1/4 Mile Stock Baseline is in...and guys I need your help!
 

Well, I took my GT convertible to the track for the first time this weekend and had a blast! But I'm only 1/2 happy with my times and speed. But that is what I expected. I am bone stock with the exception of a K&N drop in filter and some new rear shocks that probably kept my wheels on the track.

Surprisingly my first run was my fastest:

Reaction: .85 (last of the day was the fastest: .76)
60 ft: 2.42
330 ft: 6.68
1/8: 10.13 (I KNOW ! UGH)
1/8 MPH: 71.87
1/4: 15.57
1/4 MPH: 89.78

(Sadly this was the fastest I went...I did hit an 89.88, but I fouled that run...it was my only foul)


So basically this is my baseline from stock. I wanted to know how fast it is before I start performance modding. I'd like to see how much faster an SCT Tuner will make it, so that will be my next buy. I'll take it out and run again with just the tune just to see what gains I see. Then I plan on buying 4.10's and going back again.

Here's my dilemma though...where do I go from there?
I want to mod wisely. I want to get these times up and I really want to break into the mid 90's to 100's! I am not financially ready for a super charger or turbo (and have no idea which I'd prefer if I was).

Please help...I need suggestions. If you're thinking sticky tires which brand/model?

How about a shot of nitrous Tommy.:D

I don't know man...maybe some day :) I'm thinking about it more and more after seeing some of the other cars times who were running on juice.

I looked under the hood of an 87 fox and all they ran was nitrous. No turbo, no supercharger, just a 2 stage shot of nitrous that was all hooked up under the hood and I believe right to the engine somehow. They said there are 2 different kinds of nitrous, dry and wet. (I didn't know that). They said they run wet.

If I remember right that car was in the 11's and it trapped pretty dang fast.

There's a real misconception out there that nitrous is more dangerous than a blower on our cars. I've been running mine for over 3 years, and haven't had one single problem. Of course there are down sides, but for the money it simply can't be beat.

Before you start nodding your car... if you really want a baseline go to the track 5-10 more times.. experience is all you need for now. If you buy an Sct tuner go to the track and run a 14.0 your actually going to think the tuner gained you that much time???

It took me about 5 trips to the track to get used to the car... ( launching right, shifting right,tire pressures) after that my times dropped 1.5 seconds and. 6 off my 60 ft's.... with no extra mods... you should be able to get some 1.9- 2.0 60 ft's with stock tires. Just gotta play around...

Also don't worry about your reaction time. Your times don't start until you leave... you can sit there 5 seconds after the light goes and launch and still run the same times... worrying about reaction times will just make you nervous and launch at the wrong rpm.

Tommy, Is your car a 5 speed? What elevation are you running at?

I agree with ryan... though the best pass i ever pulled in my car was the first day i ever went... 3rd run or so. I'll chalk that up to it being in the 60s (degrees) that night and i don't think i've been to the track when it's been below 85 once since then.

New Mexico eh? if its 110 degrees that might be slowing you down a tad.

No...it's an auto. That's why I feel the tuner is so important for getting my shifting to the optimum points. I don't really want a drag car. I want a FAST automatic DD. When someone pulls up to me at a red light and challenges me I want them to know that from 0-55 that they made a mistake :)

The drag track is just the best place to legally and accurately check for gains. Other than doing a dyno after every mod, but that's too expensive. The proof is in the speed anyway.

if you're only worried about 0-55...

4k stall + 4.56 rear gears :D

Well, I was racing in Amarillo, TX. But the weather is basically the same. Google says the elevation is 3605ft. A weather history site says it was in the low 90's early 80's when I raced between 7pm and 9pm.