Need some advice on what to expect with a new combination i will be trying in September. Changing to an aluminum 540ci motor...

We have a 2,900# 67 notchback cuda w/ driver, ready to race. Best ET with the 470ci motor on Gas was 9.56 at 143mph with a 1.32 60 foot

34" double adjustable ladder bars with Strange double adjustable coilovers and 110# hypercoils.

Front suspension is stock, with 3 way adjustable shocks set at 90/10 and MP drag race tosion bars. Have adjustable front travel limiters

Tire is a 10.5W - 31 MT Drag (new set) with 9 psi on a 12" rim.

Rear Shocks are set 3 clicks from full soft on both comp and ext.

We scaled the car with the 470 iron block and after installing the MP drag t-bars and after leveling them we found the following:

LF= 859 RF= 796

LR= 633 RR= 623

Total #'s = 2,911

It would hook good and carry the front end for 50 feet if launched on the transbrake around 3,400 rpm but would spin if ever went to 4,000 rpm or more...

On a "very well prepped track" we ran a 1.30 60 foot launcing at 4,400 rpm, but at SIR our home track the traction is not good.

We are now replacing the 470 iron motor w/ a 540ci Indy Aluminum block and Terminator Alcohol injection which will make 150 more HP and take 120#'s off the front end.

What should i do to the suspension to get it to hook with the increased power and less front weight???

Ideas please.

Cheers,

Arnie

You are going to be in big trouble trying to get it too hook.

The terminator alone hits so hard at the bottom its amazing. Alky adds a ton of torque, injection comes on instantly. Its a lot of fun, but I think you will be very limited.

Good shocks and many test runs and adjustments are going to be needed. This is an area you may have wished it was a 4 bar car as you can get the IC out further to keep the front planted. My old bird could hook great but was always on the bumper, wasnt much middle ground with it.

Take a video of the launch.... you will see whats
happening

Just looking for ideas as I will only have a couple of races left this year once the new 540 bullet gets installed...


any other comments?

Arnie

No one else w/ experience in adding HP to a ladder bar car ???

Last try...

Arnie

Make sure you have wheelie bars on it.

If you don't, you will probably be sorry you didn't.

Ask me how I know..


Chris..

No reason that tire won't hook that power. Lot's of guys using that tire with lots more power. The torque will be the thing. Even with the alum motor, the car will still be nose heavy. Now I am not saying this will be ideal, but if I was setting this car up, it would be as follows for a starting point. I would tighten the front shocks as tight as they will go. The rear shocks in the middle on the bump, 2 from tight on extension and 10 psi in the tires. 3200 on the chip.

Monte

As stated above I would be more scared of it hooking rather than not. Adding the Terminator alone especially since you are currently on gas is gonna send you to the moon if it hooks. I promise you that! I would get something a bit more adjustable for front shocks. You will most likely want to slow the rate of extension which requires a better shock. There is just not that much there with a 3 way adjustable.

Thanks for the input Guys!

Chris, Yes i have wheelie bars. Should they be set up equal height, or do I set one side lower to steer the car straight...?

Monte, I will start where you suggest, but if it spins, which thing would you change first? Soften rear ext?

I do have front end travel limiters set at 5 inches right now before the tires leave the ground. Good starting point?

Thanks again for the advice.

Arnie