This summer has been the first time I've run my car out at the strip. I've played around trying different techniques, trying to refine the driver mod and I still can't seem to get her under 14 sec.

From what a lot of the guys I've met this summer, the track conditions aren't that great and the air quality is generally crap. Pretty much we have poor air quality and we are dealing with 100+ temperatures to start off the evenings. It's not until maybe my last run of the night I might pull around 14s.

My question is, are you guys running the S197's that are bone stock shifting into 4th before you finish? I'm thinking I might be losing a fraction of a sec hitting 4th as I'm trying to shift right around 6K. Should I just run her through in 3rd gear. It looks like I might be able to finish without hitting the rev limiter in 3rd. I'm running 3.55 gears on stock 275/40/18's, if that makes any difference.

I know I break traction launching, but it's better than lugging off the line for sure and I'm barking tires when I powershift into 2nd and 3rd. I know I'm doing something wrong but I'm still working on trying to figure it out.

When I am running 14s, I'm generally getting a 2.1-2.2 60ft and finish around 100-101mph.

Any advice is appreciated. The numbers are off the top off my head and may be slightly skewed, the time slips are at home and I've kept them to try and analyse wtf I'm doing. But, tell me I suck or whatever, I am still trying to figure out this driver mod. Could it be the crap conditions, my shifting, my launch?

I have one more run bone stock this weekend then, the mods are going on. I'm like a kid on Christmas and I can't hold out any longer, but I want to get this driver mod right.

 

Get a shift light like the Raptor its about $100 and an easy install.
Shift @ 6200 rpm.
Some gears and drag radials.

 

i'd let it wined out.... higher... avoid the 3-4 shift if u can.

I run mine out to 6500+ at the track.... i have to hit 4th about 200 ft before the line.

 

+1 Let it rev to at least 6K. With the 3.55s, you may be able to cross the line in 3rd; try it both ways and see what happens.

Also, you gotta launch better. You gotta find that sweet spot in between "lugging off the line" and spinning tire. Try launching at 3-3,500K, and hold the throttle there until it grips; then punch it.

BTW: Nice Stang.

 

Thanks guys. My 1st order of mods are on their way and include...CAI/XCal3 w/tunes from SuttonHP, JBA LT headers, JBA H-pipe,3.73 gears, LCA's and UCA(steeda)...I'm sure this will help, but like I said, I'm still working on that driver mod. I can't seem to quite find that sweet spot on my launches yet.

 

Let it run out in 3rd. Im shifting into 4th but ive got 4.10s. Im also chirping 4th at the track

 

With the stock tune, I'm not sure if you can make it through 3rd without bumping the rev limitor. Plus, since you have shorter tires, about .5" shorter than a regular s197 GT, your gear is higher than 3.55. When I had intake and tune, I was winding mine out to around 6600 rpms with 3.55 gears and going through just at the top of 3rd (around 6700 rpms, had rev limitor set to 6900) on the stock 235/55/17s which are 27.2" tall compared to your 26.7" tall. What are the roush's rev limitor set at?

edit: to get those really good launches, you really have to slip that clutch. Its hard on the clutch, but will get you much better 60' times, personal best on the stock tires was a 1.819.

 

I ran my 08 GT/CS tonight. My best time was 13.926 @101.89. RT was .495 and 2.164 at 60. I lauched at about 2500 RMPs and all shifts were at the red line. I too have the 18" tires and 3.55. I crossed the line in 3rd gear.

93 Bama Race tune and JLT CAI

 

I'm going for a 12.5 in the winter.

 

Well it was a long hard night. I was able to get 5 runs in which was nice and they were consistently crap. All runs were around mid 14's, my launches suck, right around 2.5, my best of the night being 2.2 and I missed 3rd.

I ran the first 4 runs all the way through in 3rd gear finishing with trap speeds of 100-101 and I'm crossing before I hit the rev limiter.

Next few weeks will be interesting. I'll be adding a JLT/XCal, JBA LT's, JBA H-pipe, 3.73 gears, LCA's and adj. UCA. I have 2 more TnT's to make with this set up and I'll be done racing until next spring.