Class racer---where great minds merge to spend money

Rusty Davenport · 03-02-2017, 12:15 PM

Questions I ask are never for those who figure they worked for all the answers and are not giving anything away. Maybe that attitude help attribute to some of the lack of participation everyone is worried about ??? I just wanted to get that off my chest with another one of my opinion poles before I make an expenditure. Always interesting.
What is your advice/opinion if you were trying to gain .02-.03 in 60 ft times in order of improvement of these 3 following changes.....

1- lightweight battery takes 25 lbs off the front end
2- 291 low gear in metric transmission compared to std. low gear
3- bump the ring and pinion up to 538 in lieu of 513
4- none of the above

1970 Nova stocker 350/300/286 ( we are at about 7100 at the stripe )

west coast · 03-02-2017, 04:25 PM

Battery wont pick you up cause if it is a car currently running as a stocker probably lifts the front wheels if it doesn't you need to work on rear suspension if that is the case you should be able to find some there. You use your rear gear to set your finish line rpm. Trans low gear set is the way to go, i don't know what a stock ratio for the metrics is to know the difference between the to are.

BobD · 03-02-2017, 05:45 PM

You left out reduce weight in the driver's seat...

oldskool · 03-02-2017, 06:46 PM

Besides the lower 1st gear ratio, I'd think more stall might also help 60ft times(assuming max traction), but not necessarily ET.

Painter · 03-02-2017, 06:56 PM

I do believe that i have some experience in this matter. None of the changes you mentioned will help. The will only reduce weivht on the front but wont really help the 60. The 291 gear will make the car a little more exciting ut very inconsistent. A gear change will help, but in the other direction, and you need enough motor to pull a 88. Video the car leaving, even if just on your phone. Watch it ten times. Shocks, springs, caltrac settings, torque convertor, pinion angle. Thats where you will find your answer. Watch the video, the will tell you what it wants.

ALMACK · 03-02-2017, 08:52 PM

Go to the tallest front tire ?

Terry Cain · 03-03-2017, 09:42 AM

Where's dyno show it quits making HP. 7100 sounds low

MikeMoller · 03-07-2017, 08:50 PM

I would vote for #3 - 5.38 gear. How tall of a slick are you running, and is it bias or radial? If you are running a tall slick, try to find someone with a shorter tire to borrow before you change the gear, and if it hooks OK and you see a better 60 ft then change the gear. I also think 7100 is low. The stock metric low is 2.74.

Painter · 03-07-2017, 08:59 PM

If he has any motor, that car will run faster with a 4.88.

Signman · 03-08-2017, 11:53 AM

1- lightweight battery takes 25 lbs off the front end
2- 291 low gear in metric transmission compared to std. low gear
3- bump the ring and pinion up to 538 in lieu of 513
4- none of the above

1- If the battery is on the right it may actually help the left right balance offsetting the driver weight. If on the left maybe a little.
2 - Will the engine recover on the gear change?
3 - Your dyno sheet will tel you what gear to run.
4 - None of this will really make significant improvement without more HP.

When developing my car went bumper to bumper doing everything could think of to make it better, did all the dirty work the little things that only cost a few bucks but would run up a serious bill if done by a professional shop. Had a pretty good T350 and decided to get a good Metric, no improvement. wtf!
Some pretty knowledgeable racers had become friendly after watching me constantly working and trying things race after race asking them good questions. They began telling me what the problem really was after about 20 times telling me in very acceptable ways began to hear that with more HP all the work and money spent would begin to show up in ET.
Started to lose some heads up runs and the Italian in me came out. Took the advise given before another loss to "open my wallet".
There is no replacement for horsepower!

03-02-2017, 12:15 PM	#1
Rusty Davenport Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Nashville N.C. Posts: 505 Likes: 4 Liked 100 Times in 26 Posts	Class racer---where great minds merge to spend money Questions I ask are never for those who figure they worked for all the answers and are not giving anything away. Maybe that attitude help attribute to some of the lack of participation everyone is worried about ??? I just wanted to get that off my chest with another one of my opinion poles before I make an expenditure. Always interesting. What is your advice/opinion if you were trying to gain .02-.03 in 60 ft times in order of improvement of these 3 following changes..... 1- lightweight battery takes 25 lbs off the front end 2- 291 low gear in metric transmission compared to std. low gear 3- bump the ring and pinion up to 538 in lieu of 513 4- none of the above 1970 Nova stocker 350/300/286 ( we are at about 7100 at the stripe ) __________________ NHRA AND IHRA STOCK ELIMINATOR 2772

