Disappointing Drag Times

[LookAtThatSHO]

Went to the 1/4 mile drag strip at NY International Speedway, and I'm not happy!

My last go at the same stip was earlier this summer. I was running a catless SS y-pipe. For those who know this setup, there are two pieces of pipe that replace where the cats go. Now, the spot welds on those areas were terrible when I bought them used and neglected to fix them. I drove around with this setup for a few months and finally decided to buy some Magnaflow hi-flow cats to get rid of that terrible rasp and hopefully regain some low-end torque. I got it up on a lift and immediately noticed there were 3 or 4 holes in the pipe before where the cats go. So I welded in the cats and patched up all the holes. Sounds great! Went to the strip...

1/4 Mile BEFORE the exhaust fix: 15.30sec
1/4 Mile AFTER installing the cats and patching the holes: 15.58sec

I MUST be in a twilight zone cuz I was definitely hoping to get in to at least the 14's, especially with the other mods I have done... I'm not sure if it has to do with getting out of the hole fast enough? My 60' times were consistently near 2.5sec. Does that seem right for the SHO? My R/T was right on at 0.56sec every time. And I was able to get up to 93mph on several runs... Damn I'm confused, how in the **** could I let a rice burning Honda CRX BEAT ME (15.1sec)?!?!?

 

[1993MTXSHO]

2.5 isnt bad but is nto great, the sho wont get much better then a 2.2. My car ran a best of 14.8 in its life at 98 and now i cnat get it to run more the na 15.5 at 93 it probably has to do with age and just different temps. There are many different vereiable that you have ot take into account

 

[LookAtThatSHO]

I hear ya. But the temps were perfect last night, about 68 degrees. My first run was right around 8:30 too. I just wish there was a better way to keep the incoming air flow cooler, it seems the intake hose was getting pretty hot from just being rubber. Still disappointing though... I'm even rocking the Sumitomo tires on the fronts.

 

[Corby]

Went to the 1/4 mile drag strip at NY International Speedway, and I'm not happy!

I drove around with this setup for a few months and finally decided to buy some Magnaflow hi-flow cats to get rid of that terrible rasp and hopefully regain some low-end torque.

You don't think that this was because of the Y-pipe do you????

 

[stangeater]

Although hi flow cats are the way to go if you need cats, they're still more restrictive than a cattless setup. Going cattless by far made the biggest difference for me....................................although I feel your pain about the times. I was just the same as you (thought my times would be better). There are just so many different factors that affect times. What was the temp difference between the 2 times you went?

 

[K-Dawg]

I'm not sure if it has to do with getting out of the hole fast enough? My 60' times were consistently near 2.5sec. Does that seem right for the SHO? My R/T was right on at 0.56sec every time. And I was able to get up to 93mph on several runs... Damn I'm confused, how in the **** could I let a rice burning Honda CRX BEAT ME (15.1sec)?!?!?

You nailed it. Get the launch better and you'd be suprised how much of a difference it makes in the ET. Don't worry about the RT because it doesn't affect the ET at a test n tune. The 93 mph traps show that the power is there.

 

[LookAtThatSHO]

You don't think that this was because of the Y-pipe do you????

I thought that the leaking y-pipes would for sure the significant factor that did me in. I know that the SHO engine relies on backpressure, but I guess there's too much with the cats on now (as stangeater has pointed out)...

There are just so many different factors that affect times. What was the temp difference between the 2 times you went?

The temp. differences were approximately the same since I wait until it's just about dark to race. But there's never really a long enough interval of time to let the engine cool after each trial. I did pop the hood for about 15 minutes each time though... Shoot, everyone did.

 

[LookAtThatSHO]

You nailed it. Get the launch better and you'd be suprised how much of a difference it makes in the ET. Don't worry about the RT because it doesn't affect the ET at a test n tune. The 93 mph traps show that the power is there.

So getting out of the hole is the problem then! That's what all of my buddies were telling me. Man I got to get that down, it's definitely embarassing when everyone sees the big board light up with a 15.6 for an SHO! It is quite frustrating trying to concentrate on cluch... then the amount of gas to push while releasing the clutch, then having the 5.7L LS1 Vette side by side with you with only headers reving their engine to no end! At least I know it's me that needs improvement and not my SHO! Thanks for the replies guys.

 

[masho95]

I just went through my timeslips and found my sub 15 runs. I had a sub-15sec run with a 2.516 60' time... lol

here they are:

60' --- 2.431 --- 2.360 --- 2.516 --- 2.481
ET --- 14.855 -- 14.877 -- 14.991 -- 14.890
Trap --97.56 --- 95.09 --- 97.59 --- 95.96

So with some lower 60' times like 2.3 or so you should be close to a 14 sec run!

Good luck

Edit: oh yeah almost forgot this one

60' --- 2.304
ET --- 14.287
Trap --98.81

 

[SASHO91]

I know that the SHO engine relies on backpressure

incorrect.

I would atleast think you would be in the high 14's with all of your mods. AND68* weather... have you checked for sticky calipers, bad wheel bearings, or the like?

I know my car runs like a rapped ape in 78* weather, i cant wait for winter to roll around....

 

[SHOspazz92]

2.5 60' Is your problem.

