Taking the Charger down the strip tomorrow! Tips / Suggestions?

[resq302]

Well, I'm doing it.  Crazy as it sounds, I'l taking my charger down the track at Island Dragway in Great Meadows, NJ for the Mopars at the Patch car show and racing event.  Since this is my first time down the track, any tips / suggestions / or any other advice.

Also, what does everyone think my car will do?  It is a stock 69 Charger with a stock 383 V-8 4 bbl (bored .30 over), 4 spd manual trans (also stock) with a 3.55 sure grip rear.

[Ghoste]

It doesn't sound crazy at all, it sounds fun.  I think it will run 14.79.

[resq302]

thanks.  Oh yeh, the car will be wearing its radial sneakers that day.  No bias ply as I think I would just be sitting there with the tires spinning like crazy and me going no where fast.   

[1974dodgecharger]

I see a 14 sec car......


I dont know how to burn out......i dont even know how to accelerate in a race.

Is it hold the clutch in or hold brake down while holding gas?

[cdr]

have fun     15.2@ 92mph

[resq302]

I'll be happy to make it into the 14s.  With my inexperience, I hope I can just do the car's name justice!

[cdr]

you will do just fine,have fun thats what its all about 

[dual fours]

Can someone ride shotgun? Do you have a line lock (roll control)? When you are just watching on the side, (out of the car) or if you are in the car don't have the engine running, study the lights, (Christmas tree) and practice the foot game, (to get the timing of the lights), described below. AS YOU WATCH THE LIGHTS, MOVE YOUR FEET TO GET THE RHYTHM.

With out a line lock, come up to the line, clutch pedal pushed in, right foot on right corner edge of brake pedal (just so car will not roll forward and red light it), on green light, slide right foot on to gas pedal, mash it and at the same time clutch pedal out. (remember have it in gear).

With line lock, come up to the line, clutch pedal pushed in, apply brakes, hold line lock, put right foot on gas pedal, on green (all at the same time) release line lock, right foot down, left up all at the same time, watch the tach, look at the finish line.

Put the other car out of your mind. Remember gasoline weight is around 6.074 per gallon, a full tank would be appox. 115 lbs. do you want to carry extra weight?

SHOW THEM RB's WHAT A B 383 can do

There's more to a lesser time, but this will do, Oh what color is your 69 Charger? Like the picture, Red?

As you get better with eye & foot coordination, see all the lights, concentrate only on the last yellow light, (before the green) when you see it (the last yellow light) light up, go into action, because the green will be light by the time the car moves. If you red light it , next time go on green.
This could be the case for you.  
                                                    **                                                      

[resq302]

Yes, the charger in the avatar picture is my car that I will be taking down the track.  No line locks or roll control.  Not really looking to "race" anyone just have a little fun with what I can do for time.

Good point about the gas.  It is about a 40 min drive away from where I am meeting up with my parents with Dad bringing his GTX vert.  Probably take it down track with less gas and then fill up on the way home.  Great tip!

A friend of mine who used to race his Mustang said that the time trials does not start until you cross the beam so as to not worry about the reaction time but the actual time that your car crosses the light beam at the starting line to when you cross the beam at the finish line.

[cdr]

thats really cool that you get to go to the drags with your dad. 

[resq302]

Dad is into the old cars also.  He is too worried that something might happen to the GTX vert if he takes it down the strip.  We just got it the end of April this year and it is all original sheet metal, #s matching engine, basically the works!  Way too rare of a car (1 of 47 left known in existance) to have something happen to it.  Can't say as I blame him.  He is just going for the show part of it.  Me.. I am going for both parts!  Although my dad has expressed his concern about me taking the Charger down the track.

[TexasStroker]

If anyone is in your group and a track regular, hit them up for advice.  Also, make sure you know how the tree is set.  If you plan to make a few passes don't worry about leaving on the last yellow, just go on green.  If you do that and had fun, then try to pick up time at the tree.

I'd drive around the burnout box, stage early, and just keep the focus on the tree and not worry about the other guy.  A first time pass is a success if you have fun and don't hit the wall, lol.  I wouldn't launch hard either...just progressively ease into the throttle so you don't spin.  As stated, if you keep going back for more try launching harder, holding an rpm, or getting a good light.

I run a few track events and what always sucks is the number of people who will not run their cars.  It isn't because they don't want to, it is because they don't want a number put on their car.  It usually comes down to pride and lies...Most guys like to tell stories based on fiction, not fact.  The simple truth is, most know they are full of it, yet they remain oblivious to that fact.

You've got a really nice car that can win shows, run around town, and have fun at the track.  You are already a winner.  Given the elevation I'll go 14.90. 

