Re: Stock and Super Street....
 

What are some ways to reduce reaction times with a "Stock" style suspension set up to hit a pro tree (.470) in Super Street. My set up is a lot like Marty's Camaro. 67 Camaro big block, 3600 lbs, 30x10.5 Pro Bracket Radials, caltracs bars and leaf springs, moroso trick springs up front, afco double adjustable shocks all around. I've set the front shocks to stiffest rebound setting, and installed travel limiters on the upper control arms, 26" tall front runners. Even when rolling WAY into the bottom stage bulb, I can only be .030-.050 on the .470 tree. Obviously, there is no consistency when staging like this. I do not use a delay box for obvious reasons, can't hit the tree without one, so why have it. It even has a 2.75 low gear set in the tranny, 4.30 gears and two step is set at 3,000 rpm. I've tried a higher rpm launch, but it spins the tires more often with higher rpm launch. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Re: Stock and Super Street....
 

In theory your car should be able to react much quicker than mine, but you're nearly .100 behind what I'm getting staged dead shallow.

I wonder if it would be quicker if you reset the front shocks and travel to allow the car to work at a higher RPM.

A pro-tree transbrake? A quicker button?

Re: Stock and Super Street....
 

Converter change.

Re: Stock and Super Street....
 

When I remove the travel limiters and set the front shocks at full loose extension, it slows down my reaction time and wheel stands pretty high (2-3 feet). I have a lot of travel in the front, I believe that's why my reaction is slower when it's loosened up. I'm using 25" front tires also, thought they were 26". I have a converter built specifically for my set up by Lenny at Ultimate Converter Concepts,so I really don't believe the converter is the problem. I do not have a pro trans-brake, it is a TCI, but not the pro style. I might try a higher rpm on the two step, but again, it spins sometimes. Especially with the front end tied down and travel limiters installed.

Re: Stock and Super Street....
 

Leave the front shocks loose and start to tighten down the travel.

Re: Stock and Super Street....
 

There is much to be gained in the trans brake area . the bracket style brakes are SLOW ,they can be as much as .030 slower than a pro tree brake .
Select Performance has one of the quickest Powerglide brakes for Pro Tree racing.

I would set the front shocks loose with about 2-3" travel as mentioned before , but I would switch to a stiff wall bias slick and raise the launch rpm substantially .
Radials are great for going fast ,but when you are chasing Pro Tree R.T. ,and you want to limit travel ,you are better off with the bias ply .
For the rear suspension ,I'd have the front of the Cal Trac in the upper hole .
Rear shock settings need to be tried at a test and tune for both RT and 60' consistency, but stiffer is usually better.

Re: Stock and Super Street....
 

Many years ago when I first tried using a trans brake I had a TCI brake and it was ridiculously slow. I could literally feel the amount of time from when I let the button go to when the car launched....

I had a trans done by someone and gave him all my parts. Told him specifically do not use that TCI valve body, he did anyway. After wasting time with that one, it was changed out and RT's were more in line with normal.....

A Pro Tree VB is usually quicker than a std brake but that's not written in stone......I had one std brake trans that was very fast.....I used to have a ton of delay using that trans....and more than one would expect.....but the Pro tree brakes are definitely usually quicker and by a decent amount as Tom said....

Re: Stock and Super Street....
 

Put a pro brake in it, cal tracs, 9" tire, 2.75 1st gear.....QA1 Rears, Tinnen Fronts, 26" front tire.....Rear Gear is a 5.13. Will be wincing a bit at the stripe. Some of those sst's are 160-170 mph these days.