Went to the track today, results were bad

[ohiodoc]

OK I have a 95 r/t that I ran last year at mopars at the strip and wheel hopped the tires terribly and ran a 13.30. During that pass I cracked my pinion gear. So I changed gears to a 3.55. I dynode the car 3 weeks ago and hit 376 to the rear tires. So I goto mopars at the strip today and was hoping for nice 12 second pass. First pass missed 3rd and ran 13.7 ok I screwed up that pass but half track seemed to be going good. Second pass. I spun the tires alittle not real bad hit all my shifts. When I got my time slip I almost passed out. I only ran 13.412. WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED. I changed gears and I got slower??? I have no idea why my car ran so crappy today. Here is the times from my time slip. Any help would be grateful.

r/t - .142
60' - 2.150
330 - 5.753
1/8 - 8.736
MPH - 83.04
1000 - 11.270
1/4 - 13.412
MPH - 105.76

I have my shift light set for 5,500 and tire pressure was at 25 lbs. The car has highflow cats and mufflers, besides that and the gear it is totally stock. I know my times will be almost .3 slower here cause of the altitude. Ok viper world why do you think my car got slower??? I am going back tomorrow for my other 2 passes (you only get 2 each day) and see what happens.

 

[ceieio]

Start with your 60 foot time. You need to play around with the launch, tire pressure, and burn out to get it solidly below 2.00. You can pick up quite a bit there. If you can hit a 1.60 60 foot time and all else was the same, you would be in the high 12's with that alone.

Your MPH suggests that you are not tapping all the HP that the dyno says you have, so after you sort the 60 foot times, start working on shift points and techniques.

 

[viperrt96]

r/t - .142
60' - 2.150
330 - 5.753
1/8 - 8.736
MPH - 83.04
1000 - 11.270
1/4 - 13.412
MPH - 105.76

I wouldn't be too quick to judge anything yet on any of those passes. Your 60' is pretty bad. I'm betting you had more tire spin than you thought and just not in first gear. Tire spin is hard to hear over side exhaust and not always easy to feel by the seat of your pants. You didn't mention what tires you are running either? I don't think? I'm betting the track just opened for the season and that makes for a very clean track. I never go when it first opens.You got to let some of that rubber get laid down. One night won't do it and besides I'm always slow at my local track during public runs. They don't seem to treat the track in any way to help with traction. And why would they. Just imagine what some young kid dropping his clutch @5000rpm in a front wheel drive car would do. I've seen them drop CV joints, run into the Xmas tree. People don't get happy when they shut down the track for a clean up or ? sorry got of the subject there. I always run .3 to .5 slower at my local than I do at let's say a sanctioned event or other(better)track. I would think your car should be running mid to high 12's even with a 2.0 60'

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

You didn't say what kind of tires you were running or how old they were. If you are running Michelins the pressure is too high. Set it somewhere between 19lbs and 22lbs.

You are also shifting too high. Most shift between 52 and 54. If your light is coming on at 55 then you are shifting a 100 or so beyond that. Set the shift light at 5200. Your reaction time will put you in the sweet spot.

Your times may vary as much as .5 from one night to the next. But you should be in the 12s pretty regularly.

Good luck. Let us know.

 

[ohiodoc]

the tires are a Michelins and they are a year old. The track actually is really good, NHRA is coming next week so it will be the best it will be all year. I will try to shift at 53 and lower my tire pressure. I know the gear will change my mph a bit but not that much, I know I should be hitting the traps at like 115 or so. I will let you know tonight what happens.

 

[Jack B]

An isssue to think about, previously you didn't have to shift into fourth, now you do, that is lost time. With a car running under 110, shifting into fouth will hurt your times.

 

[Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder]

The stock gears are very good unless you run with slicks.

Total waste of money unless you spend most of your time in very slow traffic.

Jack hit the nail on the head you will lose about .2 seconds per shift. Going to the lower ratio added one more shift. Worse on a road coarse adding more shifts and increasing difficulty of corner exit(due to extra shifting).

Had 3:54's in my 97 GTS with bolt on mods, will not do that again.

The stock Viper will smoke the tires excessively so who do want to smoke them more?

Many owners like lower gears but they offer less performance in most normal sporty applications.

 

[ohiodoc]

well only got on pass today and tried to launch the car differnet. I ram a 13.08. So by tomorrow I should be in the 12's I hope. My 60' is 2.05. Remeber at sealevel my pass today would be a 12.7. I am at least gald it isnt the car only the driver.
Thanks for the advise

 

[V 10 MAFIA]

What RPM are you launching the car at? You have to find the best scenario of RPM to tire adhesion without letting revs drop to much once car hooks up.

 

[Nuck]

You need more horsepower. You have taken a car that should finish the 1/4 in 3rd gear and made it a car that has to make that extra shift. With a good launch your time to 100mph is probably much better but you lose that plus more having to shift into 4th before the traps. Go back to stock gears or find some more hp.

 

[ohiodoc]

i left at 2000 rpm. and I am going to try 2500 and 2800 tomorrow. Car hooked up good, could use more rpm. I didnt shift that great on that pass either. I over reved 3rd shifint about 5800. We will see how it goes, and dont worry I havnt even add k&N's yet or smooth tubes but the mods are just starting.

 

[viper spray]

I have a friend with a 94, stock with tubes and filters and exhaust who runs 12.1 on old pilots , my old 95 ran 11.2 with a 100 shot on Kumhos. My 97 ran 10.6 the other day , but it is SC.

 

[MoparMan]

Dang! That's a great tome on a gen I. I just put up my best time with my gen II today: 12.18 here at LVMS (2100' altitude), but 12.1 in a gen I is epic.

 

[Ron]

As you try to eck out every tenth, be careful of that 3 ~ 4 shift. Could easily become an unintended 3 ~ 2 upshift in the heat of the moment.