LETS TALK TRACTION....
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 872
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From: Cropwell AL
LETS TALK TRACTION....
Getting a head/cam job done as well as different converter. After talking with Mike Norris...one of the things he said that makes sense to me is...."these cars are so hard is keep the rubber on the ground after you increase the torque". Now, my question is....What can be done to the suspension to improve the hook? Think sometimes we concentrate on the power without an effort to control the torque. Are there shocks that will help? Different suspension? Running 315 drag radial now, but don't want to go with slicks and have to also run skinnies in the front. What other ideas do any of you guys have? I have come to believe that it is usually the guy that can hook that wins the race if the power is about equal. :yesnod:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: DFW TX
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Re: LETS TALK TRACTION.... (DUKE)
Are you desiring to make more traction on the street or at the strip? The best drag radial for the street out there is the 315's you already have. You're not going to find anything that really hooks much better than that even considering wide 345's on 18x12 rims. At the track though I would recommend swapping on some 26" ET Streets with the skinnies up front being optional and not really effecting straight line traction. As far as improving suspension short of swapping out the IRS for a different setup (ladder bar, 9", etc), perhaps converting to a true coil over setup with some HAL/Koni adjustable shocks and stiffer springs would help you out.
-Jeremy
-Jeremy
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 3,891
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From: Houston, TX
Re: LETS TALK TRACTION.... (DUKE)
You are absolutely correct! Quite a few races are won in the first 60'.
There are shocks that you can put on your car that will help you hook up. What you want to happen is for your front end to come up quick and then go down slow. You also want your rear end to squat a little and come up slow. This will put the maximum traction on the rear tires.
If this is not a race only car, This is not really the best way to go.
Old trick like disconnecting and removing the front swaybar can help a little on weight transfer.
A properly heated up 315 drag radial shoul do quite well in keeping the car in check off the line. There are people cutting 1.5x 60' times with 275 drag radials in automatic Vettes.
Good luck and of all the problems to have, this is not all that bad of one.
There are shocks that you can put on your car that will help you hook up. What you want to happen is for your front end to come up quick and then go down slow. You also want your rear end to squat a little and come up slow. This will put the maximum traction on the rear tires.
If this is not a race only car, This is not really the best way to go.
Old trick like disconnecting and removing the front swaybar can help a little on weight transfer.
A properly heated up 315 drag radial shoul do quite well in keeping the car in check off the line. There are people cutting 1.5x 60' times with 275 drag radials in automatic Vettes.
Good luck and of all the problems to have, this is not all that bad of one.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: D*ck ina Box
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Re: LETS TALK TRACTION.... (OliverM5)
godspeed - question: why are you using TR6's N/A in your vette?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: DFW TX
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Re: LETS TALK TRACTION.... (Speed-Racer)
It's a colder plug, and better for higher hp apps.
-Jeremy
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: I take pictures. Cincinnati, Ohio
Re: LETS TALK TRACTION.... (Mean Green 2000)
godspeed - question: why are you using TR6's N/A in your vette?
I got a better question....why is your sig so damn HUGE :jester
I got a better question....why is your sig so damn HUGE :jester
response! :crazy:
EDIT: I hit page down 7 times!!! :eek:
[Modified by Son93SL2, 12:10 PM 10/3/2001]
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: DFW TX
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Re: LETS TALK TRACTION.... (Mean Green 2000)
I got a better question....why is your sig so damn HUGE
-Jeremy
Team Owner
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From: D*ck ina Box
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Re: LETS TALK TRACTION.... (Godspeed)
I got a better question....why is your sig so damn HUGE
As soon as I finish making a web site, I'll cut down on the sig. I kinda like it though. :yesnod: :yesnod:
-Jeremy
As soon as I finish making a web site, I'll cut down on the sig. I kinda like it though. :yesnod: :yesnod:
-Jeremy
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,299
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From: Houston Texas
Re: LETS TALK TRACTION.... (DUKE)
Another point to keep in mind, is that once you get traction at the wheels, the torque is going to have to go somewhere else and you'll really have to beef up the driveline.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,429
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From: God's Replica
Re: LETS TALK TRACTION.... (DUKE)
you will never hook with 315's. What you need for racing is SIDEWALL. Small rim with tons of sidewall to flex. If I could use 15" rims I would, but I can only go as small as 16".
Pro
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 520
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From: Hoover, AL
Re: LETS TALK TRACTION.... (DUKE)
I think you will be just fine with those 315's. Heck, Colonel ran a 10.7 on Drag Radials... I know lots of people that have cut 1.5 60fts on them.
Now, if you get the spray... get the ET Streets...
Now, if you get the spray... get the ET Streets...
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
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From: Greer SC
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: LETS TALK TRACTION.... (DUKE)
We are going to be facing the same problem with ~450 RWHP/475 RWTQ, so I had the same discussion with Mike Norris. Adjustable shocks seems to be the best way to go. Disconnecting the swaybars would help, but IMHO a little too much effort for the return.
Good Luck & enjoy your new power!
Good Luck & enjoy your new power!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,809
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From: Frisco TX
Re: LETS TALK TRACTION.... (DUKE)
Well I had an interesting experience, I replaced by base suspension sway bars with Hotchkis and then I couldn’t hook up. I would suggest going to base susp sway bars if you have a better handling package + you can drive round town on them without compromising too much. :cheers:
+ I was getting 1.8 60's on run craps with the base sway bars too! :D
[Modified by bparker, 8:47 AM 10/5/2001]
+ I was getting 1.8 60's on run craps with the base sway bars too! :D
[Modified by bparker, 8:47 AM 10/5/2001]