Took the cuda out Saturday and it ran a new best. It's been a long fight but, we're getting there after figuring out back in June that the car was driving thru the converter and having a new one made. We got the power to the ground. Next challenge is suspension. The car still has SS springs on it and I'm thinking they just won't handle the hit. If you don't mind take a look at the video and give me you opinions. The car is still all steel other then the hood and front bumper. I'm thinking caltracs. The car picked up 5 tenths and 11 mph from the converter swap. I never thought I'd see that much.

60' - 1.371
330' - 3.889
1/8 - 6.002
1/8 mph - 116.6
1000' - 7.826
1/4 - 9.366
mph - 145.67

Cecil 102420


https://youtu.be/BlWNW6XH69o

Congrats on the new best! My first thought after watching the video is the entire suspension looks too loose to me. A lot of movement.
Cal-tracs would definitely be an improvement, but new shocks all around should be on the list too. Maybe just ladder bar it since you already have big tires and tubs.

If it were mine and a dedicated drag car I'd go straight to a four link and be done.

When my friends 68 Charger was running high 9’s on Cal-tracs....... and experiencing rather short life from the sidewalks of the slicks...... and struggling a bit with some consistency........ he finally put ladder bars on it.
His comment to me was, “I should’ve done it ten years ago”.

That set-up is still working well, now at the low-9’s with 60’ times in the 1.20’s.

Did you left on the throttle a little bit on the starting line once the car started to move?
I think it has a lot better 60 ft. in it by managing the suspension movement at the hit better IHThs
As far as suspension upgrades, is this a drag only car or street and strip?
If race only do it once, not twice or more
Cal Tracs where made to get around the rules in NHRA stock racing, their are better options out there, a lot better
I really like my old street and strip Duster with coil overs and ladder bars on , that rascal would hook up in a mud puddle during a rain storm
AKA aside, those parts really work well, especially after switching the rear shocks from single adjustable to double adjustable

Congrats on the new best. That must have been the happiest day of your life to pick up that much just from a converter swap!

Thanks Guys. It’s a track car, no street. The front has d/a Vikings. I’m now 6 clicks from full loose. I had them tighter but the car was hoping off the ground.

Congrats. Plenty left in it. My bet is 9.1x. Front shocks are too loose in rebound. Don’t know what you have for rear shocks. If they’re not decent doubles I’d start there before I did anything. If they are, tighten them up. Leaf spring needs a lot of travel, 7”if they’re still at the factory angle or they can top out. If they’re vertical, 6” will work. Can always modify the rear suspension later and reuse the shocks if the leafs won’t cut it.
Doug

Congrats! What's the combo and what did you change out the converter to?

Thanks Doug. The fronts I have the rebound set in the middle as a starting point. The rear has old worn out shocks.

The combo is 572 Bill Mitchell block, -1 indys w/ 2.25 intakes. Big comp roller. The old converter was an 8 inch but it wouldn’t hold the motor. There was no fallback. The new converter is 9 1/2” 5600 stall

Thanks! Sounds like a pretty stout combo!

Once sorted out you’ may find the converter needs to be even looser. We’ve tried as loose as 9.5” at 6300. Current is 6000. Both were quicker than my earlier converters. They were 9.5@5700.
Doug

Get that 60 down and there’s at least some teens in there! Nice hit on SS springs!

curios if you leave on a trans break or a foot break? That's a good 60' for SS Springs.

I leave on a brake with a 3800 chip. The stall is a 5600. The car has been a 1.34 with the SS springs at it's best and hooked hard but, that was the old motor (much less HP / Torque) then this combo.

Well i think thats still pretty good for a SS stock spring i'v been a best of 1.42 on a break .now you got me thinking what's peoples best on SS springs?

put caltracs with good shocks you will be fine

That sounds like a new discussion. I can say mine was 1.34 with a 9.84 pass on the 500" just before the crank shaft broke.

Thanks Bad Fish

welcome 127 on a footbrake