Looking forward to seeing how you like it!  When in doubt, just talk to the guy with a fast car, or who regularly runs.  In my experience they take it as a big compliment someone thanks enough of them to ask for advice.  Might make a friend and go a tenth or two quicker    Hope it is a good time!

[myk]

This sounds very uncharacteristic of you, but I mean that in a good way!  Have fun!

[War wagon]

 

Hope you have a BLAST, the most important advice anyone can give you is .... HAVE FUN!!!

Don't be disappointed with your timeslips whatever they may be. These are BIG cars.

Props for using your car and ENJOYING it

Memories that will last a lifetime

[twodko]

I'm seeing hydrocarbon nirvana! What fun you're going to have. I'd love to run my Charger but it'll never happen. It's an original car with the original 440. I'd never forgive myself if I broke that sweet motor.

Is your Dad going to run his Elky or did he sell it?

You're code 3 without the restraints.........go for it. 

[cudaken]

Do drive around the bleach box and do a short dry hop but don't light them up. Just want to clean the tires a little. If you have time and a air tank, do a few burnouts, let some air out of the rear, do another burn out till you find the widest contact patch.

Pull off the air filter but leave the base on if you can. You can either disconnect the field wire or install a by pass switch, that will give you about 5 more HP.

  I am going to guess 14.78 to 14.91 at around 93 MPH.   

Cuda Ken

[rt green]

any results?

[resq302]

Well, just got back a little while ago.  Got 4 runs in and the best one was my first run. 

R/T -  .866  (yeh I know it sucked! but got it down t .259)
60' - 2.497
330 - 6.862
1/8 - 10.455
MPH - 69.60
1000' - 13.516
1/4 - 16.111
MPH  - 87.25

I was talking to Bluess454 and he seems to think my tires were spinning going down the track, more likely when I was shifting as he said I should have had better times than that!

be back in a few to post the others

[1974dodgecharger]

Wasn't the stock 383 back in the day ran a 14.5?

[myk]

Wasn't the stock 383 back in the day ran a 14.5?

Weren't Hemi cars, especially heavy Chargers, high 13 or low 14 second cars?  "Garden variety" muscle cars like ours were at best 15 second cars back in the day.  Obviously if you had a Hemi, ZL1, Cobra Jet or some other "special" or otherwise limited edition muscle car your performance would be better, but that was the exception, not the rule.  When you talk to old timers they'd have you believe that 60's/70's cars were so fast that they could travel backwards in time.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the first time in American muscle car/performance car history that had muscle cars that "regular" people could afford (no limited editions, special orders, etc.) was when the '98 Z28 and Trans-Am's debuted; those things were 13 second cars off of the showroom floor, in bone-stock condition right down to the paper air filter, factory tires and pump gas.

'OP again I'm proud that you did this, and I hope you had a blast.  With slicks and practice I'm sure you could shave quite a bit off of your times...

[Dino]

That's not a bad time for a 383.  My 68 had a strong 383 with headers, column auto and 3.23's with 14" wheels and it did around the 15 mark when my experienced racer buddy took it for a try.  I was never able to stop the tires from spinning but when he did it it looked like the car had traction control!   

With my granny gears in the back I think my 440 wouldn't do as well!

[resq302]

Thanks again everyone.  I really did have a blast.  I think the first time down the track I couldn't stop laughing or get the smile off of my face.  Either way, it was fun racing another member from the NCPC Skylands Region (he had a new challenger,  think it was a 2010 or 2011 model and was also as a stick).   The second race he stalled it at the line and I somehow missed going smoothly into second gear.  Probably from the shock of the vast improvement of my reaction time from the first run of .866 down to .378 on the second run.   

[resq302]

I'll try and get some pics posted up here as I know some friends are posting pics on facebook but I don't know if I can steal them and then repost them here.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

.866 RT?  What were you doing changing radio stations? 

Definitely need more seat time on the track to get used to feathering it off the line...especially with a 4speed.  Gotta learn how to walk her out instead of matting it off the line (your 60' time shows that)

[Ghoste]

The mph shows that too, by the time the car starts catching up to the tire and pulling it still brings you to an mph that is about a mid 15.  Although had you been hooking up at the beginning your mph would have gone up too.

[Cooter]

You didn't break nothing......I'd say you hadda good day.
Seen it before. People run their cars fives times as hard after that first pass chasing some unrealistic win light.
383 has less stroke than a SBC350. And in that heavy ass car with a straight drive, your lucky you ain't coming home on a trailer...

