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Topic: 1/4 Mile Track Virgin No More! (Read 2841 times) previous topic - next topic

1/4 Mile Track Virgin No More!

Well I finally took myself and the 88 Sport to the track for the first time tonight. And I must say...I am freakin' hooked now. I wish I had a scanner to scan and post my timeslips but here's how two runs went:
Run 1: .8493 Reaction      Run 2: .5997 Reaction
          2.4061 60FT                    2.4161 60FT
          16.5989 1/4 ET                16.6243 1/4 ET
          81.89 MPH                      81.94 MPH
Now granted this is with the original stock engine w/189,000 miles
Only mods are mustang headers, mac h-pipe, 40 series flowmasters, 2 1/2" throughout, fenderwell cold air kit, and 3.27's out back. Not sure what the next step will be but I got to make her faster for sure. Oh yeah..in case anyone was wondering I tried all my launches around 2000-2500 RPM's.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]http://www.fquick.com/slicksport88
88 Sport - 5.0HO, Mass Air, A9L, 73mm C&L meter, BBK CAI, 255 lph pump, 1.7 roller rockers,Professional Products damper, Chuck W motor mounts, BBK shorties & H-pipe, Flowmaster 40 series, 8.8 rear w/3.27's, 93 Cobra M/C, BAER 13in. drilled/slotted rotors front and back, cobra calipers, Russell braided brake lines front & back, C/C plates, 03cobra rims, 255/40/17 Nitto 555's all around

Re: 1/4 Mile Track Virgin No More!

Reply #1 –
did ya spin the tires at all at launch? both my stock 5.0's would spin reved up that high. I can spin the tires on my old tired black car till about 15 or 20 mph just stabbing the pedal. I'll bet you spun the tire(s) at launch.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Re: 1/4 Mile Track Virgin No More!

Reply #2 –
Before I changed over to the 8.8 axle w/3.27's, I could never get one tire to spin. But since the conversion, I have been having fun laying down two nice little patches. When I launched, I heard them spin only briefly and then they hooked.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]http://www.fquick.com/slicksport88
88 Sport - 5.0HO, Mass Air, A9L, 73mm C&L meter, BBK CAI, 255 lph pump, 1.7 roller rockers,Professional Products damper, Chuck W motor mounts, BBK shorties & H-pipe, Flowmaster 40 series, 8.8 rear w/3.27's, 93 Cobra M/C, BAER 13in. drilled/slotted rotors front and back, cobra calipers, Russell braided brake lines front & back, C/C plates, 03cobra rims, 255/40/17 Nitto 555's all around

Re: 1/4 Mile Track Virgin No More!

Reply #3 –
Hmm that's weird, i had almost exactly the same setup in my 88 bird and i ran a best of 16.0.
All that was different was i had flowtech shortie equal headers and a 1/2" heat spacer.

Re: 1/4 Mile Track Virgin No More!

Reply #4 –
when's the last time you did a tune up?  What's your base timing at?  A poorly tuned engine could explain the e.t.  BTW, what's your elavation, and how hot was it outside?  Maybe it was just a bad day to race....

Re: 1/4 Mile Track Virgin No More!

Reply #5 –
Do a Tune up, put some sticky tires on some lightweight wheels(stock 10 holes are liught AND cheap), empty EVERYTHING out of the car, show up with about 4 to 5 gallons of gas in the tank, and disconnect your front sway bar.  Also what kinda shape are your shocks and struts in?
-- 05 Mustang GT-Whipplecharged !!
--87 5.0 Trick Flow Heads & Intake - Custom Cam - Many other goodies...3100Lbs...Low12's!

Re: 1/4 Mile Track Virgin No More!

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Paul Flockhart
Show up with about 4 to 5 gallons of gas in the tank

Probably good advise for a 16 sec car, but if I have less than approx 1/2 tank, my Bird falls on its face about 30-40 ft out the hole.

Re: 1/4 Mile Track Virgin No More!

Reply #7 –
yeah my car gargles and sputters with less the 5 or 6 and it is SLOW....
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Re: 1/4 Mile Track Virgin No More!

Reply #8 –
Quote from: joefriday
when's the last time you did a tune up?  What's your base timing at?  A poorly tuned engine could explain the e.t.  BTW, what's your elavation, and how hot was it outside?  Maybe it was just a bad day to race....

