Q's for those who drag race.

[Nates GTS Viper]

I'm almost in posession of my first 96 gts. I'll have it in about a week or 2 and after putting some miles on it I'm going to take it to the local track. It was totally stock with 19000 miles on it, but before I even picked it up I got belanger header, high flow cats, corsa catback, b&m shifter, kw coilovers, 20" rear with 345 nitto invo's 19" front with the invo's as well, 3.55 rear, smooth tubes and filters. That's it as far as performance parts go but I think its a good base for future mods. My questions are

1. With the kw's would it benifit me to make the rear as soft as I could to get the car to sqaut or would it not make that much difference?

2. What rpm would work best for the launch?

3. Is there any special tricks to racing the viper or any need to do's before tracking it.

Thanks and I'm sure ill have more questions but these were the ones stuck in my head. The vca is great and I apreciate all your help. By the way I live in the northern va location and my the closest track( 20 minute drive compared to almost 2 hour) is summerduck dragway wich is an 1/8 mile. Thanks again.

[Camfab]

As far as springs go I'm going to guess here, I would not try to make the rear squat. 20" rears are a bad handicap for dragracing. Rev the motor to 3K and ease the clutch out slowly. Take it easy for a few passes untill you learn the dynamics of the car. Snake bite is real, and it will happen even pointed straight. Any previous experience will probably only increase your chances of wrecking your car.

Have fun these cars are a blast.

[Nates GTS Viper]

thanks for the advice, ill definatly take it easy the first couple of passes. as for the tires im thinking im going to put some drag radials on the stock rims and run it that way at the track. thanks again and anymore advice would be great.

[RTTTTed]

You could buy a performance computer and practise on the street. G force makes a good one for about $100. They're excellent for learning to launch your car and give you times for whatever distance you set it to.

I bought one (Vericom) back in the early 80s and ran 12.1@118mph with a 440 4 speed Duster wearing N50-15s in Street Trim. Not that fast nowadays, but stood as a record for years at the track.

They're also good for reading G forces; acceleration, turning, braking, etc.

Ted

[2000_Black_RT10]

The reason you want a IRS to squat is to align the halfshafts horizontally with the diff and the axle spindles at launch, if anyone disputes this.. they don't know what they are talking about.

Otherwise, if the halfshafts are at an angle upon launch, there is more stress on the u-joints due to the resultant angle of rotating force / moment = u-joint breakage.

[Camfab]

Originally Posted by 2000_Black_RT10

The reason you want a IRS to squat is to align the halfshafts horizontally with the diff and the axle spindles at launch, if anyone disputes this.. they don't know what they are talking about.

Otherwise, if the halfshafts are at an angle upon launch, there is more stress on the u-joints due to the resultant angle of rotating force / moment = u-joint breakage.

I agree with your theory, but weight transfer will naturally tend to make the rear squat. Unless you can control travel without inducing wheel hop, reducing rear spring tension to induce additional squat may allow the halfshafts to travel past the magical stress reducing centerline anyway. My drag racing experience with the Viper is still in it's early stages, but the car seems to be very predicatable with the factory ACR spring rates. No wheel hop or any rear steer associated with a soft rear set up. Drag radials without upgraded half shafts may also be problematic. There are a few long term drag racers here who may chime in on set up.