Does anyone use ballast to improve traction? I've been puzzling some over inconsistent 60' times and wonder if I might be spinning just a little, and spinning inconsistently.

By inconsistent I mean variances of as much as .03 seconds from one pass to another in the 60'.

I've thought about bolting perhaps 60 pounds or so of weight into the rear of the bed of my S10 race truck as a lark, to see what it might do.

My buddies are too busy with their own racing to watch my launches.

The truck typically runs about 11.90 in the quarter, on Hoosier 28 x 10" slicks. No tubes, and I've been running 12.5 PSI.
60' times are around 1.62 or so.

The suspension is stone stock, save for a set of Cal-Tracs. I have not messed with the Cal-Tracs at all.

I footbrake launch at 2400 RPM; I don't know what my stall speed is, but it's fairly low.

As a rule, I don't experiment much unless I can see the mechanics behind making some change.
Thanks!

staging inconsistencies could be the issue,it doesn't take much to be off.if you use weight try to place it over the axle

quote:

Originally posted by rusty:
staging inconsistencies could be the issue,it doesn't take much to be off.if you use weight try to place it over the axle

For sure. How are the reaction times? They will be affected by where you stage as well.
In order to understand the mechanics behind changes, you need to first understand the mechanics of what your car is doing. If you can get someone....anyone to use that phone that everyone has in their pocket to video the first 20 ft of a pass, watching that in slo mo can tell you a lot, for absolutely no investment.

We just did exactly this with a friends truck. S-10 extended cab that is really nose heavy. It did tighten up the 60' times. On his truck he drives out on the tire because he isn't getting enough front end rise and it will hit the tire hard then bounce back.

We did it during an event just to get the truck to work and it really helped and tightened up his ets. He is working on the suspension/spring combination to do it right but it definitely worked for the time being. On his we just added a large battery out of his tow truck. It was placed at the very back of the bed. If yours is an initial spin it might be better served like Rusty said, high and above the rear.

Curtis

I have about 200 lbs in the back of the trunk.

If think the truck is spinning how can you not see the mechanics of adding weight to the tires not helping traction?
I learned a long time ago to not be afraid to try things myself to see what the results would be. There’s a lot of theory out there that doesn’t add up at times on the race track. Each car has its own mind and likes different things to make them work and only way to find out is by trying.

quote:

I learned a long time ago to not be afraid to try things myself to see what the results would be.

x1000

quote:

Originally posted by green1:
If think the truck is spinning how can you not see the mechanics of adding weight to the tires not helping traction?
I learned a long time ago to not be afraid to try things myself to see what the results would be. There’s a lot of theory out there that doesn’t add up at times on the race track. Each car has its own mind and likes different things to make them work and only way to find out is by trying.

I do see how adding weight can improve traction; what I was referring to was things like monkeying with my Cal-Tracs or adjusting fuel mixtures and such without having some expectation of what the results should be. But thank you much for the input; I should experiment more.

quote:

Originally posted by Bad Nusz:

quote:

Originally posted by green1:

I learned a long time ago to not be afraid to try things myself to see what the results would be.

I do see how adding weight can improve traction; what I was referring to was things like monkeying with my Cal-Tracs or adjusting fuel mixtures and such without having some expectation of what the results should be. But thank you much for the input; I should experiment more.

I'm the worst about not being able to leave well enough alone. Many times I will try something different each time trial and if I think it works leave it alone and if I have to use the first round as a time trial, or put it back and race knowing what the car should do normally. I hardly ever get a chance to go test so that's about the only way I get to do it. LOL It does make that first round interesting at times. It's fun though.

Curtis

quote:

I'm the worst about not being able to leave well enough alone. Many times I will try something different each time trial and if I think it works leave it alone and if I have to use the first round as a time trial, or put it back and race knowing what the car should do normally. I hardly ever get a chance to go test so that's about the only way I get to do it. LOL It does make that first round interesting at times. It's fun though.

Curtis

Yes, this is how we learn. It is sometimes a challenge to "sacrifice" runs, or experiment during eliminations, but in the long run, you become a better racer and know your race package better.

and adding weight is a valid experiment

Thanks guys, to every one of you.
I think this coming race weekend on Saturday I'll buy just a test-and-tune-only card to experiment some with different amounts of ballast and Cal-Trac settings.

I'm considering installing drag shocks maybe too one day.

Also need to go up on tire pressure. 12.5 psi is WAY to low for a 28x10. Ive had the best luck at 17 psi with that tire.

Have you already tried both front holes in the Cal-Tracs? I'm a top hole guy, but it seems like most of the stockers I see are running the bottom.

I'm transbraking and they are footbraking. I've added some preload to the passenger side bar to get the front end to come up level, but otherwise I've never messed with them over 20 years.

When I had an engine that was a little too big for the car and tire, the solve was the weight in the trunk. I don't know if I still need it, but the car works so well I'm afraid to take it out. I've never had a problem with the 60' wandering a bit. My problem was that it would occasionally just blow the tire off, but I'm also on radials so that's a factor.

I also felt that the 12.5 psi seemed way low, but I've never run that size tire so didn't want to say anything. I run 17 in my radials but have also run 17 in a 9" bias tire.

Thank you much, guys; I never ever thought I would need to run tire pressure nearly that high. I will try it.

I'm used to reading about racers running around 10 PSI and wondered if I was doing something wrong. But I reckon that different sizes of tires need vastly different air pressures?

I've never tried the top hole on my Cal Tracs, Tony; I've heard online that that hits the tires harder. True? Being a footbrake car it might be safe to do so I suppose without shocking the tires loose from the pavement?

Now maybe if I can get my g/f to try the other hole.....

It is hard to try something different when what one has been doing has been working at least fairly well.
Cheers,
Troy

Now maybe if I can get my g/f to try the other hole.....

It is hard to try something different when what one has been doing has been working at least fairly well
That's what she said

Rusty,

You fixing to get knocked across the room if you ain’t careful! LOL

quote:

Originally posted by excessive braker:
Also need to go up on tire pressure. 12.5 psi is WAY to low for a 28x10. Ive had the best luck at 17 psi with that tire.

I run 22 psi in those tires on my wives 3rd Gen F-Body, 10.8's @ 126mph. It never spins!

quote:

Originally posted by rusty:
Now maybe if I can get my g/f to try the other hole.....

It is hard to try something different when what one has been doing has been working at least fairly well
That's what she said

Damn, you better hope she doesn't read these forums!

Didn't think anyone noticed vern.the devil comes out every once in a while,lol