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1970 Cuda 4 speed 60 ft problem

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 2:30 pm
by raffaplymouth
hello ! i'm Raffaele from italy ... i have a 1970 cuda 4 speed with 60 ft very high 1.99 sec ... i have spend a lot of money but no good improvement ....

this is my combo :

1970 cuda 440 4 speed
engine 440-500 stroker kit
.040 pistons ross forged
indy EZ heads 295cc all polished
comp cams roller camshaft .670 lift
1.6 Roller rockers harland sharp
indy intake manifold single plane
holley 1050 cfm anular
TTI exhaust headers 2" primary +3.5 magnaflow mufflers
MSD 6al + timing retard +rev limiter 7400 rpm
nitrous oxide +200 HP power shot
A833 4 speed transmission stick
centerforce dual clutch
hardened driveshaft
rear end 8-3/4 4.10:1 + richmond posi
stock leaf springs with alluminium bushing
cal tracs bars with zero preload ( no change with 1/4 turn preload)
rear shock QA1 adjustable at 2 click from soft
front calvert drag shock 90-10
rear tires 29-10.50-15 drag slick M/T m5 coumpound
front tires 27-4.5-15 MT

car weight with my ass is 3700 lbs

with all this parts my best time is 11.40@138 mph 60 ft 1.99 sec

i think this is not good with over 25k invested in this car

i accept any advice for 60 ft improvement

thanks and Sorry for my English .. i have attacched some videos of my last race

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQoGkaJUJ00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttsW0rla ... ature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrfR9ODp ... ature=plcp

Raffaele

Re: 1970 Cuda 4 speed 60 ft problem

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 3:19 pm
by supernova
Hey, welcome to DragStuff.

Hmmmm! The 60' is about right for the et it runs. I'v had the same problem with my off the line and 60' footing. Here's why my car is slow in the 60'. It weighs 3650 lbs with me in it. My car does the 60 in 1.30 to 1.34 at that weight but runs 5.50's and 5.60's in the 1/8 mile. 5.50's equates to about 8.80's 1/4 mile. It run great for how heavy it is but with weight loss it will go faster.
Your car is heavy there for it may not 60' like you think it should believe I know. My car should be in the low 1.20's
3700 lbs is a lot of weight to move from a dead stop.

Hope that helps.

Re: 1970 Cuda 4 speed 60 ft problem

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 3:46 pm
by raffaplymouth
thank you Supernova !.. but i dont understand .. you car weight is like my cuda ? 3600 lbs ?....you runs 1/4 miles in 8.80 ?? how many horse power you have ?? .. i have around 900 hp ... if can help this is my last race 1 month ago :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQoGkaJUJ00

Re: 1970 Cuda 4 speed 60 ft problem

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 3:52 pm
by raffaplymouth

Re: 1970 Cuda 4 speed 60 ft problem

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 4:10 pm
by clutchdude
Is this a street car or drag race car? If its a drag race car, a adjustable clutch will help alot.

Re: 1970 Cuda 4 speed 60 ft problem

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 4:30 pm
by clutchdude
Ooops now i saw the videos...wow thats a handfull.

I would say the car has easy 10 sec potential. But if thats at a Air Strip...good luck, it will never hook like it should.

Start with the clutch and then it will also need some good rear springs, and it may also need a digital ignition system to pull some power off the line. Do you happen to know what the first gear ratio is in the trans? Most manual trans cars today work best with first gear ratios in the 3.0 - 3.2 range ( minimizes wheel speed).

Re: 1970 Cuda 4 speed 60 ft problem

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 4:38 pm
by raffaplymouth
clutchdude wrote:Ooops now i saw the videos...wow thats a handfull.

I would say the car has easy 10 sec potential. But if thats at a Air Strip...good luck, it will never hook like it should.

Start with the clutch and then it will also need some good rear springs, and it may also need a digital ignition system to pull some power off the line. Do you happen to know what the first gear ratio is in the trans? Most manual trans cars today work best with first gear ratios in the 3.0 - 3.2 range ( minimizes wheel speed).
wow !! adjustable clutch ?? i dont know this !! my transmission is factory A833 chrysler 4 speed . i dont know first gear ratio ... i will check .. my car wheelspin from 0 to 120 mph !! this is a problem !

