This was my very first time on the dragstrip, and may be the last.
Curiosity was my motive. What can I get out of my 1971 LS5 roadster M20/3.08, stock but restored? Answer is: 14.3 sec @ 97.8 mph. I feel it is not too bad for a first timer. It looks like the weakest element is the clutch. I smelled it.
Does anyone here have an opinion on these numbers?

 

Not bad at all Get that clutch to stick and put some sticky tires on and I think you can get a 13.50 or better :thumbs:

 

admit it,,, it was fun wasn't it :thumbs: gotta go back to get it right :thumbs: listen to the sound of the RPM's coming up :thumbs:
well are ya ready to go again :lolg: :lolg: :lolg:

 

For the first time that is really good!!!! Did you only race once???? You gotta go again!!!

So now for the real question------ DID YOU WIN?????

 

I'd think (after servicing the clutch) you might really find that deeper gears (3.73s?) would wake-up your C3 even more!
I had an '79 Z28 that ran 14.40s/97+ with the OEM 3.42s; with no changes, other than 4.11s, my ETs went to 14-teens, with a best of 14.09 @ 98+, on 70-series UNIROYALS...
Good job; keep us posted on your NEXT trip to the strip!
:thumbs:

 

is the clutch sliping??? a few smells doesn't mean it done :thumbs:

 

Those are GREAT times for your car, and for you as a first timer. If you read road tests in magazines of the time, I'll bet that's close to what your car ran when it was originally built.

I'm no big drag racer, but I've been going to the track once or twice per year for 35+ years. My cars are all stock/restored. My 69 427/400 automatic ran a best of 13.72. My 63FI/4spd. roadster runs around 14--14.10.

I'm very happy with those numbers. I enjoy going to the strip just to have fun with my fellow owners. Don't worry about a little clutch smell, UNLESS it's slipping. If that's the case, it likely needs adjustment. Chuck

 

I did race three times.
First time, I started from idle and did 14.8 sec.
Second time I went up in rpm before starting but the clutch did slip for the first 3 sec or so. Result: 14.9 sec.
Third time, I started from idle again and did 14.3 sec.

On the last one I did win but I was really racing against the watch.

Thank you all for your feed back. It's encouraging.


[Modified by ATHANASE, 8:18 AM 1/18/2004]

 

That is kind of the way I started. Just wanted to see what the car could do. I have since made about 200 passes down the strip. It is addicting. My first run was a 14.8 at 96 MPH.

 

:cool: :cool: :thumbs:

 

That's a lot better than I did my first time out. Also, 14.3 seems like a prety good time with 3.08 rear gears. :) MJ

 

also try the family sled to help learn the tree, starting line, finish line etc.
you can hot lap it on test & tune days, my best was 20+ runs for $10
on a sat. one time :thumbs:

 

Your times look pretty good to me.
My best e.t. to date in my 69 with a bone stock 390/427 and 4 speed and 3.31 gears was a 14.07. She usually spins through the 60' on the BFG radials. I usually leave from idle to not shock the drivetrain to much.

With some slicks, both of us should be in the mid 13's.

PS, what kind of reaction times were you getting?
If you wait until you see the green light , your goin to be late on the tree.
I alway try to leave when I see the last yellow.


Dwayne

 

That isn't too bad but I'm thinking you may need a tune up. My '78 (with a bigger than stock cam but not very big and World Products heads) ran a 14.21 @ 97 mph this past summer. I have 3.73 gears but your mph should be better than mine. I would expect your big block to be making more power than my little 350. Also, I was running Goodyear 295 wide street tires.

 

I'm considering going myself. Intrested to see what a midly modded l-79 can do. This engine loves to wind, but I doubt I'm anywhere close to your times.

 

The 14.3 is a very good time! The time equals what the reported 1/4 mile times were in most magazine articles during the cars production. There is a "fine line" between tire spin and prefect launch in a C2/3 Vette. Proper "launch" RPM is dependant on many things, your leave at idle technique is a good one for a stock LS5 because they are torque monsters! The clutch problem may be due to old age or mis adjustment, (you need to stay on top of your pedal "free play" adjustment.) The free play in the clutch will diminish as you use it more aggressivley and wear the friction disc down (hope you have a good quality clutch, I have had good luck with Centerforce providing you watch free play wear on intital break in period of first several thousnd miles.) The 3.31 rear gears do place an extra heavy load on the clutch during launch of the car, 3.55 or 3.73 gears wopuld be better for drag racing but, if you drive the car, forget about the 3.73's as the freeway RPM would increase to a point where the car loses it's appeal to drive. you may want to practice with increasing the starting line RPM's by about 200-300 RPM increments until the best 60ft time is achieved (I wouldn't go much above 2500 RPM because the LS5 flywheel is heavy and you'll be asking for part breakage at higher RPM's.) The car should be able to run high 13's @ 100 MPH with correct tuning and technique. The state of tune in the car seems to be good, by your times but, you may want to consider installing a Petronix Ignitor ignition, good plug wires and a Petronix "black" stock looking coil (the MPH figure of 97MPH can be improved with carb tuning, better ignition and possibly a muffler change to "Magnaflow" type mufflers if you are running stocker types.) The Petronix stuff is a "drop-in" conversion and should increase you ET by 1-3 tenths of a second over stock points ignition while retaining stock looks. BFG makes Drag T/A radials (275/60/15) that will fit the 8" rally wheels but, the rear sway bar has to come off and the emergency brake cabe bracket has to be re-located to the top of the trailing arm to allow sidewall clearance on the majority of cars, I have used them on. BFG tires should give you another 0.5 seconds of E.T. The basic problem with wanting to go faster and faster is preventing parts breakage and the higher maintenance requirements, My LT-1 is only run a very few times a year, mostly to "tune-up" for our Northern California Corvette Association's Vette Magic all Corvette drag race (almost always the first Sunday in June at Sacramento Raceway for you west coast guys!) Enjoy the drags and keep the legend up!
:thumbs:


[Modified by Solid LT1, 5:51 PM 1/19/2004]

 

What was your 60 foot times?

 

considering your gearing - that's a pretty good ET...


[Modified by GrandSportC3, 10:24 PM 1/19/2004]

 

Here are all the numbers:

 

Keep it up, it only gets more fun as you get more confident!

My first time out I did a 17.something... missed a shift... in an automatic :banghead: When you downshift in the pit lanes, don't forget you did!!

-Chris