Big wheelies?

L79racer · 12-15-2009, 03:52 PM

If you guys tied down the front ends and ran a bigger slick to hook, how much do you think the cars would pick up in the 60' and ET? Just curious, everybody says going up and not out is loosing time and waisting hp. Wondering how true it is. Any back to back tests?

Greg Hill · 12-15-2009, 04:10 PM

My car runs faster in 60' and also 1/4 mile et when it gets up in the air.

L79racer · 12-15-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Hill

My car runs faster in 60' and also 1/4 mile et when it gets up in the air.

There ya go. Blows that myth out the window.

Dave Ficacci · 12-15-2009, 05:03 PM

Mine is .02 - .05 faster tied down.. but mine comes up higher than most.
I also run a greater risk of spinning the tire with it tied down so I keep in loose most of time.

Myron Piatek · 12-15-2009, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L79racer

If you guys tied down the front ends and ran a bigger slick to hook, how much do you think the cars would pick up in the 60' and ET? Just curious, everybody says going up and not out is loosing time and waisting hp. Wondering how true it is. Any back to back tests?

Lots of variables. But if you can make it hook with smaller tires, it will be faster.

Michael Beard · 12-15-2009, 05:29 PM

When I was a kid just getting started with my then-index-runner Front Wheel Drive Turismo, I witnessed an argument between Billy Nees and a guy who was shoeing Sweitzer's old car, who said "My car didn't wheelstand, so it didn't ET.", to which Billy finger-waggled, "If your car has to wheelstand to ET, there's something wrong."

I chimed in with a smirk, "My car didn't wheelstand, and it didn't ET either!"

In unison, they turned on me, "SHADDAP!"

Ed Wright · 12-15-2009, 06:00 PM

Mine is a few hun quicker with the front end tied down. If it actually scrapes the rear on the ground and shifts in the air (did it twice at Memphis) it'll costs me a full tenth. If I can make it dead hook and keep the tires less than a foot off the ground it normally runs quickest. It's a very narrow window, however, between spinning the tires and doing that. I've gotten in trouble trying to run it that way. A little change in the track and it can easily blow the tires off next round. It's safer to let it get up a couple of feet. I run 10.5" wide Hoosier radials.

DIAPERMAN · 12-15-2009, 07:40 PM

My old Cutlass ran the fastest when it drug the bumper for 80 foot

art leong · 12-15-2009, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Beard

When I was a kid just getting started with my then-index-runner Front Wheel Drive Turismo, I witnessed an argument between Billy Nees and a guy who was shoeing Sweitzer's old car, who said "My car didn't wheelstand, so it didn't ET.", to which Billy finger-waggled, "If your car has to wheelstand to ET, there's something wrong."

I chimed in with a smirk, "My car didn't wheelstand, and it didn't ET either!"

In unison, they turned on me, "SHADDAP!"

Mike. My car don't wheelstand neither. LOL

Bryan Broaddus · 12-15-2009, 08:45 PM

What I found with my Monte Carlo was the rear suspension dictated how I had to launch the car. With the ladder bars the car was quickest when it did a big wheelie and was shifted in the air.
Once I changed to the 4 link rear suspension it was quicker when I kept it from doing too big a wheelie and drove it out more.

My conclusion was the ladder bar setup didn't keep the rear tires planted as well as the 4 link so it was necessary to keep more weight on the rear tires to limit the spin.

It sure was fun doing the big wheelies though!!

12-15-2009, 03:52 PM	#1
L79racer Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North Massapequa, NY Posts: 218 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Big wheelies? If you guys tied down the front ends and ran a bigger slick to hook, how much do you think the cars would pick up in the 60' and ET? Just curious, everybody says going up and not out is loosing time and waisting hp. Wondering how true it is. Any back to back tests?

12-15-2009, 04:10 PM	#2
Greg Hill VIP Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Louisville , KY Posts: 1,995 Likes: 68 Liked 279 Times in 68 Posts	Re: Big wheelies? My car runs faster in 60' and also 1/4 mile et when it gets up in the air. __________________ Greg Hill 4171 STK

12-15-2009, 05:03 PM	#4
Dave Ficacci Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jersey Posts: 371 Likes: 41 Liked 98 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Big wheelies? Mine is .02 - .05 faster tied down.. but mine comes up higher than most. I also run a greater risk of spinning the tire with it tied down so I keep in loose most of time. __________________ Dave Ficacci 1013 STK 1170 SS

12-15-2009, 05:29 PM	#6
Michael Beard VIP Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 4,060 Likes: 0 Liked 13 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Big wheelies? When I was a kid just getting started with my then-index-runner Front Wheel Drive Turismo, I witnessed an argument between Billy Nees and a guy who was shoeing Sweitzer's old car, who said "My car didn't wheelstand, so it didn't ET.", to which Billy finger-waggled, "If your car has to wheelstand to ET, there's something wrong." I chimed in with a smirk, "My car didn't wheelstand, and it didn't ET either!" In unison, they turned on me, "SHADDAP!" __________________ Michael Beard - NHRA/IHRA 3216 S/SS

12-15-2009, 06:00 PM	#7
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 390 Times in 170 Posts	Re: Big wheelies? Mine is a few hun quicker with the front end tied down. If it actually scrapes the rear on the ground and shifts in the air (did it twice at Memphis) it'll costs me a full tenth. If I can make it dead hook and keep the tires less than a foot off the ground it normally runs quickest. It's a very narrow window, however, between spinning the tires and doing that. I've gotten in trouble trying to run it that way. A little change in the track and it can easily blow the tires off next round. It's safer to let it get up a couple of feet. I run 10.5" wide Hoosier radials. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

12-15-2009, 07:40 PM	#8
DIAPERMAN Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: ILLINIOS Posts: 715 Likes: 2 Liked 21 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Big wheelies? My old Cutlass ran the fastest when it drug the bumper for 80 foot

12-15-2009, 08:45 PM	#10
Bryan Broaddus Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 104 Likes: 2 Liked 18 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Big wheelies? What I found with my Monte Carlo was the rear suspension dictated how I had to launch the car. With the ladder bars the car was quickest when it did a big wheelie and was shifted in the air. Once I changed to the 4 link rear suspension it was quicker when I kept it from doing too big a wheelie and drove it out more. My conclusion was the ladder bar setup didn't keep the rear tires planted as well as the 4 link so it was necessary to keep more weight on the rear tires to limit the spin. It sure was fun doing the big wheelies though!! __________________ Bryan Broaddus 7568 STK ,SS