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Need a little help on my launch/60ft

Gunner1

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3:52 PM
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Nov 9, 2021
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Location
Morganton NC
Need some advice. No traction in first. 63 Polara HT 3400lbs, 318 bars,Calvert 90/10s, Calvert split leafs std lift, Calvert 9 way rear on 9 per John’s adv with Calvert bars set 1/8 turn. 275/60/15 Cooper Cobras. I’ve got no traction in low. Doesn’t matter what speed I’m at, if I open the secondary’s it starts spinning. Thinking I need to either short shift the 1-2 shift or just keep practicing feather footing the throttle control. My driveway is starting to look like a starting line. This is my first 440. She’s a torquey girl. Comes on much deeper and harder than my 496 chevy did. Not ready for radials yet just trying for a baseline data point.
Thanks
 
Rear end ratio ???
 
Coopers are nice tires, but not any kind of drag-capable. Drag radials of some sort should be a minimum.
If you are talking drag strip performance, real slicks would be my choice.
All that rearend performance stuff works great, with race tires. Cooper Cobras ain't them .
 
Coopers are nice tires, but not any kind of drag-capable. Drag radials of some sort should be a minimum.
If you are talking drag strip performance, real slicks would be my choice.
All that rearend performance stuff works great, with race tires. Cooper Cobras ain't them .
I know. And I wish they were in the budget. But I have Parkinson’s and my docs talking about telling the DMV TO PULL MY LICENSE. I want to make some laps before I have to put it up for sale.
 
I know. And I wish they were in the budget. But I have Parkinson’s and my docs talking about telling the DMV TO PULL MY LICENSE. I want to make some laps before I have to put it up for sale.
Just get to the track. Even a no-prep track will have more traction than your driveway, or any surface street you travel. If the track is prepped, you might be pleasantly surprised.
 
I haven’t tried a real launch in higher gears. It takes off in third just fine with an easy leave. Heck I can do heavy traffic in third. I’m just worrying about spark with an over 10 to 1 engine and full throttle at 3000 rpm. I’m at 20 initial and 34@2800. Seconds a breeze. Hmm 1.45 to 1 Torqueglide 2 speed. Guess the driveway gets more striping this week.
 
Just get to the track. Even a no-prep track will have more traction than your driveway, or any surface street you travel. If the track is prepped, you might be pleasantly surprised.
Local track is Shadyside Dragway here in NC. They don’t spare the glue. They’re running a 75k 1/8 mile this week or maybe next. Southern gassers meets there too
 
Local track is Shadyside Dragway here in NC. They don’t spare the glue. They’re running a 75k 1/8 mile this week or maybe next. Southern gassers meets there too
Go the weekend after that race or a weekday if they are open and hopefully no rain before you get there…
 
I wish there was a SEGA-style group on the west coast, I'd start building a gasser tomorrow.
I also wish SEGA would turn on the clocks. Then we could see how fast the $50,000 custom race engines necessary to be competitive really are.
I figure any gasser I put together would be about $40,000 short of competitive.
 
You are just going to have to leave at part throttle and ease into it. No way Coopers Cobras are going to hook under full power. If it has an MSD with an adjustable timing curve you could take out a ton of timing and ramp it it up down track, My street Challenger has BFG 275/60's, 3.55, 4 speed 2.47 1st gear. On those tires it's run anywhere from 13.15 (once) to 15.0's. Very tricky to get it to leave on the BFG's. With a pair of worn out drag radials it's been 12.70's easy, with slicks 12.50's. Dead stock suspension with an adjustable pinion snubber. Without sticky tires the suspension mods offer little improvement.
Doug
 
You might try contacting a local car club to see if someone would loan you a set of wheels/race tires to make a few runs. Car guys are usually pretty good about helping each other out, especially if they know your situation...
 
You can try taking some air out of the Coopers. They tend to be harder and stiffer than T/As. (Probably why they tend to last longer.) Try about 25lbs. But only for a track hit. Certainty not recommended for extended driving.
 
You can try taking some air out of the Coopers. They tend to be harder and stiffer than T/As. (Probably why they tend to last longer.) Try about 25lbs. But only for a track hit. Certainty not recommended for extended driving.
I have mine leaving a pretty consistent pattern. A nice even rubber mark full width. Yes I’ve dropped from 32 to 28 cold.
You might try contacting a local car club to see if someone would loan you a set of wheels/race tires to make a few runs. Car guys are usually pretty good about helping each other out, especially if they know your situation...
Our club is mostly show car or cruise night rides.
 
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