Talk me through my 9 second street car.

[71LS1Vega]

Well the whole reason i want to do this is because my uncle is an all out drag racer and he's been so far i think 10.29 @13x's in his 62 impala 4dr(has done more over the winter). And we talk a little smack but iv always been to far off to run close to him.

The Car:
71 Vega GT
2651lbs w/16gal of gas,no driver

Engine:
05 LS2(GTO Engine)
Patriot heads
SI5 cam 231/237 589/595
Otherwise stock

Transmission/clutch:
T-56 6-speed built by T56 rebuilds.com(rated to 700whp)
Spec Stage 3+ Clutch (Rated to 840tq)

Rearend:
12bolt
3.73's
Richmond Trutrac
Shortened, aftermarket axels

Suspension:
Rear adj. shocks 50/50
Front adj. lakewood 90/10
Rear Upper and Lower Spohn control arms
drag bags

Parts on the "to buy" list:

Rear end Diff Cover w/ main cap supports
Nitrous plate system(or other) for up to 300 shot
Spohn driveshaft
Headers,either custom or Try to use F-body style.
15x8 and 15x3.5 pro-stars


I still have a bit of work ahead of me but i know i can get it done. I still need to upgrade the front brakes, i have everything i need brand new for it just have to put it on. I also need to install my flaming river 3 u-joint steering shaft setup. I plan on removing at least 100lbs of items in the car that i do not need there like some speakers and boards in the back for "show" but i dont need them.

I only plan on running 125-150 shot of nitrous on the car, i dont plan on spraying in first gear unless i get extremely good traction. I also want to run a tru 10'' tire or less in the back iv seen a 16'' drag radial mustang go 9.80's so i know its possible


Best time:

12.52@116mph

This was with my stock LS1 with crap exhaust and no traction due to rain shortly before the run. i estimate that the car was around 280-290whp and i think if i was able to hook well that day i should have been in the 12.1-12.3 range at least.

Now with the new LS2 heads cam engine it should be approx 430-440whp and with over 100whp more by a rule of thumb i should be able to run in the 11.0 range with slicks. then i add the 125-150 shot on top of that i beleive i can reach my goal? and it will still be %100 streetable car.

[spencerforhire]

Mid to low 11's might be possible with your combination, but I don't think a 150 shot will get you in the 9's. Also, you will be told at the track that you need a driveshaft loop, roll bar, explosion proof bellhousing, and probably a bunch of other stuff just to be legal to run 10's, let alone any faster!
Don't get me wrong, this sounds like a wickedly fast street car; but keeping it "100% streetable" AND making it legal( and safe!) for the track is going to mean some tough decisions.

[71LS1Vega]

I have a driveshaft loop, i plan on installing a roll cage. And cant i use a Transmission blanket? i have a battery shut off switch and a few other things as well.

I know this is besides the point, but at the local track. the mustang i have seen running 9.80's looks completely stock, no cage, he might have a fire extinguisher but not sure on that either. i know it is not legal and the track never inspects the cars? either way i plan on making it as safe as possible.

[v8astregt]

It sounds easy, but it's a lot harder than it looks. I looked into it for a while, and at least to race at NHRA, you have to jump through hoops. It sounds like your track is less than ideal when it comes to safety. At my track, you also have to have an NHRA license to race under 10.00.

[HAULIN' IT]

Well bud, The truth is this. You should buddy up with your uncle. Besides being family & all, he must have somethings figured out to make a 4000+lb. car run low 10's. Nothing wrong with a little competition with him, but the truth is. Even if you get close, he's still the winner because he's moving almost twice the weight, meaning he has MUCH more HP. Now you get him to help you with the "new" powertrain plan & you quickly have a 9sec. car. Streetable, I'm not sure. Don't get caught up in the who's faster game, someone, somewhere always will be. It sounds like you have a nice little streetcar there, enjoy it. Just my two cents, Lorne

[71LS1Vega]

I think you guys are missunderstanding something. im not out to get anyone, i have much respect for my uncle. its not a game of who is the fastest. its who is FASTER. i dont go drag racing that often since i have been mixing it up in the drifting scene as well.

his car weighs 37xxlbs without driver and he has a high compression (13-14:1) 454, dart heads, TH400 transmission, 12 bolt ect ect ect. basically an all out drag car. i actually only want to run right with him but i am shooting higher so even if i dont make my goal i should still be right there with him.

