First time out.... waa waa waa waaaaaaaa !

Just for the hexx of it I took my 65 Lark to the track Sunday. With low profile hard as a rock street tires I believe 245-50-17 Nexxen, 2:56 rear peg leg I have on the back I ran dismally.....my build

462
9.3 :1 forged
TA 288-94h +6 Advanced
2500 Coan
Turbo 350
2:56 peg leg
Edelbrock Performer
TSP Stage 1 heads-no port work
800 Thunder series carb
Stock Manifolds no porting
2.5 " x pipe, dual perferated turbos
MSd ready to run
Stage 1 fuel pump

I got in 3 passes the best being 14.85 at 95 mph..to say the least TRACTION is totally non existent. My worst 60 ft time was 2.8 seconds ! My best was 2.4 ....I got beat each and every time ha ha ... a subaru wrx all wheel drive WAGON absolutely ripped me to pieces out of the hole and ran a 13.90 ? Now that was embarrasing....my car runs great/ clean all the way up...I just simply cannot hook it up AT ALL...my friends said it was still hazing the passenger rear at half track even though I let out and gigged it again and the announcer even took a jab at me saying I had obvious traction problems ....that was my worst run which was a 17.2....on that run I tried bringing it up on converter to 1300 -BIG mistake worst run. On the next pass I then tried rolling it out then punching it at around 30 mph which it still broke loose briefly but got up on its haunches finally and made the 14.85 at 95mph with a 2.4 60ft. Next pass 15.2 at 92 ,2.6 60 ft. Every run I finished going through the traps in 2nd gear. This cam has a ton of bottom end power to it- which I have installed +6 A which probably makes it even worse...I was right at 5k going through the traps in 2nd on each run. My questions are ....I know the car has the power and is running I believe as good as it can and can hit a 13. I just need to put it to the ground...I will be happy with that. Do you guys think a poor mans posi like a power trax unit is worth the $500. Or will a good set of sticky tires get me there even with the peg leg without the power trax ? Ps I got beat by one of those new 380 hp Tundra pickups- he ran 14.30 . Any tips on getting that 60ft down with a dismal 2:56 rear ?

 

I have no suggestions on the traction issue.......but I've been there with the 2.56 issue. I used to have a '79 Ford wagon sleeper that I had built with a '69 351w in it. 2.26 rear end. I never raced it, it was very slow off the line, but man that thing took off like a rocket once it was moving. I surprised the sh*t out of a lot of unsuspecting suckers who thought I was just driving another family truckster! :Brow:

Maybe you need a posi with at least a 3.08 or something.

 

You could at least gain some consistency with sticky tires. The first go 'round with my Skylark had similar power, running through an open 2.56 rear. I ran on Hoosier Quick Time Pro's (DOT drag bias ply tires). My 60' times were in the 2.4's and it went 13.52 @ 106 mph, going through the traps in 2nd gear.

If you insist on running street tires, then you may as well prepare yourself for frustration unless you get a limited slip of some sort back there. Even with that, you're still bound to battle traction issues or wheel hop, with the low end torque.

 

I think I may go for the power trax even with the 2:56 ...like I said I am only looking for consistent 13's... .I know tires are going to help - just dont know how much on average they do help...anybody add anything on tires and general E.T. improvement ? Yes Joe like you and your wagon when it finally hooks and gets going it feels impressive ......it might be interesting to see what the best 60 ft is among the V8 Buick guys here plagued with a 2 series gear ? Anybody ? J.

 

Wow Steve your mph is 11 mph over mine with identical 2:56's ? How did that car leave ? What was your build if I may ask ? J.

 

I would get a different rear end like an 8.5 with 3.42s and a posi. Will some slicks/street slicks you should be in the mid 13's easy.

I would not waste money on the 8.2 rear you have in there now.:dollar:

 

Is an 8.5 a direct bolt in - without modification welding etc into a 65 Lark ? Thanks J.

 

It left soft. I found a post with information on that motor (it broke on the 2nd pass). I had a 2.3X 60' time:

http://v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=86402

 

My last run of the season was a 13.55@107 on street tires, also with a 2.56. My best 60' of the year was a 1.995 (also on 215-70-14 street tires).

Since my car is a street car and not a race car, the MPH is a much better indication for me of how much power I'm making.