03-02-2017, 04:25 PM	#2
west coast Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Rainy Washington Posts: 606 Likes: 12 Liked 217 Times in 70 Posts	Re: Class racer---where great minds merge to spend money Battery wont pick you up cause if it is a car currently running as a stocker probably lifts the front wheels if it doesn't you need to work on rear suspension if that is the case you should be able to find some there. You use your rear gear to set your finish line rpm. Trans low gear set is the way to go, i don't know what a stock ratio for the metrics is to know the difference between the to are. __________________ James Boyce 6052 K/SA Stock National record holder 2015,2018,2 times in 2022,2023

03-02-2017, 06:46 PM	#4
oldskool VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: The Land of Bayous, Boudin & Crawfish Posts: 1,668 Likes: 223 Liked 747 Times in 362 Posts	Re: Class racer---where great minds merge to spend money Besides the lower 1st gear ratio, I'd think more stall might also help 60ft times(assuming max traction), but not necessarily ET.

03-02-2017, 06:56 PM	#5
Painter Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 227 Likes: 4 Liked 162 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Class racer---where great minds merge to spend money I do believe that i have some experience in this matter. None of the changes you mentioned will help. The will only reduce weivht on the front but wont really help the 60. The 291 gear will make the car a little more exciting ut very inconsistent. A gear change will help, but in the other direction, and you need enough motor to pull a 88. Video the car leaving, even if just on your phone. Watch it ten times. Shocks, springs, caltrac settings, torque convertor, pinion angle. Thats where you will find your answer. Watch the video, the will tell you what it wants.

03-02-2017, 08:52 PM	#6
ALMACK VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 1,935 Likes: 129 Liked 369 Times in 127 Posts	Re: Class racer---where great minds merge to spend money Go to the tallest front tire ? __________________ Alan Mackin Stock 3777/ SS 3377 P/SA & SS/PA Fox Thunderbird I/PS '95 Mustang GT

03-02-2017, 05:45 PM	#3
BobD Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 41 Likes: 11 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Class racer---where great minds merge to spend money You left out reduce weight in the driver's seat...

03-03-2017, 09:42 AM	#7
Terry Cain Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Georgetown, Indiana (close to Louisville, KY) Posts: 774 Likes: 530 Liked 230 Times in 106 Posts	Re: Class racer---where great minds merge to spend money Where's dyno show it quits making HP. 7100 sounds low __________________ Terry Cain ???? STK tcain19689585@gmail.com

03-07-2017, 08:50 PM	#8
MikeMoller Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Raleigh NC Posts: 636 Likes: 27 Liked 254 Times in 78 Posts	Re: Class racer---where great minds merge to spend money I would vote for #3 - 5.38 gear. How tall of a slick are you running, and is it bias or radial? If you are running a tall slick, try to find someone with a shorter tire to borrow before you change the gear, and if it hooks OK and you see a better 60 ft then change the gear. I also think 7100 is low. The stock metric low is 2.74. __________________ Mike Moller NHRA 203 Q-R-T/SA Last edited by MikeMoller; 03-07-2017 at 08:52 PM.

03-07-2017, 08:59 PM	#9
Painter Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 227 Likes: 4 Liked 162 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Class racer---where great minds merge to spend money If he has any motor, that car will run faster with a 4.88.

03-08-2017, 11:53 AM	#10
Signman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lower Slower Delaware Posts: 535 Likes: 22 Liked 269 Times in 99 Posts	Re: Class racer---where great minds merge to spend money 1- lightweight battery takes 25 lbs off the front end 2- 291 low gear in metric transmission compared to std. low gear 3- bump the ring and pinion up to 538 in lieu of 513 4- none of the above 1- If the battery is on the right it may actually help the left right balance offsetting the driver weight. If on the left maybe a little. 2 - Will the engine recover on the gear change? 3 - Your dyno sheet will tel you what gear to run. 4 - None of this will really make significant improvement without more HP. When developing my car went bumper to bumper doing everything could think of to make it better, did all the dirty work the little things that only cost a few bucks but would run up a serious bill if done by a professional shop. Had a pretty good T350 and decided to get a good Metric, no improvement. wtf! Some pretty knowledgeable racers had become friendly after watching me constantly working and trying things race after race asking them good questions. They began telling me what the problem really was after about 20 times telling me in very acceptable ways began to hear that with more HP all the work and money spent would begin to show up in ET. Started to lose some heads up runs and the Italian in me came out. Took the advise given before another loss to "open my wallet". There is no replacement for horsepower! __________________ Frank Ferrucci I/SA 1271 "Be Thankful for the Gifts You are Given"