ET with and without wheelie.

[Dan Bennett]

Originally Posted by jimmyparker

Back in the eighties I was running a SS/BA Corvette that did big wheelies and was told by most that l needed to calm it down some with limiters, etc. I tried several ways of keeping the front end on the ground but they all hurt the ET so I went back to letting it get pretty high and never looked back.

I would explain my theory but might get beat up by a physics major.

That's pretty much what Kenny Schindler told me and I highly value both your opinions. Being proven wrong is one of the most valuable things that can happen in learning things. It's one reason I went ahead and posted what i did because obviously I must be missing something and would love to know what it is.

It's always frustrating for me to run into things like "that shouldn't work but it does" and "that was a big improvement but I have no idea why". I'm talking about those statements coming from racers I could not respect more and have no need to defend their abilities.

Thinking more about it, I guess even with all the years we've learned new things, there are still a lot of areas in drag racing like that. And I totally understand that when you're on the track, it doesn't matter if you can detail why something is quicker because all that matters is that it is.

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by Dan Bennett

all that matters is that it is.

but it's NOT!

My Firebird IS a super stock car, built by arguably the best and it DOES ET quicker with no wheelie. The engine under the stock hood doesn't know it's not super stock legal.

[jimmyparker]

I forgot that my example was 40 years old and no one built good shocks back then but it appears that what worked then is still working reasonably well today but with much better control due to the evolution of shocks.

Exact reason I didn't share my theory.

Bracket cars and superstock cars are two different animals, transmissions, converters, gear ratios, power curves, etc., etc.

[Tim Barrett]

Going back to the first question of this post,if wheelies helped or hurt ET's,,Linda and I have definitely done testing for both and in our setup,69 Camaro 350 255hp in G/SA, the results were very impressive. Many might disagree but we found that our multi leaf rear suspension with slapper bars were just as good if not better than the modern day setup that so many run now. Also we found you need a really good front shock and springs to control the lift and landing. We also found a clamp on wheelie bar works great with the setup we have.
Overall,,Linda and I found,with all our computer data,that to much of a wheelie,,bumper scaping,affects et and no wheelie affects our ET and,,low horsepower and lots of horsepower affects ET plus wheel stands. One thing Linda and I know is Alan Rhinehart and Joe Castillo sure do like Stock Eliminator and wheel standing cars.

[1matcoman]

Originally Posted by Tim Barrett

One thing Linda and I know is Alan Rhinehart and Joe Castillo sure do like Stock Eliminator and wheel standing cars.

And, me!

[1320racer]

Alan Rhinehart likes my Firebird too

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