-Sam

 

[Corby]

This might be a stupid question but, how is the best way to get a good launch???? About how much do you want to spin the tires and at what rpm's??? Do you guys hold the rpm's at a certain amount like 4k and then let the clutch out to get the best launch???? Just kind of concerned on how to do it.

 

[Sho Amo]

i wanna hear the answer to that also. I have never raced an mtx nor tryed to, but i bought a plus yesterday and now i wanna learn the basics.

 

[K-Dawg]

With my old crappy tires and stock suspension, I found that launching at about 3k and letting the clutch out quick (but slow enough to keep the RPMs up) and matting the gas at the same time worked good. I think with the new tires and suspension, I should be able to launch at a higher RPM and/or let the clutch out faster.

 

[strings1732]

depends how you want to launch. It takes time to learn since every car is different. In my car, I hold the rpms bouncing at about 3000 - 3500 and then when I see the third yellow light start to go on, I let the clutch out just till it's about to catch(barely moving if at all, just enough to feel it starting to engage) and then drop it. I give it some gas at the same time. Once I'm moving and the wheels are spinning I feather the throttle till I have no wheel spin. Then roll into the throttle. In most stock SHO's you can launch at about 2500 - 3000 rpms and that should be good. But you might bog slightly. Wheel spin is not a good thing at all. What you want is for the wheels to spin just enough to prevent bogging down. On a stock clutch(or slightly better than stock clutch), you can rev it to about 3000 and when that third yellow starts up, slip the clutch out. Keep slipping the clutch out and giving more throttle. That prevents wheel spin and at the same time prevents bogging. But the price you have to pay is wearing out your clutch. On a race clutch or the like, this is not going to happen as easily. Because it wants to engage quicker, it's hard to slip it for that long.

The easiest way to learn to launch your car, is to practice! practice! practice! what I told you of how I launch, may or may not work for you.

 

[Huntervf]

I went from 16.5 to 15.2 all from learning how to launch the car correctly.

After 50+ runs, here's the technique I use to get consistent 2.2-2.3 60ft times:

1. Hold revs at around 2000.
2. Bring clutch out quickly. DON'T side step it, just do a nice quick release all the way, no slipping.
3. As the cluch comes out, your right foot goes down accordingly.
4. Modulate the gas to keep wheelspin to a minumum.


That's it. Of course it's a LOT harder than it sounds. If you don't get enough gas down before the clutch is out you'll bog the launch. Likewise, if you get too much gas down before the clutch it out you'll spin like crazy. Holding 2k and matching the clutch coming out with the gas going down is a good baseline for the launch, but you will need to work the gas pedal to get it perfect.

Each SHO is a little different. Start with this technique and just practice, that's about the best advice I can offer.

And yeah, a 2.5 60ft is your problem. Also, if you can manage quicker shifts that will help too. A 93mph trap indicates that your car is making good power, you just need to get it to the ground. On average, gaining 1 tenth on your 60ft time will give you 2 tenths better elapsed time. So, dropping from a 2.5 to a 2.3 60ft will take your 15.5 to a 15.1... in theory anyway

A lot of people say SHO's aren't good 1/4 cars, and they may be right. But that doesn't mean they can't be fun to drive at the strip, and IMO it's VERY satifsying when you get it all to come together for a good run

 

[strings1732]

A lot of people say SHO's aren't good 1/4 cars, and they may be right. But that doesn't mean they can't be fun to drive at the strip, and IMO it's VERY satifsying when you get it all to come together for a good run

That's a bunch of HOOEY! The SHO is not a bad drag car. I don't care what anyone says. I drag mine more than I drive it on the street and it does fine. Yea it's not as fast as I'd like it to be(yet at least), but that doesn't mean it's a bad drag car. That just means I haven't solved the traction issues and the power issues yet. The power and traction issues should be solved soon enough. No one that I know of has built a drag car out of a SHO. I'm starting to. It will also be good for the road course and will still be driven on the street but I'm building it for the drag strip. That's where it will excel. The turbo setup and everything is being built with the drag strip in mind. The nitrous (if I decide to use it at least) will be used for the drags. A car is only as good as what it was built for and since My car will be an all around car that is focused on drag racing, we will see how it does.

 

[Corby]

I know I should search first but im too lazy/have to go to work soon.... about how much is it to bring your car to the drag strip per run/or all day?

 

[LookAtThatSHO]

Thanks for all the input guys. I will definitely take everyones' advice and keep practicing. I've only been to the track three times in my life, and damn what a rush!!! And although my list of mods says I have BBBs and P&Ped intake (I have both), I just haven't had the time to install them yet so that should definitely help!

And yeah, a 2.5 60ft is your problem. Also, if you can manage quicker shifts that will help too.

I think I've just about nailed the shifts on the stock setup... I can only image how much Jose's SHOrty shifter would probably help!

I know I should search first but im too lazy/have to go to work soon.... about how much is it to bring your car to the drag strip per run/or all day?

It all depends on the strip in my experience. NY International charges $10 per person, and you get as many time trials as you'd like. Another speedway in my area charges $35 for their 1/8 mile strip, but they limit you to 3 runs.

 

[antbrdwar]

Ahh NYI! I might be heading up there Sept. 29th along with somedude, the turbo ATX.. if you are interested in seeing that thing run.