Re: 1970 Cuda 4 speed 60 ft problem

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 4:46 pm
by raffaplymouth
i see your video !! very fast your Camaro ! look like you shifting is very fast !!

Re: 1970 Cuda 4 speed 60 ft problem

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 4:50 pm
by clutchdude
They are a race type of clutch that is designed so that they will slip a little off the line as well as on gear changes, to minimize wheel spin.

http://www.advancedclutches.com
http://www.mcleodracing.com/products/10 ... ft+Lok.mcl

Re: 1970 Cuda 4 speed 60 ft problem

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 4:52 pm
by clutchdude
I have a Jerico 4 speed, drag race transmission, its a clutchless transmission. You shift it without using the clutch.

The clutch is only used on the starting line.

Re: 1970 Cuda 4 speed 60 ft problem

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 5:41 pm
by supernova
The vids tell more of the truth. Track surface bad at best for one. Lots of tire spin. You should've posted the vids in your first post. They say a lot. I can see why the 60' is what it is. It even sounds like it spins on the gear changes.

Anyway, at the hit it seem to hit the tires way hard and spins. It looks like you side stepping the clutch or coming up to fast instead of coming up at a rate to help prevent tire spin which would help. You may try lowing the rpm, come up on the clutch slower and let it chugg out of the hole. That is better than wacking the tire with all the power at once. A better clutch will help also.

The rear end looks too stiff. It doesn't move much and the front doesn't raise much either. Looks like it doesn't work very well. With some work it should go faster for sure.

Me car? Is a race car with a 572 on nitrous, 29.5 X 10.5 tire, powerglide, 5,600 stall, 4.56 gear. and runs what it run at that weight.

WEIGHT is my cars problem................ :smt005 :smt005 :smt005 :smt005 :smt005

Re: 1970 Cuda 4 speed 60 ft problem

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 11:41 pm
by wikd69
Hiya Raffaele, very nice Cuda !!!

I think it's all about hook with your Cuda. At 138 mph you should be way deep in the 10's with a lot better 60'.

What tire pressure are you running in back ?

Re: 1970 Cuda 4 speed 60 ft problem

Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 12:25 am
by raffaplymouth
Guys ! Look like my car have a lot of problem ... let me know where is the important work before change the clutch and trans .. if i have understand

rear souspension too hard ??

front end too heavier ?? i can put the battery on the trunk ??

tires m5 coumpound is too hard ?? i can change tires ??

i can change the MSD 6al with another box more performance for reduce horses ??

i dont have subframe , need build a subframe connectors ??

remember .I drive the car even on the street .. sometimes

car have all original parts on the interior .. seats , heater, hifi radio ....

help me to make a higher 10s !!! i have a race in september !! Then we make big changes in winter!!

remember guys !! in the videos , no 90-10 shock !! i have buy 2 week ago , and i have just installed .. now front travel is 4.8 inches

Re: 1970 Cuda 4 speed 60 ft problem

Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 6:46 am
by Bruce69Camaro
Hi Raffaele,

Nice car....always liked those Cuda's.

I can't see any reason why your car shouldn't be in the 10's?

I do agree with the others, I see little weight transfer, front to rear and a stiff rear suspension.

Maybe I missed this but don't you need a roll bar in this car?

One thing I would do, before you twist things, is put in sub frame connectors in, you don't want to mess up those quarters.

Oh and while your at it, seeing your from the country that makes the best food, can you make me a ham and cheese calzone?

Re: 1970 Cuda 4 speed 60 ft problem

Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 7:11 am
by supernova
Bruce69Camaro wrote:Hi Raffaele,

Oh and while your at it, seeing your from the country that makes the best food, can you make me a ham and cheese calzone?
Way to go Bruce! I'm hungry............


You have a very nice car Raffaele. I bet it gets lots attention when you take it out.

With a little work it will get faster. You have plenty of motor, get the chassis to work better and it will surprise you.

Here's a video of my car running a 5.60.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7PDbkxF ... e=youtu.be