Poor prep and radials

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3 window
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Poor prep and radials

#1 Post by 3 window » Wed May 09, 2018 5:03 pm

Ok guys, need a little help here. I’ve got a ‘70 Nova on a Nitto 275 drag radial. I run a turbo 5.3, th400 and a 3.31 gear. Caltracs, Landrum monos, sliders, plenty of travel front and rear. Viking DAs all around. I run the bars in the bottom hole with 1/2 turn preload. Conventional spring up front (165lb) and the car weighs 3450 with me. Sorry no corner weights. Let’s just say that the track prep is poor. I’ve tried quite a few different shock settings and have had the bars top and bottom holes. Maybe I’m just missing the setup. I’ve got a timing ramp setup for testing so maybe that’s the magic bullet. Any advice would be much appreciated. Let me know what you guys think. The car previously ran 107 in the 1/8 on 15 pounds and a dismal 1.89 60 foot (all my fault/boost controller brain fart). Should run 9.50s when figured out.

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John_Heard
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Re: Poor prep and radials

#2 Post by John_Heard » Sun May 20, 2018 9:50 am

Poor / Little Prep and a drag radial don't work well together. If that's the kind of track you're going to be on you'll have better luck with a slick.

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Re: Poor prep and radials

#3 Post by 3 window » Wed May 23, 2018 9:49 am

I’m starting to get it figured out somewhat. It’s definitely a cross between a settings for a slick and a radial as far as shocks go. Along with some fairly precise and aggressive power management. Seems we’re making progress, just need to keep at it. I’ll keep you posted.

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Re: Poor prep and radials

#4 Post by John_Heard » Wed May 23, 2018 10:57 am

Why a Nitto Drag Radial? What size is it?

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Re: Poor prep and radials

#5 Post by 3 window » Thu May 24, 2018 11:50 am

Well as it goes, I was looking for a tire that would last. Now I pay! It’s a 275/60. I’ve run em at 20 psi, 19, 17 and they seem to like 15 a lot.

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Re: Poor prep and radials

#6 Post by John_Heard » Thu May 24, 2018 12:16 pm

If I were you, I'd try the M/T Pro Bracket Radial next go around, if you're gonna stick to a radial that is.

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Re: Poor prep and radials

#7 Post by 3 window » Thu May 24, 2018 7:30 pm

I’m planning on running NMCA True Street at the end of July. I like to drive it there, compete and drive it home without changing anything. There’s a good chance I’ll have a different tire on it by then. But if I can get these to work, I’ll leave em on. I know it’d probably be easier (and possibly quicker) with a different tire, but I kind of like being the underdog and the challenge. The car went 107 in the 1/8 last year with a 1.89 sixty, a boost curve about as steep as Nebraska and a traction control that wasn’t ironed out and pulling timing when it clearly didn’t need to (all my fault). Come to find out I had the rear speed sensor calibrated incorrectly. My goal is 110-115 and I think I can get it with my act together. I’ve got a Vbox and have plenty of test areas to do some R&D. I’ll keep you posted as to what I find out and how I got there. I’m willing to share any info I gather to help someone else out.

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