I honestly was planning on getting some support from you guys or ideas on what more i should do, i already planned on seeing if he could help me set up my rear suspension.

[bill1978v8]

Sounds like a good set up. The LS2 should take up to 150Hp shot of nitrous. Are you running the FI or carb? What's your fuel system? The problem I see is hooking it all up with the 6spd. You mentioned you don't drag race much. It takes a lot of practice to get the launch right with the stick. I think if everything swings your way, you should get low 10's. I've seen heavy F-bods do it with less cam and an LS1 with nitrous.

Good luck and post more pics!!

Bill

[71LS1Vega]

haha, i dont drag race much at the track. i have in the past quite a bit. but not lately. i set a "record" for one of the fastest stock LS2 Pontiac GTO (top 10) im good at racing with a stick but not a 5-600whp stick lol im not sure how that will turn out. i think i will do perfectly fine with that.

im running a 255lph walboro fuel pump and LS2 injectors for right now. i plan on running a wet shot so the injectors should be ok. i should still get my 18-23mpg.

i do see alot of LSx cars running 100-250 shot but i want to make the motor last, i wont be running nitrous all the time. mainly at the track or maybe with my buddys KB cobra ect.

Sorry if you didnt know by now but im running the FI setup. LS2 intake and Fast 90mm TB. iv looked at dyno testing of stock Fast 90 intakes vs LS2's and there really wasnt much of a difference. but if i was going high HP N/A i think thats where the FAST 90 intake shines.

[71LS1Vega]

BTW off topic: i also own a GTO 2004 CPM m6. have any pics of yours?

[71LS1Vega]

LoL more off topic: 9.80's mustang very very deceptive to the eye.



Dirty LS1 Vega engine bay:


Favorite Vega Pic:

[Fasterthansome]

I would think a 6 speed and 3.73 is going to be hard to hook on spray with a small tire.

[bill1978v8]

Yeah, I remembered you had the LS1 FI but didn't see your LS2 combo. The fuel system sounds good but unless you have a forged bottom end and a real good tuner, I wouldn't push over 175 hp shot. What headers do you have now? I saw a pic of RX7 swap headers that really hug the block and look like they would clear but they were $750. With decent tires and a good launch I feel you could get where you want to be but don't over look the safety aspect of your car. Do you have an SFI balancer and flywheel? A scattershield? They are a must with a stick car.

Off topic: nice GTO are you over at LS1GTO.com? I don't have any really good pics but here is a few. only has 2,300 miles. Damn I miss driving it!!

[Stivan]

Good Luck on your project. I know what it takes to do that. In my case, a 2900 lb car, it requires 600+ hp at the rear wheels, to consistantly run in the 9's. A tire/suspension combo to "get" it there and hold it straight.

I have to use ET Streets (The Largest) on 12" rims, hooked to a 4-link on a 9". This is a must, because the 7.5 won't hold it for long. Also, my hat is off to your uncle. . . .. that is "exactly" what inspired my racing career over 40 yrs ago. Have Fun !!!

[71LS1Vega]

I Beleive my uncles 62 is still f ull interior, he has the original 409 and 4-speed that was in it(i beleive it was a rare option of the 409 4door) but it didnt come with the "dual quads". the car is not tubed, stock style rear suspension. ill have to find some videos of it.

the car has a fidanza flywheel, no sfi harmonic balancer. i plan on getting some of these things along the way during the testing and tuning. for the tune i am probably going to bring the car to vette doctors, i know you have heard of them if you have an ls1 lol.

Also yes i am a member on ls1gto.com same ID over there as well. my GTO has 17k miles on it AR LT's Catless mids SLP LM1 catback, 112 Magnacharger, LSS/hurst ball(433whp/46wtq). the decals are comming off the car. at least the side skirt "GTO" emblems and the "Ram Air II" on the hood. the rest might stay. Also bought the oem 18's for the car, they really do set it off.

I was thinking a small tire car wouldnt hook that well but i am going to use a window switch to lock out 1st gear and i also see "RustorBust"'s car running really good times on an 8.5'' tire? i think he runs a 1.49 60ft. i know his car is auto and is easier to get out of the hole but i think i can manage, i dont want to tub the car. i want to fit as big of a tire as possible but then again, if i can get a 8.0-8.5 tire to hook then id be happy.

[Fasterthansome]

If you run a 26x8.5 you may want to try it on a 10" rim.
Also M+H recently came out with a 26x8.5 stiff sidewall that works well.