Let's start over: DRAGSTER GUYS
If you have every knob to turn and button to push to control power everywhere in a run....which is faster? I switched to the m/t 3080's this year, and discovered that they can shake too. LOL. Usually about where it starts to hook the tire hard. The tire starts to lose speed at .35 seconds, and goes into shake at .75 seconds. We lowered the tire pressure and it went away. But we don't have enough test runs to figure which approach may be fastest to the 60' for us. 6 psi keeps the shake away, but we have yet to make a really decent 60' run at that pressure.. I hear people say sometimes less is more. Should I pull power before the shake area and work the tire pressure up? Hit the tire hard and try to keep it hooked all the time? Unhooked I have been 1.08, which is not the best for the car. Maybe I'm just doing it wrong. LOL.
Any experience? High 6 second four link dragster with 19 psi boost down track. Small block.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Bucky,

The less deformation in the tire, the less energy it loses.

That's why the radial tires are fastest by a wide margin. Less rolling resistance.

Instead of air pressure, damper valving. Our shocks have 160 clicks of adjustment, we won't outgrow them. Plenty of adjustment.

Keeping the tire round is fastest.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Rietow:
The less deformation in the tire, the less energy it loses.

That's why the radial tires are fastest by a wide margin. Less rolling resistance.

Instead of air pressure, damper valving.

Theory is all well and good. But how may pipe racks are on radials? The top dragster and top fuel guys ought to be screaming for a radial tire? Maybe I'm missing the boat here, but I don't see the top dragster guys leaving wrinkle free either.

I missed some info I think. Best so far 6.95/194

quote:

Originally posted by Bucky:

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Rietow:
The less deformation in the tire, the less energy it loses.

That's why the radial tires are fastest by a wide margin. Less rolling resistance.

Instead of air pressure, damper valving.

Theory is all well and good. But how may pipe racks are on radials? The top dragster and top fuel guys ought to be screaming for a radial tire? Maybe I'm missing the boat here, but I don't see the top dragster guys leaving wrinkle free either.

The emphasis of my point is a round tire is fastest, relatively speaking.

If you have a shock with 16 clicks of compression and rebound, you're out of options real quick, in comparison to damper with 80 high speed clicks of adjustment and 66 low speed on both compression and rebound.

You never outgrow them. You may only be talking two three hundredths, but it keeps it interesting experimentation.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mike Rietow,

I seem to have more control over the shock than I ever have at this point.

I understand the generality of "you need better shocks" and "don't deform the tire".

Have you tuned moderately quick dragsters? Or are you using info from door car tuning?

This is a loaded for bear set low and high speed adjusters for a NHRA Super Stocker with a clutch. Now this is gonna be fun.

We'll have our work cut out, or it could go like clockwork. I had black everything out, we're keeping the car itself on the down low.

Bad ass ride though. Looking forward to working on it.

PAC springs they got from Eibach.

PAC springs are excellent if you can find them.

I know less than nothing about what a dragster wants, but you would not get away with dead hooking a 6.90's door car.

Holy crap, 6 posts and Buckys thread derails.
Incredible.

"dead hook" is just a term thrown around. I understand what is meant by the term, but if taken literally, I'd think that's the last thing you'd want with a dragster. I always aim for "turn the tire just enough" or "tire speed" on my digger. Either with rpm, engine power, convertor, nose weight, tire pressure, tire height or width.....any or all of those things....
Leave as hard (G's and 60') as possible up until you lose control of the tires contact with the track. Do to tire shake or slippage....

Just my humble opinion(s) of course.....

My hardtail car loved wheel speed..... to a point

quote:

Originally posted by "The Bender":
My hardtail car loved wheel speed..... to a point

I’m afraid my hp level is not to that level. Only 406 ci and the boost isn’t immediate

What are your .250 and .5 second DS rpms ?

1386
2448

I would love 1386

Controlled wheel speed will always be faster. Went thru this discussion back in 90's when most guys thought they where doing something when they hooked a car like it was glues to starting line.Then cam data acquisition for the mass'. You could show them where the engine dropped its dyck in the dirt at the hit.They where all thinking pull clutch to free motor up. Actually throwing more clutch to get car up on tire worked lot better,

Biggest difference with converter is it normally just makes getting rpm to climb above stall speed harder. Now as for shocks I am out of discussion.

Those seem manageable. Keep an eye on these numbers and as your 60' gets better or worse you will answer your own question. I am not sure if you can dead hook it without really slowing it down a bunch.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 27Keith,

quote:

Originally posted by seabass:
I would love 1386

Remember too it's 4.10 gear and 33" tire. So my wheel speed may not be as substantial as yours with bigger tires.

4.80 car 143

quote:

Originally posted by Bucky:

quote:

Originally posted by seabass:
I would love 1386

Remember too it's 4.10 gear and 33" tire. So my wheel speed may not be as substantial as yours with bigger tires.

good point