Things are coming around....


My roll bar guy did a fantastic job making a new rollbar for me right on schedule like we planned! To get it low enough to install the hardtop, it was easier to make a new bar itself (it bolts on to stubs welded to frame). Cutting it all apart was going to get weird angles. I can sell the old one to someone and they can just make their stubs a little lower and it will be perfect. His powdercoater finished it Friday morning and I picked it up on Friday afternoon. Since I live in Ft Worth...and he is in Santa Fe Tx south of Houston...it was a Loooonnnggg Day! It's 350 miles one way! Bad part was hard rain kicked in before I got out of Houston and I swear everyone must have bugged out for Spring Break. Pure gridlock. Even the interstate stopped! Left at 8am and got home at 12:30 AM.


Today I did some quick engine checks to make sure all still looked good after the 1/4 mile running...all was good. Next I swapped the wheels and tires over to the TX Mile combo. Just using 8"/7" Rally's...so definitely low tech looking!


Took a test drive to make sure things worked OK....ran it up to 110 MPH or so. I'll say it's going to be fun because these rear tires don't hook anywhere near as well as the drag radials do....so good thing I've got a long way to get it up to speed!!


Next...I pulled the trans. I've ordered the gears necessary to make it an O/D for this event.. They'll get here next week and I can put it all together next Saturday.


Got a lot of little things to do tomorrow...but nothing too bad.


Here's some pics of the Drag Look and the TX Mile Look.


JIM

 

 

 

I love it with the hard top on it...

It really sucks about the tire options available for 15s when it comes to road racing and land speed racing. The extra weight from the steel wheels won't really hurt you in the mile though.

I can't wait to see how you do. Make sure you datalogging is on point, and make sure to bring extra wide band O2 sensors with you....(ask me how I know).

I would run straight C16 in it for this event.


BTW
Was it Rick Stevens that did your roll bar? If so, you were right in my dad's neighborhood when you came to Santa Fe. The Corvette and Chevy expo is going on right now in Galveston, too bad you didnt have time to swing by there.

 

How does the overdrive gear work in the Gforce. Will 4th be overdrive? What rpm do you think you will be at at 200mph?

 

My nascar RR slicks are like driving on grease until you get heat in them. Like over 150 degrees, so like a drag radial you need to do a burn out before you roll up to stage. The actual optimum performance is between 200 and 250 degrees

Do you have a parachute now

 

Yes...it was Rick Stephens. He's really good. Wouldn't trust too many others.

So it appears I have another tire dilemma. After getting the Hoosier roundy-round tires blessed....the rules have changed since January and now bias ply tires are banned...and drag radials are banned...and road race slicks need pre-approval etc etc.

So if I can find a 17/18" wheel with 4-4.5" backspacing that will fit...what rear tires are everyone using to try and put down this sort of power??

I'm going to have a HUGE tire sale when this thing is over!!

JIM

 

Sent you a message George.

JIM

 

I can't believe they banned all of those tires..WTF are they expecting people to race on? There are cars running 250+ in the 1/4 on bias plies. Lots of people have been 200+ on drag radials as well.

I know a lot of people use Hoosier R6/R7/A7 road course tires, that or Toyo R888s... neither of which are gonna hold your power, and you'll need 17" wheels. Maybe some Good Year radial slicks? Or Good Year cup tires (NASCAR). Maybe something like this if you decide to go to 17/18" wheels:
https://m.tirerack.com/tires/TireDet...170312170853:s

Most of the 250+ mph Lambos are running R888s but, they are all wheel drive. R888s aren't going to hold 1100rwhp on a 2wd car.

Shannon is getting ridiculous with the regulations on that event. I havent ran that event since 09 and it seems to get worse every year with BS.

 

Just an observation, but I'd be more comfortable if the rear rims were a bit closer to your rear tire section width.

 

I don't understand them banning biased ply tires. The 500 MPH rated Mickey Thompson rear tires we had for the back of the streamliner as well as the Goodyear front are bias ply. I don't know of any of the purpose made land speed tires that aren't bias ply. I've never seen one streamliner or laker on radials! The only thing I've ever seen on radials at Bonneville were stock class cars.

Mike

 

Land speed tires are specifically excluded too. Go figure.


Jim

 

Yes...I make 4th gear an O/D. It will be .092. It's going to take 6850 RPM to break through 200 MPH.

Should be a sweet spot for it.

JIM

 

So I've ordered yet another set of wheels and tires for the rear!!

Still pretty tough finding tall tires that are Y speed rated. The "good" Hoosier stuff is too short.

So it's going to be some 275/45x18's on the rear with some pimp daddy wheels!! They are 27.8" tall...so should be good. Trying to find some wheels to fit everything was tricky. We'll see how it all works out when they get here.

Gonna look funky with Rally's on the front. If it all looks OK...I'll order some matching wheels for the front and have a high tech look when I want it I suppose. Jeez...more wheels and tires!!

http://www.jegs.com/images/photos/300/306/306-650g.jpg

JIM

 

Don't disagree. Actually had a lot of discussion about it and we decided it was a way to get a little diameter out of them for something like this. Not really cornering much.

But...won't be running them anyway now....so they can go in the garage sale!

JIM

 

Jeez...just got a note. Jeg's can't ship wheels until April 28th. Called other vendors turns out no one has them. New wheel I just happened to pick. Next shipment is on the way...maybe.....

Ordered some similar looking ones made by US Mag. Went ahead and ordered some matching fronts just in case they quit making them or something! Wow...more wheels....

Hopefully they get here this week!

JIM

 

Do the rulemakers have any clue that its going to make it all but impossible for cars to get to speed if they cant get the tire they need?
Almost seems it could be unsafe if you can hook even at high speeds

Agree the hardtop look is killer! Reminds me of an old Hot Wheel

 

These runs equal a full mile drag race

 

Have you seen any of the other old cars to see what they are running?
Does a 16" open up more options?

Jebby

 

I think they are trying to play the hand as best as possible. They're putting on an event with a lot of variables and exposure. In the discussions I've had with them they've been very fair...and full of stories of what people try to get by with. In fact I called them while I was picking up my car from getting the new rollbar to discuss shoulder harness mounting. The lady answered immediately and had the tech guy call me in less than 5 minutes. I had him and my chassis guy together and we sent pics. All was good.

No doubt folks show up with a football helmet and flip flops.

You can actually find tires with the big speed ratings...even in 15"...and if I had a big O/D they would be OK since they're relatively short. I've got some Y (186+ mph) ones for the front in 15".

Not too many folks running "old cars" and the ones that do usually have later style wheels in big diameters with more choices and also are not trying to push a brick past 200 MPH!

I know I've worked harder and spent more $$$ to pull off this event that I have on any other for sure!

JIM