[resq302]

The first time I was waiting for the green light and then go, not go on the last yellow.  After we got back to the staging lanes, I was talking to some other people who have done this more and they said with the set up in the car I have and with the manual trans, I should start going on the first yellow light especially with taking it easy on the clutch and not dumping it.  I'll post the other times tonight when I get to work as the reaction times got A LOT better!

Still pissed at myself that I messed up the shift to second gear on the second run.   

[moparjohn]

Cool Brain!!!  I had a great time at Atco one day we rented the whole track (12 of us) anf it was a blast. Glad I didn't get hooked tho. MPJ

[cdr]

here ya go Brian

[cdr]

[cdr]

[cdr]

[cdr]

THE NEW DUKE BOY 

[cdr]

VERY AWESOME MR BRIAN

[cdr]

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[cdr]

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[cdr]

[cdr]

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[cdr]

[cdr]

I'll try and get some pics posted up here as I know some friends are posting pics on facebook but I don't know if I can steal them and then repost them here.

THERE YA GO, hope your not mad cause i posted them for you.

[resq302]

Thanks, CDR.  I was actually waiting till I got to work to resize them and everything to be able to post them on here.  I also snapped a few pics if the time slips.  A friend of mine from Allpar.com who is also in our Skylands Region of NCPC took a video of the second time I went down.  (figures, the one video he caught, it was the one that I missed second gear!)     He also mentioned to me that he could hear when I was shifting because the tires were chirping which could explain why I was in the 16s and under 90 mph.  Still, for a first time, I had a blast.

Video and other pics soon to come!

[resq302]

Cooter, the only problem I did have with breaking something was not mechanically related.  When I closed my driver side door, I heard something metallic drop, assuming something hit the ground.  After I got back into the car, my inside door release would not work.  I still have to pull the door apart but I am guessing either a clip that held the rod in place broke or popped off as when I tried to roll the window up, I heard some scraping on the glass.  Luckily this was after the third pass and I was able to get the window back up without any problems or scratching of the glass.

On the way home, my temp gauge started acting flakey.  It would go up to 230 and then drop all the way down to 120 for a while, then creep up to the 230 mark again for a while then drop back to 120.  Prior to going to Island Dragway, the temp gauge had been reading 30* over what the actual temp of the coolant was.  As my luck would have it, this was the last show / event of the year for me and I had planned on pulling out the cluster and having the gauge recalibrated.  I hope it is just something with the gauge otherwise it could be more time consuming to try and find the cause.  It could be something as simple as a broken wire, bad temp sending unit (which would suck as I just put an NOS one in there this year), or even a bad thermostat.

[cdr]

the way i post pics on here off facebook is, right click on the picture ,     left click on    view image info ,a blue high lighted line will come up sometimes it is slow to happen,then right click on the highlighted line & hit copy,now to post on here the second lower box above the smiley faces click on it & then paste in the little pop up. you dont have to resize anything.

[resq302]

Im just uploading them now to my photobucket account.  Should be any minute now I can start posting pics.

[cdr]

Im just uploading them now to my photobucket account.  Should be any minute now I can start posting pics.

[resq302]

Objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are! 

[TUFCAT]

What did your Dad's GTX turn? 

[NHCharger]

Looks like you had a blast, and no red lights 

[resq302]

waiting to go through tech inspection:






Viper that lost control just after the finish line.  Bounced off of both walls.  Driver was fine.  However, he did drive it there from NY!

[resq302]

What did your Dad's GTX turn? 

Just heads on the show field!     He didnt want to take the chance of something happening to it since it has all original sheet metal, #s matching drive train, original top, etc.  Plus with the fact that only 47 are left known in existance, I wouldn't have wanted him to take it down the track either!

Here is a pic of my friend Blair and me at the line.  His car is a 2010 Challenger, V-8 (dunno what size), manual trans.



1st run and 2nd run.  Im car 306.  (should have stuck to the right lane!)



3rd and 4th run

[resq302]

from the first run!





This smile did not leave my face the whole day!




Charger drew a crowd and most people could not believe that I was running something that nice down the track!  More than one person also said it was the nicest car at the track!

[cudaken]

 Brain, Charger is sure grip right? What sizes are the rear meats, look like a 235 from the pictures Charlie posted. All so what if any tips did you use?

Having fun and not breaking anything is a good day. If you decided to keep up your quarter mile quest I am sure you will get it into the low 15's if not high 14's.

Main thing I would look at first is traction. Full tank of gas may have helped. I know you where told not to have a lot of gas in the tank for your passes, but in your case it may have helped.

When I had my first warmed over engine in my 68 Road Runner I use to leave my 70 pound toll box in the trunk to help it to hook up.

