Operative word is....*A*.....because I got exactly one run before being told I was done! So much for "convertible-no cage-street car friendly"!

Short version is: 10.84@ 129.53.

I took car 200 miles to an IHRA track that is really nice. I had to work over there anyway this week, so it was no big deal.

Bad part is weather was really funky. That big front that has been sweeping the country was right on us last night. it was sprinkling rain off and on and the air just felt bad. Dead still. I checked a weather station with another racer.....when I ran it was at just over 3700 ft elevation air wise! Humidity and baro were really bad.

Good part is the car worked great. I had no idea how it would really act at the track, so I figured I'd start conservative, and hopefully get a few more runs in. I filled tank with gas (93 octane) to help traction and set timing at only 36* to make sure all was well. Linelock worked fantastic for burnout and I decided to try a launch at 3700 or so rpm first figuring it would spin a little.

Well it didn't! It hooked hard and topped out the suspension. It never bogged but I could quickly tell I could have come out MUCH harder. The new Dana 60 and all my rear end stuff worked perfectly along with the new clutch. I don't think the tires spun at all. But it only ran a 1.63 60' time.

I had shift light set for 6500 for the first run and shifted about there, once again making sure all was going to work well. The engine was still wanting to pull hard up there but I went ahead and shifted. Remember, these are my first runs since fighting that "running out of oil pressure" problem and I still wanted to make sure it really held well under real torture. It did! gauge stayed pegged.

But with weather the way it was, it just didn't pull like it should have. It ran a 7.01 at 102 mph in the 1/8th.

I pulled a plug afterwards and it definitely showed I could use lots more fuel than it liked on dyno. I had bumped it back up to the dyno tune jets for the first runs, and the plugs were snow white.

After the run I was met in the pits by the friendly guy on the golf cart telling me that fun was over for the night. He was actually very nice and told me if I wanted to make a few 1/8 mile passes he would let me. He said rollbar rules for IHRA are 7.50 1/8th mile and 11.50 for the 1/4.

So I went back around to make another pass and he reminded me to shut it down at the 1/8th. But right before I pulled into the water, he came up to my window and told me the owner of the track had overruled him and said no way could I even run 1/8th mile passes.

So anyway....I consider it a good night overall. All the rods are still in it...rear end is all in one piece (much better than the last few times out!). I am very happy with how it hooks on my little 10x26" slicks that I bought used several years ago. It ran a high 10 second pass on a very conservative tuneup and driving style, and I have no doubt a few more runs and a little tweeking couldn't have put me in the low-mid 10's even in last nights' weather.

I spoke with a fellow there running a lowered/tubbed '56 Chevy pickup that was pulling wheelies all night with the 15x33.5 slicks on it. He was running a 540 with Dart 360 heads, solid roller and an 8/71 blower with 2x1150 cfm Dominators. His best time was a 10.20 something and MPH ranged from 129-132 mph as the night went on and weather got better late in the evening. He said in good weather with no other changes it runs 9.70's@140 mph. So I felt even more encouraged!

My ultimate goal has always been to run a 9.99 on pump gas with it with nothing more than a set of slicks and maybe uncapping pipes. I have every belief that I'm on the way with it and a little good weather and "hammer type " driving will get me there!

I have a couple of weeks before the next event. Need to try a few more things!


JIM


PS- BTW- I weighed car while I was there. With a full tank of gas it is 3295 lbs. So it's not as bad as it could be I guess, considering the ungodly heavy Dana 60 differential, halfshafts, Doug Nash, scattershield, Merlin block etc. Not going to tell you what it is with me in....but I ain't no featherweight!

 

Wow very impressive first run,im sure youll be seeing that 9.99 easily if this run was conservitive.Good job :cheers: :thumbs:

 

Sweet :cool:

 

:eek: Yowza :eek: That is a lot of HP making it to the track. 9s should be no problem once you get more comfortable with the car.

 

:thumbs: :thumbs:

 

:cool: :cheers: :cheers:

 

Are you running with a hardtop? You might not even get one run without a rollbar..... if they remember you at the track (and how could they not? :lol: ) they might warn you before your first run and not let you come back if you go under 11.50... :( thinking about a rollbar? MJ

 

I don't have a hardtop for it..so I just run with the softop.

