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1st time down the track

mikeyfrano

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Took my GTX to the track this weekend and was disappointed with my times. Car has 440-6 bbl slightly bigger cam(don't remember the specs) 275/60/15, stock exhaust manifold, 3" flowmaster xhaust, 4 speed pistol grip, 354 gears. I stayed out of the tracks where the big tire cars start but my car still grabbed good. My reaction time was weak .6, with a time of 14.654. I havent gotten my tach installed yet so that might help. What type of times has everyone else with a "stock mopar" ran.
 
ive been 12.90 at 3800 pounds with a motor home 440
 
I forgot it's 4200 With me in it. I guess I need to practice more. I was hoping for a high 12s
Manuals are tough on the drag strip without a lot of practice. Prior to owning my Road Runner I had a 6 speed manual 2012 corvette with a supercharger, cam, headers, meth injection....making over 700hp to the wheels. My first time to the track with all the mods, I ran in the mid 13's. After a bunch of practice, I was in the high 10's and would still occasionally miss the 2-3 shift! It takes a lot of seat time to get all the performance the cars have to offer. Stick with it...be patient. The ET's will come!
 
Manuals are tough on the drag strip without a lot of practice. Prior to owning my Road Runner I had a 6 speed manual 2012 corvette with a supercharger, cam, headers, meth injection....making over 700hp to the wheels. My first time to the track with all the mods, I ran in the mid 13's. After a bunch of practice, I was in the high 10's and would still occasionally miss the 2-3 shift! It takes a lot of seat time to get all the performance the cars have to offer. Stick with it...be patient. The ET's will come!
Thanks for the info ksurfer2 I was hoping it's just me and not the car. The track is 1 1/2 hours away from me so I'll keep practicing
 
Thanks for the info ksurfer2 I was hoping it's just me and not the car. The track is 1 1/2 hours away from me so I'll keep practicing
Don't worry about your reaction time. That has no effect on your et. Launch when your ready, and then start working on your RT after you've figured out your launch. Finding the sweet spot RPM to launch at and then managing the release of your clutch is the key to a good 60ft time....Too low of an RPM and you'll bog the motor, too high and you'll smoke the tires...both are bad for your 60ft!!!!
 
I lined up against a 9sec car and was a little past half way when I heard him leave and was about a 100 yards or less from the finish an i was thinking im gonna Beat him, then he went blasting past me. It was fun
 
Took my GTX to the track this weekend and was disappointed with my times. Car has 440-6 bbl slightly bigger cam(don't remember the specs) 275/60/15, stock exhaust manifold, 3" flowmaster xhaust, 4 speed pistol grip, 354 gears. I stayed out of the tracks where the big tire cars start but my car still grabbed good. My reaction time was weak .6, with a time of 14.654. I havent gotten my tach installed yet so that might help. What type of times has everyone else with a "stock mopar" ran.

The car was right at 14 seconds when new, you're not far off.
 
Sadly, I wouldn't expect any miracles with that heavy of a car, I assume a relatively stock tire, and 3.54 gears. Sounds to me like you drove it just fine.
 
Thanks for The info everyone . Looks like I need to build a faster car soon so I caN go faster.
 
is it all stock suspension or any kind of upgrades. just wondering
 
What was your MPH? That is the telling tale.
Doug
 
When I get up to 80mph(or around) in 3rd gear my engine seems like its staving for gas and starts cutting out. I thoutht it should keep reving higher. I have 3/8 fuel line. I think the fuel pump was an 80 gph, but I'm not sure
 
As you get into it,the little things are the 1st to get attention.Ignition timing is normally 1st before tweeking the carbs.Making sure all the clutch linkage is well lubed with no flex is another thing to start with.I get to race with a stock appearing group as an exhibition car.Watching and seeing what they have done to get a car like yours into the 11's is amazing!

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I think my 383 went 14.25 back in ‘68 when new. You really need to hook up the tach. Mine was totally stock back then w/auto trans.
 
You have plenty of room for improvement. There's probably 5-10 MPH left in it. Could be as simple as timing, shift rpm, jetting ETC. Or could be something incorrect in the build. Start tweaking and you'll find out.
Doug
 
The mph is usually the best indicator of potential. Unfortunately, 97 mph suggests not a lot of potential, but that presumes that a few basics are correct. And with only one trip down the track, we cannot tell if your basics are correct. A good running stockish 440 with 6 bbl should be around 105. The difference between 97 and 105 is about 80 hp.

Here is what you should do; 1) check cranking cylinder pressure, 2) put a tach in it, 3) put an inline fuel pressure gauge in it that you can read while driving, 4) set total timing at 36-38°. Depending on the cam, it will probably want to be shifted around 5500. Do those things, and go back to the track and report back. Then we can start getting into the weeds.
 
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