First track passes in my new vert!

[Marvin97]

okay, so here it goes: My first time actually driving at the track, and I had a blast! I only had enough time to make three passes before they closed(family thing had me getting there kinda late). My 97 convertible 5spd is virtually stock, save a pair of flows, but still running stock manifolds and h-pipe. The strange part to me, was my first pass was the best. and here it is:

1/4 [email protected] and this was with a .555 reaction time(suck)
60'.. 2.231
1/8 at 9.578

I am puzzled though, on my next 2 passes I sought to improve reaction time, and I did on both passes, but every other aspect of the runs became worse. 2nd pass:

1/4 [email protected] with a .437 reaction time
60'.. 2.303
1/8 at 9.678

and finally with the best reaction time, i get the worst et.

1/4 [email protected]
60'.. 2.369
1/8 at 9.795

For the life of me my friends and I cant figure out why, maybe I spun off the line, but I dont remember spinning(coulda been from adrenaline). Anyway, I had fun, expected a 15 sec time with it being a convert with leather and powerseats, so im not disappointed. We set out to get a baseline for the car, and now i have one, let the mods begin! Believe we'll start with eibach sportlines.. want gears, but as of right now im taking it to mustang week, so im gonna hold off on em till we get back.

 

[Black97GT]

Your reaction time doesn't factor into your E.T. ..you might have known that but it seems you were thinking the faster reaction time the faster E.T. you get. The clock starts as soon as you start moving so if you wanted to sit there for 2 seconds after green you could still run your best pass of the night. Not a bad time at all for a stock NPI vert though! Good job :thumb:

 

[AaRoN]

Not bad at all man :thumb:

 

[justinschmidt1]

not too bad

 

[Marvin97]

Your reaction time doesn't factor into your E.T. ..you might have known that but it seems you were thinking the faster reaction time the faster E.T. you get.

I had no idea actually, I guess I thought the clock started when the green light hit well that answers it, thanks. Gotta remember ima noob!

 

[Venom351R]

Yup your RT has no effect want to know what does though? Look at your 60' time. Notice how your best run of the night was also your best 60' time. Thats where it really counts!!! Not bad for your first time out though.

 

[Knuckles281]

I wish I would have done a baseline for my car like you did....that's a good idea

 

[Marvin97]

Yeah I wanted to see the fruits of my labor so to speak. I got a new top put on last week, changed plugs, royal purple oil, fram filter, and im taking it tomorrow to have a set of eibach sportline springs put on. Next up is the wheels, and im thinking white car, white wheels would look so clean!

 

[Venom351R]

Yeah I wanted to see the fruits of my labor so to speak. I got a new top put on last week, changed plugs, royal purple oil, fram filter, and im taking it tomorrow to have a set of eibach sportline springs put on. Next up is the wheels, and im thinking white car, white wheels would look so clean!

if you really care about your car dont put another fram filter on when you change your oil again. Your running Royal purple which is a high quality oil, use a high quality filter as well. Im running AMSOIL w/ a K&N filter. Fram filters are bottom of the line from what Ive read about them.

 

[justinschmidt1]

i heard fram filters come apart and wreck your engine :hammer:

get that shit out of there

I wish I would have done a baseline...first time I ran the car I already had 3.73s in it

I guess I can assume that i would have been high 14s /15 flat

 

[Marvin97]

I'll be sure and replace it when I change the oil next. Any particular brand you guys recommend? Motorcraft possibly?

 

[Venom351R]

I'll be sure and replace it when I change the oil next. Any particular brand you guys recommend? Motorcraft possibly?

Motorcraft, Mobil 1 filters, Wix, K&N all good filters. Fram really is garbage. I use K&N filters they are expensive but its for peace of mind. Next time you are in walmart look in the filter section, look at how many Fram's they have, whats walmart known for...junk so they supply junky products.

 

[LI98GT]

Yes, not too bad especially given the weight of your vert and being that you were a noob. Now that you know about the R/T not effecting your 1/4 mile times, you should be able to concentrate on a better launch so you can get an even better and more consistant times. I've only been twice now myself because of cost and how far the tracks are from me but felt more comfortable the 2nd time out.

