once you put drag radials on there you can really benefit from a higher stall speed torque converter. If yours is stock, you could take 5 tenths off your time with a good 3,000 stall converter.
BTW, I recently ran 12.17 with mine, at 109, with 1.69 sixty time, with the front sway bar in place.
BTW, I recently ran 12.17 with mine, at 109, with 1.69 sixty time, with the front sway bar in place.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,240
Likes: 1,013
From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
Street tires simply do not "hook up" with any decent amount of power, especially at the track. Drag radials are what you need. Automatics are more forgiving than stick shifts, as they have a slight cushioning effect on launch. Experiences vary, but I have the stock rear end (with 4.11 gears) and use MT ET Street Radials at the strip......hooks right up, mid 10's ¼ mile, and so far no breakage.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Belton tx
Trap speed
Matt
You asked about trap speeds;
reaction normally from .3 to .09
60ft time normally 2.2 to 2.1
330 ft time normally 5.8 to 5.6
1/8 times 8.4 to 8.7
1/4 times13.4 to 13.1
speed 102 to 104
everytime we tried to go faster I just spin through 1st and 2nd and ended up going slower. pretty clear tires are a must to go any faster....Got a couple of friends with new vetts and cameros... sure would like to sneak up on them with an old car. Got to drop to 12.5 to do that....with all the advice i have gotten from the group, I think a suprise is in order in the new year.
OH yep tires were older than 2 years.
You asked about trap speeds;
reaction normally from .3 to .09
60ft time normally 2.2 to 2.1
330 ft time normally 5.8 to 5.6
1/8 times 8.4 to 8.7
1/4 times13.4 to 13.1
speed 102 to 104
everytime we tried to go faster I just spin through 1st and 2nd and ended up going slower. pretty clear tires are a must to go any faster....Got a couple of friends with new vetts and cameros... sure would like to sneak up on them with an old car. Got to drop to 12.5 to do that....with all the advice i have gotten from the group, I think a suprise is in order in the new year.
OH yep tires were older than 2 years.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,042
Likes: 79
From: central FL, near the beach.
My guess is any tire declines every year.
My experience, the 1st year they stick best, by 3 i'm lowering the psi, by 5 yrs old i'm down to 22 psi. After that, they suck.
Some trends i see,but could vary,
New never mounted but 2 yrs old is still 2 yrs old. don't buy it.
Soft compounds have low tread wear rating, DO buy it!
Cold temps kill traction.
Snow tires have the softest tread! Not that i'd buy them, it is just interesting(due to the low temps, they make 'em soft)
MT ET Street Radials get rave reviews, as the guys say, they really stick.
My experience, the 1st year they stick best, by 3 i'm lowering the psi, by 5 yrs old i'm down to 22 psi. After that, they suck.
Some trends i see,but could vary,
New never mounted but 2 yrs old is still 2 yrs old. don't buy it.
Soft compounds have low tread wear rating, DO buy it!
Cold temps kill traction.
Snow tires have the softest tread! Not that i'd buy them, it is just interesting(due to the low temps, they make 'em soft)
MT ET Street Radials get rave reviews, as the guys say, they really stick.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,096
Likes: 990
From: Sierra Foothills CA
Matt
You asked about trap speeds;
reaction normally from .3 to .09
60ft time normally 2.2 to 2.1
330 ft time normally 5.8 to 5.6
1/8 times 8.4 to 8.7
1/4 times13.4 to 13.1
speed 102 to 104
everytime we tried to go faster I just spin through 1st and 2nd and ended up going slower. pretty clear tires are a must to go any faster....Got a couple of friends with new vetts and cameros... sure would like to sneak up on them with an old car. Got to drop to 12.5 to do that....with all the advice i have gotten from the group, I think a suprise is in order in the new year.
OH yep tires were older than 2 years.
You asked about trap speeds;
reaction normally from .3 to .09
60ft time normally 2.2 to 2.1
330 ft time normally 5.8 to 5.6
1/8 times 8.4 to 8.7
1/4 times13.4 to 13.1
speed 102 to 104
everytime we tried to go faster I just spin through 1st and 2nd and ended up going slower. pretty clear tires are a must to go any faster....Got a couple of friends with new vetts and cameros... sure would like to sneak up on them with an old car. Got to drop to 12.5 to do that....with all the advice i have gotten from the group, I think a suprise is in order in the new year.
OH yep tires were older than 2 years.
I'll throw in another thumbs up for the MT ET Street Radials. I got a set this past spring in preparation for hitting the drag strip. Before long, I sneaked off to my favorite private road, did a good burnout, and then proceeded to pick up every pebble and rock on the road on the way home. Once they get hot they stick with a vengeance. After an initial burnout at the track they dead hooked every run. The Nitto Drag Radials that they replaced were pretty good but they never had the same traction level even when new. They are, however, a better tire for day to day use- especially if you also like to carve corners. Based on your trap speeds, they may be sticky enough to get it done for you but, if you want to be sure, get the MTs. If you're going to use a spare set of wheels and tires for the track only, the MTs are a no-brainer.
Regarding the front sway bar- I disconnected mine when I raced and noticed that the front end definitely lifted more quickly and farther than when it's connected. I can't tell you how much performance difference, if any, that made because I made no runs with it on to compare to. Good luck out there.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Belton tx
Thank for the help guys.. Took me awhile but with tires I got down to 12.@112 in 100 degree heat with nothing disconnected. Had some Major issues with carb that had to be solved..Think I crack 11.8 or 9 with a temp drop and a little luck.
