The local track had a Wed. test-n-tune, and weather was in the low 80s (!) so off I went... Had four pretty good runs before running out of N2O.

----------- first ---------second----------third--------fourth-----

R/T.......... .026............. .149................ .008.......... .013
60'..........1.932...............2.036............ ..1.944...........2.009
330'.........5.472..............5.645............. ..5.541..........5.658
1/8..........8.483..............8.689............... 8.576..........8.712
MPH.........79.92..............79.28.............. .80.68..........80.23
1000........11.097............11.325.............1 1.217.........11.367
1/4..........13.310............13.559.............13 .453.........13.615
MPH.........102.63............100.85.............1 00.55.........100.03

Heartland Park actually prepped the track well last night, which helped a bunch, but I think I've got a better feel for launching on the slicks. Now I stall up to 2800 and hit WOT and spray the 50-shot immediately, then hit the 75-shot as soon as the car moves a bit. I set the air pressure to 16 1/2psi, then let out air after each run to keep it there. Good smoky burnouts also help - even when the staging guy wanted to put my BACK tires in the water box! He apologized later - said he wasn't used to FWD cars!

The nitrous bottle was dropping out a bit on run #3 and #4 - the purge wasn't solid. I made a fifth pass, but the bottle was gone by then - nothing in the purge, so I rolled it out.

The car still feels flat on the top-end - I need more power! And a full bottle.

I saw a fellow from Minnesota there with a supercharged Cobalt. I noticed the car when his girl friend was changing the ice in his intercooler! That can'r be stock ?? He managed a 13.30 and 105 MPH on DRs.

 

Very nice time! Did you surprise a few people? haha.

I'd suggest going even lower on pressure. I've seen my best 60fts around 12-14psi...

Now let's see you run that N/A... lol. just teasin.

 

The best "surprise" was beating a new Mustang "COBRA" - as the side of the car read...

I thought about lower pressures - but 16 1/2 was as low as I wanted to go this time. I was concentrating on the launch "rhythm" - I think I've got it now.

I wish I could run close to your N/A times - but I do have the entire car to push down the track, you know. The present engine is a 80K beater Infiniti engine I got for $500 last fall. The rest of the drive train is what I've been working on. With a '04 3.5L and headers, there should be some changes. I really want to spray a 3.5 next.....

 

have you tried running less pressure in the tires? like dandy said, my best 60s have come at around 10.5-11.5psi. Maybe that coupled with the 75 shot out of the hole would help?

Also, that cobalt was definately not stock. They are low 14s stock for a good driver, at like 96, maybe 98, mph.

 

No, I've only gone down to 16.5 psi so far. The slicks are mounted on 8" rims, so they seem stable at that pressure. So they do work at 10.5-11psi, without rim screws ??? I was thinking about a bigger shot at launch - certainly a 75-shot, maybe a 100-shot? Then a 35-shot for the second stage. I gotta admit, I'm still gun-shy about anything over 125-shot total. But, the shaved-ground plugs and 104 Sunoco have eliminated any signs of preignition or detonation. Maybe I could try a 150-shot combined....

So the Cobalt's supercharger is not stock? The car seemed very well prepared under the hood - the 'charger seemed like it belonged there. He did mention that the wheels used a 5 x 100mm bolt circle - unusual, right? It was impressive for a "small Chevy" - and would whup most Neons, I think...

 

they are supercharged stock but that guy wasn't stock running the times you said. I've never had a problem running that low without screws.

 

OK - I'll grit my teeth and start dropping tire pressures next time out. Both bottles are full, and from now on, I'm taking both with me!

Man, those slicks' sidewalls are taking a beating from flexing so much. The white lettering is gone and the tires look like they went throught the hot cycle in a washer then got thrown on the floor to dry..... This means they're working, right?

EDIT: I want to raise my 1/4 trap speed a few MPH - would it help if I switched to Hotshot headers and/or a 70mm Pathy TB on my MEVI? I presently have the stock manifolds and a 3" Warpspeed exhaust system for the rest. The downpipes are 2" ceramic-coated and the rest is an open 3" sewer pipe. Shorty headers would also be an option, but I'm guessing no one is fond of SSChrome.....

 

darn fine runs ! you say an old beater engine ? ha, that vq of yours has some grunt ! nice work !

 

Thank you, sir. The car is whatever it is because of the *.org. The talent and experience found here is incredible.

And I don't know have a clue why I just said that, except for the Margaritas I just drank this evening.... but it's true... and you're part of it.

Jeeze, I need some sleep....