I've had some rough ideas for a bar for a while, but I sure hate to do it. I like it looking like a nice little street cruiser. I mean it's a great car for me and the wife to go cruising in.


JIM

 

427Hotrod,

What IHRA track did you go to that's within 200 miles and 1/4 mile compatible? Did Hallsville go IHRA or is there another strip in La that is open now? I thought I heard of another track in La besides State Capital in the south. Coulde be wrong too.

Your vette seriously flies! Kudos!

 

I went to the one on I-10 just east of San Antonio and before Seguin. Really sweet little track. Very clean and well run.


JIM

 

:thumbs: :cheers: :cheers:

 

:eek: Wow amazing number for a 1st run :yesnod: . Glda to hear all went well :cheers:

 

Jim, congratulations. Excellent results. What RPM do you figure you will be shifting at in the future. I am also curious what you ended up doing with your hood, any pics? Bill.

 

:iagree: :cheers:

 

Jim,

First off, congrats on making a clean virgin run. So many times there are small "gotchas" that make that first shake-down pass seem like it will never come. You nailed it right off the bat. :) Once the shift-points go up, the launch is harder, and the air is better... that car will easily run 9s.

Second... no way would I put a roll cage in that car, unless you make the decision that you and the wife do not want to cruise around in it, and you are going to race it 99% of the time its fired up and running. Been there, done that with a late model car, and the fun is gone much quicker than I thought.
Especially on a classic Vette 'vert, I just think that would take a LOT away from it.

You've built what you wanted; a super fast/quick REAL street car. Sure it could be a few tenths faster with less weight, more gear, gutted interior, etc. Who cares? There is nothing more fun and impressive in my book than a bad-**** REAL street car.

Continued best of luck.

 

Wow, note to self, "Don't race 427 Hotrod !"

 

Fantastic times...I'm hoping to get in the mid 11's with mine next spring.

 

That's for sure....you try to cover all the bases before you finally make a run. Plus I had buddies drive in to watch...one covered 400 miles that day to get there and we had to wait on him before we could make a pass. He got stuck in Austin traffic coming down. So with all those witnesses it better be decent!

I just wanted to make sure it made it to the end and I found all the gears!

*IF* it ever gets a rollbar, it for sure will be removable. Anytime I drive this car, the top is down..it's a fun cruiser.

I've had cars that were "life in the slow lane" with mega gears, cam, compression, NOS etc. This one was specifically planned to eventually be just as fast, but to do it with much simpler parts. Lots fo cubes, 93 octane and freeway gears. Remember...I'm running 3.07's! I can drive it anywhere.

So at this point, I have legitimate 10 sec street car, that looks relatively mild. My wife can drive it (and does) and we can go to cruise ins around Houston (usually a 200 mile round trip night) or we can drive to Dallas or Waco anytime we want to. It doesn't overheat, load up or act funky.

I defininitely don't want to gut it or move it to far to "drag mode" in search of an ET number. it's got full interior, a heavy softtop assy, extra layers of insulation under carpet etc etc. I picked 9.99 as a goal since I figure anything that can do that whether it is blown, nitroused or just big 'ole N/A cubic inches on pump gas is a pretty quick street car. It would be pretty easy to throw NOS on it and pull it off, but I've done that before. I want to do it this way this time. NOS is pretty much the great equalizer...you can add it to a 350 and easily outrun my times. But hey..let's throw a load of it on the 540!


Speaking of Bad-A** street cars...what about bringing that Bad-boy of yours to the Fastest Street Vette deal next week? I got some slicks you can use!


JIM

 

Jim, I sincerely appreciate the offer, but this next weekend is booked for me.

Plus, I have a rebuilt, stock rear-end in the car. Everything seems good with it, but you and I both know how slicks can expose ANY weak-link in the drivetrain. With the power my car makes, I think something would break without an upgrade of parts.

I have raced several slightly modded C5 Z06s (low-12, high-11 sec cars) from a roll and beaten them both. With traction, I think the car should run as well as your Combo #1 did. It's definitely a mid-11 sec capable car.

BTW, I am pulling the nitrous off the Z06 and may put it on the '69 BB. We'll see. The Z06 is getting twin-turbos. :)

Good luck, and I'll be anxiously awaiting to hear about your next assault into the 9s! :D