Conference napalm::musclecars

163.0. "Quicker E.T. Tech Tips" by ASABET::HAMEL () Fri Jul 07 1995 10:43

    
    
    This conference has been kind quite lately, so I thought I'd start
    another note.
    
    How about we all add our tips on how to make our cars quicker? You
    know, for that Saturday night blast or for when we take our cars to
    the drags.
    
    
    Okay, I'll start.
    
    * reduce weight.  There are lots of ways to do this. First off empty
      your trunk, run you car with � tank of gas. Gas is 6.2 pounds a
      gallon.
    
    * relocate your battery to the rear of your car for better weight
      transfer, preferably on the passanger side of car.
    
    * Tire pressure; run the front tires with about 10 pounds pressure more
      than normal for less rolling resistance. On the rear tires run
      slightly less than recommended, dropping the pressure too much will
      actually hurt traction because the tire will tend to cup in the center.  
    
    * Run high octane fuel, or an octane booster. This allow you to advance
      your timing without the worry of detonation.
    
    * Swap in a pair of 90/10 shocks in the front of the car. These help on
      weight transfer and plant the rear tires.  These are normally not
      recomended on street cars, I've never tried them, have any of you??
    
    * More expensive tips would be to swap to a fiberglass hood, and
      lightweight aluminum racing wheels like Centerlines or Welds.
    
    
    
     add any others you can think of.

    
        Here's whats really important to lower et's
    
         Get your BRAIN and your body in shape, No coffee drinking or
    choclate, (stimulants) and of course, get all the drugs out of your
    system. Be cool, Get a lot of sleep and/or rest before race day.
    
    Try these things before you go wrenching, you'll be surprised!
    
    -john

    Being prepared doesn't hurt either. Prep the car as much as possible
    before getting to the strip.
    
    re:-2 90/10 front shocks.
    Forget this for a car which sees any kind of regular "normal driving"
    (i.e. commuting) particularly on any roads on which you might encounter
    bumps at high speed. The front will go up but won't come down fast
    enough. The next bump may result in loss of control. They're strictly a
    race only item.
    
    However, there are alternatives - like 70/30's which are more suited to
    a street machine that sees occasional strip duty.
    
    Stan

What about installing a 14PSI supercharger and intercooler in your 10:1
compression ratio 1988 Mustang that already runs high 12's?

I will let you know :-).

Eric (gonna_make_a_milkshake) Goehl

    Eric, 
    
    You are insane!! You'll get those front tires in the air for sure now.
    
    
    Actually you know what I was getting at. As in what changes can you
    make without getting into your drivetrain.
    
    mh