I too only use Motorcraft with Mobil 1 oil in my stang. No sense cheaping out where it counts most. Walmart and Pep boys are where I get them.

 

[Venom351R]

Yes, not too bad especially given the weight of your vert and being that you were a noob. Now that you know about the R/T not effecting your 1/4 mile times, you should be able to concentrate on a better launch so you can get an even better and more consistant times. I've only been twice now myself because of cost and how far the tracks are from me but felt more comfortable the 2nd time out.

I too only use Motorcraft with Mobil 1 oil in my stang. No sense cheaping out where it counts most. Walmart and Pep boys are where I get them.

Walmart is great for good priced mobil 1. I did not mean everything they sold there is junk just that what they supply the most of usually is, meaning Fram Filters.

PS: Just checked out your exhuast vid, sounds nice.

 

[CanaryGT]

Nice :thumb: Its kinda what Venom said, if you look at your 60 it kinda tells your story.

 

[Venom351R]

Nice :thumb: Its kinda what Venom said, if you look at your 60 it kinda tells your story.

When it comes to drag racing the 60ft time is the most important factor out of anything. You can run a great trap speed which would indicate that you should be running a lower ET and you are left scratching your head for why you are not. The answer always lies in your 60ft time. From going from street tires, to Nitto DR's to MT ET Streets and watching my times drop further and further I can attest to how important the 60ft time is. Mine is good but for MT ET Streets it can be better but for only making 2 passes on them last year I was satisfied. The 60ft time con insides with PRATICE PRATICE PRATICE, the more you go to the track the better you will get at it. The track conditions are also a factor but most people can adjust to their own track and how to run on it. For an example of what practice can do (with very few minor mod changes) when I first got the Mustang I have now my first trip to the track I ran a 14.2 with a 2.4 60' pretty scary huh? From the way the car was then to as it sat on my last run of the season the only change was mufflers 31 spline axles/differential and 3.73 gears (from 3.27's) and MT ET Streets. I went from a 14.2 to a 12.88 from June to October the changes I made to the car in that time in no way could have effected my times to that extent, it was due to making a commitment to going to the track getting to know the car, getting to relearn the track again and trying this and trying that and eventually the times started to drop like a prom date on her knees on prom night.

 

[Marvin97]

WOW... what a 60'.. 2.4 with a 14.2 1/4? I guess practice is the best medicine. I plan on getting in as much track time as I can, since im only 20 minutes from Bowling Green, ky. It sucks that I work every other weekend, but im gonna do what I can.Thanks for all the info guys. Im posting some pics up to here in a little bit, so look for em.

 

[Venom351R]

WOW... what a 60'.. 2.4 with a 14.2 1/4? I guess practice is the best medicine. I plan on getting in as much track time as I can, since im only 20 minutes from Bowling Green, ky. It sucks that I work every other weekend, but im gonna do what I can.Thanks for all the info guys. Im posting some pics up to here in a little bit, so look for em.

Yeah that 2.4 was the very first run I did with this car, I was not quite use to the 390FT LBS of TQ :hammer: had been a few years since I had done the track and I dumped the clucth more then I should have.

 

[Marvin97]

Bet it pulls like a monster. Those mt et streets helped a lot I bet. 12.88 is nice number man, all I want to get outta this is a mid to low 12 sec street car. I plan on leaving my interior pretty well stock also. Wanna do it with the leather seats and all. :coolsmiley:

 

[Venom351R]

Bet it pulls like a monster. Those mt et streets helped a lot I bet. 12.88 is nice number man, all I want to get outta this is a mid to low 12 sec street car. I plan on leaving my interior pretty well stock also. Wanna do it with the leather seats and all. :coolsmiley:

Yeah it pulls so hard, I went back to the track last friday (was a really bad night not really going to get into it now) and the jolt off the line was unreal it just pulls so damn hard.

Thats my goal this year with the new mods is to be in the mid to low 12's, I have full leather interior but Im putting in a rear seat delete, I have it just not sure when Im going to get it put in