First time to the track

Discussion in 'Street/strip 400/430/455' started by Donnie, Mar 26, 2021.

  1. Donnie

    Donnie Well-Known Member

    Drove my 69 to the track for the first time today. Full weight 69 gs 400 with air. Ran a best of 12.34 at 109. 1.85 60ft launching at idle. Any more and I would spin. 455 .038 over zero decked, TA spherical dish pistons, 413 cam, TA stage 2 se heads, performer intake and a Holley sniper. Stock 2.93 gears and a 2500 stall running 275/60 drag radials. Do you think a gear change and/ or an sp1 intake could get me into the high 11's?
     
  2. rkammer

    rkammer Gold Level Contributor

    Absolutely. 3.42 or maybe even 3.23 gears would do it. Maybe lower tire pressure to 20 psi, do a nice burnout, and launch against the converter at about 1500 RPM at first. If you can get your short time down to 1.65 which is achievable, you'll be at 12 flat or better. I don't think you need the SP1 yet. Practicing launching will get you there IMO.
     
    Max Damage likes this.
  3. BuickGSrules

    BuickGSrules Gold Level Contributor

    Rear gear change, get a converter made for your car/motor with 3-3200 stall - Jim Weise do them - and tune your chassis/suspension and you will be 11’s. Chassis/suspension tuning is so important and lot of guys forget it.
     
  4. Dano

    Dano Platinum Level Contributor

    Chassis is WAY more than ppl realize. Doesn't take much to run 10's in a dialed in purpose built tube chassis.

    3.42's (or higher) should help OP tremendously. Depends how much highway driving you're doing.
     
  5. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    With a 28" tire, your 2.93's are really 2.78's. You are probably going through the traps at about 4200 RPM if that, well below the HP peak.
     
  6. Fox's Den

    Fox's Den 355Xrs

    Still with those gears it must pull like a freight train in 2nd gear nice run!
     
  7. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    If you leave it in 2nd gear, you might get through the traps under 6000 RPM depending on trap speed.
     
  8. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    With 109 mph you are good for 11.90s,...a SP1 will get you about a 1 mph on that combo

    For every 1 tenth reduction in 60ft you will see 2 tenths reduction on the big end
     
  9. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    You have the power for a 1.63 ft,...with a street able stall speed,... probably a 1.58 with a 4200 loose unit
     
    rkammer likes this.
  10. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    Gears will for certain be the best bang for for buck, but will only make it harder to launch.

    Get it leaving hooking and you will ve shocked what you gain.......that first 20 ft are the most important in drag racing for cars at this level
     
  11. Donnie

    Donnie Well-Known Member

    Thanks for all the advice. Upgrading the rear end and converter will be the next thing I do. Hopefully the 8.2 can stay alive until then.
     
  12. Philip66

    Philip66 Well-Known Member

    My 70 had those same 2:93 rear gears and when I bought a new Moser 12 bolt rear with 3:73's the car was like a whole nother animal! It woke it up tremendously!!
    The only downside was street cruising RPM.

    My engine is a 600 HP 462 with TA Stage 2 SE heads mildly ported and a T-400.
    It would run easy 11.85's until I decided to get one of Jim Wiese's converters.
    With no other changes his converter dropped me down to an 11.34 and most of that drop came within the first 60'!! When driving the car on the street you don't even notice that the converter is anything other than stock or close to it until you mash it!!

    I would strongly recommend going with at least a 3:42 rear and then call Jim W. with a complete description of your car and let him build you a converter specifically for your combination and I guarantee you will be glad you did. I don't know of any other two changes that will give as much of an upgrade and enjoyment than your rear and converter!!

    Keep us posted.
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2021
  13. ghrp

    ghrp Well-Known Member

    Drop a truetrac diff in there, 3.42 gears and some new axles and you are in for an all new car. A converter would definitely be a tremendous plus as well.
     
    70 GMuscle and stump puller455 like this.
  14. stump puller455

    stump puller455 1970 GS 455

    Thanks for the info .. i to have a jw converter and jw 482 still running 8.2 293 rear i just purchased 12bolt w/ trutrac & 373 gears 33 spline axels can’t wait to install & run the GS .. however the 293 gear is a monster wfo on the turnpike last night we spanked a 1969 6 pack super bee & a late model mustang from a roll at highway speed
     
    Philip66 and ghrp like this.
  15. BrunoD

    BrunoD Looking for Fast Eddie

    Stump puller why don't you put your race here on Kill Stories,so that a lot more people can enjoy your races.Bruno.
     
  16. 70 GMuscle

    70 GMuscle Plan B

    20 psi on tires.
    Loosen front sway bar end links and get some suspension travel. It’s free. You need some weight transfer. Will help 60 ft.
    Do not use 90/10 shocks.
    If anything 80/20 afco from speedway motors.
    Have fun.
     

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