I guess I'm now reaching a point in making power at which my prior suspension notes don't work any more. Any experienced input from guys with stock suspension success is appreciated. I have a sequence of 3 pictures of my car someone took from the same launch. First, the car leaves well for a few feet and lifts the left front a few inches. Then the left front comes down and I spin for a few feet (4 ft or so by an observer). Then the left front is about 1-2 inches of the ground again (and of course it hooks and goes. My best 60 fts are in the 1.62 range. The engine stays on power with no bog (jet extensions). Maybe I'm unloading the rear when the left front control arm bottoms out? Maybe a half tank of gas sloshes around so much to wreck traction that much? *Air-bags: Pass 11.5 psi, driv. 5 psi (in the past, higher pressures gave worse 60fts). *Control arms boxed with urethane bushings. *M/T ET Street Radials - 275/60's at 14psi *Shocks - Competition Engineering 90/10 front 70/30 rear (old; junk? worn?)
sounds like yours is doing what my 11 sec street car was doing. It turned out to be a bad wore out front Lakewood 90/10 shock. Once replaced it stopped all that stuff. My 60 ft came back.
My first idea was that the rear springs are too stiff. Then I read that you lost 60' with more air bag pressure. Makes sense. Best bet, get rid of the air bags and put an anti-roll bar on it (HR Parts, Wolfe, etc.). If that's not possible, you could try alot of other things. Get some good 12-way shocks (QA-1) front and rear, and try all the settings to find what works. Don't be afraid to try different settings on each rear shock. Then make sure your front suspension isn't binding. Urthane bushings tend to stick. Grease'em good, or get Del-A-Lum. It could also be weight bias. Take weight off the nose and add weight to the trunk. Use Moroso front springs or similar GM springs. It helps keep the nose up. Beyond those things, you might have a problem with fuel pick-up, carb stumble, etc. Have fun.
Something to check, Is the fron suspension bottoming out when it comes down? If so your front shocks may be wiped out, or it may be time for a limiting strap on the font so that it does not get so much air under the tires.