For me, the "formula" (if you can call it that) for best launches:
- A good posi unit
- Cheap tires from your local gas station- don't buy name brand high performance tires
- "loose" front shocks (20-30 year old shocks work well here)
- No rear sway bar (although this is contrary to the "popular knowledge")
- Passenger side (only) airbag at 15 PSI

Any of those will help you, especially the airbag. You might want to go to 20 PSI since you don't have posi.

I also finish the 1/4 mile in 2nd gear. If I shift into 3rd my MPH will drop dramatically. But my engine will also rev nicely to 5800+ RPM, which might not be an option for you without headers.

-Bob Cunningham

 

Seek out help from Monzaz in the "got gears" section. Jim is the best. He got me through my 2.93:1 8.2" to a 3.42:1 posi 8.5" smoothly.

http://www.jdrace.com/

 

Oh yeah, notice my right tire only burning in my avatar. I was pretty far down track as well. I did horrible !!!

That was the old rear ... and I'm glad its gone.

 

Definitely lower gears like others said and with all that low end some low buck no-hop bars and a pass. side air bag. With no-hop bars rather than lift the rearend (the way the fact. instant center's geometry dictates) it will force the rearend down to the pavement. I used these and they worked great. I'd bet with all the low end she hits 2nd hard. With a gear change it won't even feel like the same car!!!
Ray

 

Sounds to me like more than a gearing issue...

My 67 ragtop had a 2.56 posi in it last year and ran 13.50's all day long. I installed a new rear this year with 3.23's in it hoping for low 13's.... and I actually slowed down to 13.60's and 13.70's.

For comparison... my 455 has a stock bottom end (8.5:1?), stock "non-stage" heads, stock rockers, small cam (TA C110), a B4B intake, and a Holley 870 carb. Stock fuel pump. Stock hei ignition. Trans is a TH400 (long tail) with a 2100 stall converter. I don't know how our cars compare in weight, but I would guess that mine might even be heavier since it's a convertible?

Maybe your exhaust manifolds are choking your engine? Get yourself some headers and then go 3" pipe to the mufflers, then neck down to 2 1/2" tails?

o No:

 

95 mph in the quarter works out to a 14.0 quarter mile E.T

http://www.tciauto.com/Products/TechInfo/Calculators.asp#2

 

My old set up had 3.42 posi with 295 50 15 Ran 13.5 @ 100mph consitently. 60' were usually in the 1.90s The best times were easing the car to 25mph then floor it.:beer Matt

 

Larry
thanks for that link. I plugged my numbers in and it's dead on for my car, no matter which way i did it.. within .01 on the E.T and right on for MPH

 

My car is a full interior / weight skylark ...I pulled these 401 GS numbers from the net ...The 1965 Buick Skylark Gran Sport ran 16.6 at 86 mph with the 401 ? So I guess Im not doing too bad ha ha as my hp and torque according to desktop dyno are similar to that motor.......
To answer everyones questions...its a full weight skylark 3200lbs so with me in it 3400 car,462 9.3:1 ,70 stage 1 heads untouched, total timing is 32,Cam 288-94h is +6 advanced,car pulls well up to 5k then tails off. My old stock cammed 455 I built years ago "died" right at 4300 rpm so this one isnt choked and is cammed correctly to pull to 5k which is all I wanted ..the nosing over right at 5000 desktop dyno predicted right on the button..... . I was shifting at 5k and going through the traps right at 5k in 2nd gear of my turbo 350. That Edelbrock Thunder series carb at 800 cfm is a new piece to me and I have heard they are dogs but the car runs clean all the way up ie doesnt noticeably nose over at any time runninng up to 5k etc so you would think its adequate. I havent looked at the plugs yet to see how its running. I have always used Holleys- both d.p.'s and vac secondary in the past and they definitely do feel different than this carb though at the track. I havent tried any different carb tuning yet on the Edelbrock so I may pick up a few tenths from that. I am not looking to set the world on fire here -just would have expected consistent 13's with this combo. I really dont want to run headers as I was going for a semi stock look and sound with this car and its more of a showy car than dragstrip car. From what you knowledgeable guys are telling me the 13's with 2:56's is easily possible however. I am worried now though my mph (95) is no where near you other guys (107,102,100) ...so somethings up ...maybe that carb isnt adequate enough ? I will verify my total timing again as Larry suggested. Sidebar- my buddy (a gm line mechanic for 26 years) who has a cherry 100% stock GS 455 sedan said he put a 1/2 inch open nitrous plate under his qjet and said the difference in low end torque and power was really noticeable.