It's probably been about 15,000 miles since the last tune up. When i did it i installed the bosch platinums with a brass terminal distributor cap. Also threw in new oxygen sensors while i was at it. When I ran the strip I was at 1/2 tank running 89 octane. Base timing was set at 10 degees. Im thinkin this friday im gonna try preminum with the timing advanced to 14 degrees. It was around 85 degrees that night but humid as hell. My goal with this car in the end is to achieve low 13's maybe even 12's but still very streetable as well. Being in Texas that means city and highway driving with the A/C running full blast. Im still learning the whole timing thing with getting off the line as quick as possible.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]http://www.fquick.com/slicksport88
88 Sport - 5.0HO, Mass Air, A9L, 73mm C&L meter, BBK CAI, 255 lph pump, 1.7 roller rockers,Professional Products damper, Chuck W motor mounts, BBK shorties & H-pipe, Flowmaster 40 series, 8.8 rear w/3.27's, 93 Cobra M/C, BAER 13in. drilled/slotted rotors front and back, cobra calipers, Russell braided brake lines front & back, C/C plates, 03cobra rims, 255/40/17 Nitto 555's all around

Re: 1/4 Mile Track Virgin No More!

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Paul Flockhart
Do a Tune up, put some sticky tires on some lightweight wheels(stock 10 holes are liught AND cheap), empty EVERYTHING out of the car, show up with about 4 to 5 gallons of gas in the tank, and disconnect your front sway bar.  Also what kinda shape are your shocks and struts in?

The shocks and struts are in decent shape. No leaks and they control rebound pretty decent. I would like to make all my attempts on my street tires, which are the 245/45/17 spoogeho Ecsta 711 series. With that being said...what's a realistic E.T. on street tires?
Also I've been researching and I'm seriously considering dropping a 331 or 347 into the engine bay. Just because I don't like being slow. :D
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]http://www.fquick.com/slicksport88
88 Sport - 5.0HO, Mass Air, A9L, 73mm C&L meter, BBK CAI, 255 lph pump, 1.7 roller rockers,Professional Products damper, Chuck W motor mounts, BBK shorties & H-pipe, Flowmaster 40 series, 8.8 rear w/3.27's, 93 Cobra M/C, BAER 13in. drilled/slotted rotors front and back, cobra calipers, Russell braided brake lines front & back, C/C plates, 03cobra rims, 255/40/17 Nitto 555's all around

Re: 1/4 Mile Track Virgin No More!

Reply #10 –
Quote from: slicksport88
The shocks and struts are in decent shape. No leaks and they control rebound pretty decent. I would like to make all my attempts on my street tires, which are the 245/45/17 spoogeho Ecsta 711 series. With that being said...what's a realistic E.T. on street tires?
Also I've been researching and I'm seriously considering dropping a 331 or 347 into the engine bay. Just because I don't like being slow. :D



I went a 13.11(1.90 60ft) on almost new, 225/50/16 Mitchelin radials. Switched to same size Nitto drag radials, and never have bettered(but have equaled) that run. Spraying the "Nawsss" I have gone 12.23 with a 1.72 60ft, on the Nittos, don't think the street tires would have a chance...

Re: 1/4 Mile Track Virgin No More!

Reply #11 –
atleast ya had a good time at the track, ive been wanting to take my mustang out there just to see what I can pull with it. But I need some wider/sticky tires on mine. with the py 215/70/15s ill spin through 1st and half of 2nd just launching at 1500 and almost through 1st punching it from idle. and with a 3spd I need all the gears I have lol :D

Re: 1/4 Mile Track Virgin No More!

Reply #12 –
Quote from: TurboCoupe50
Probably good advise for a 16 sec car, but if I have less than approx 1/2 tank, my Bird falls on its face about 30-40 ft out the hole.


My TC does the same. I've picked up a lot of consistancy, and a little traction by going to the track with the tank full. It's easier to always have it full, than get the 5-6 gallons right every day. I just went looking for another place to find that 100 lbs.

I've also punted on the Nitto's (mine are for sale). They can be a little more consistant than the street tire, but i've never improved the 60' with them. They dont seem to like 5000 rpm off a two step with 10# of boost  :flame:

I just got a set of M/T ET streets on ten holes, we will see what they like  :D 

Bob Myers

Re: 1/4 Mile Track Virgin No More!

Reply #13 –
Quote from: TurboCoupe50
Probably good advise for a 16 sec car, but if I have less than approx 1/2 tank, my Bird falls on its face about 30-40 ft out the hole.


I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who has had this problem :D . I thought I'd save some weight by having just a few gallons at the track one time - the feeling of losing all power when pulling full torque just off the line with a KB blower is quite eye-opening  :eek: It gave me a good excuse to go get some 106 octane at the track ;D
11.96 @ 118 MPH old 306 KB; 428W coming soon.