You can all gain a little traction by unbolting the front sway bar links. Better weight transfer to the rear.

On you gauge fluctuation, try replacing the dash transformer that is under the dash. Gauges work on 6 volts (think it is 6) and the transformer drops the power down. I have had that problem before and the new transformer stopped the fluctuation.

Cuda Ken  

[resq302]

Ken,

If I remember right, the tire size of the BF Goodrich Radial T/A's are 225/70R14.  I tried to lower the rear tire pressure down to 26 from 32 psi which did not seem to have any effect.  I had about 3/4 to 1/2 tank full of gas.

As for the gauge, I have changed the voltage limiter over to the RTE solid state one so I doubt that is the problem.  Also, if one gauge did it, the voltage limiter would make all of the gauges do it, not just the one.

Here is a video that allpar.com member and fellow NCPC Skylands Region member took of us going down the strip.  Of course it is of the second run where I missed second gear.  I don't think I'll ever forgive myself for that!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hq58382dls5yd1d/MVI_0660.MOV

[Cooter]

Brian, remember about NOS electronics and parts in general.  Just because they say NOS  doesn't ness. Mean they were new and UNUSED...many of the NOS parts showing up for sale are problems removed from vehicles and stuck back in the boxes for warranty purposes.


You done good for the first time out. Every time take the Dart to the track I break more money than it costs to run.

[resq302]

That could also be why I didn't do as good as I thought I was either since I knew if something broke on the car (something big) that the car would sit and would just annoy me and eat me up that I broke the car.  Granted, I wasn't babying it down the track as I had it floored the whole time but was also keeping an eye on the tach so as not to red line it either.

Did the video work?

[XH29N0G]

Video works.  Looks like fun.

[resq302]

Fun is working on the car.  Taking it down the strip was like unleashing a beast!

[1974dodgecharger]

Fun is working on the car.  Taking it down the strip was like unleashing a beast!

NICE saying...  

Dig the pics...looks like a blast....

[TexasStroker]

Very cool...glad you enjoyed it!  I wish there were more folks that would actually run their cars at the track.

Hopefully you can get all the little stuff fixed and can make the next event date to mark improvement etc...An awful lot is just learning the car, how to launch, and of course the ins-and-outs of the tree etc.

I almost guarantee your lock rod clip broke off...That is the little plastic piece that slides over the rod and pops in on the other side..They are cheap, just kind of hard to find (at least for me).  I have had that happen so many times, lol.

Thanks for posting the pics and hopefully you will inspire other guys with nice restos to open their rides up a bit...Track is safer than most city streets!

[resq302]

Only downfall about racing is I am not covered by my classic car ins. should something happen like that Viper.

[dual fours]

I know you smiled so much your cheeks hurt, tis a rush ain't it.
Now you can try different setups, tips / suggestions and find the sweet spot, the after thoughts now are what makes the different in the future.
Your next question your ask yourself is, Just how far will I go for a faster time, and is it worth it, or just run what ya brung and have fun?
There is just so many variables with a street car.

Thank for the photos, I'm sure more photos will surface on u tube.
The track is safer I agree.
THINK ABOUT THIS, the year is 2013, 44 year old technology doing what it was made for, looks so awesome on the strip along side the Challenger, with very close times I see.
NOW THINK ABOUT THIS, the year is 1972, can you picture the looks of a 69 Charger along side a 1925 Dodge something or other?
Wonder what a 1925 Dodge's time would have been, no where close to the Charger.
Now tell me what cars are the greatest ones made, then, now and later!


 

[PlainfieldCharger]

I know you smiled so much your cheeks hurt, tis a rush ain't it.
Now you can try different setups, tips / suggestions and find the sweet spot, the after thoughts now are what makes the different in the future.
Your next question your ask yourself is, Just how far will I go for a faster time, and is it worth it, or just run what ya brung and have fun?
There is just so many variables with a street car.

Thank for the photos, I'm sure more photos will surface on u tube.
The track is safer I agree.
THINK ABOUT THIS, the year is 2013, 44 year old technology doing what it was made for, looks so awesome on the strip along side the Challenger, with very close times I see.
NOW THINK ABOUT THIS, the year is 1972, can you picture the looks of a 69 Charger along side a 1925 Dodge something or other?
Wonder what a 1925 Dodge's time would have been, no where close to the Charger.
Now tell me what cars are the greatest ones made, then, now and later!


 

Great perspective!!

[resq302]

Found one of me at the 6 min mark. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB58uowRQIU

[TUFCAT]

There was some good racing in that video. I was surprised that the late model Mustang beat the Challenger (in a pairing right after yours)...he was hauling balls.

[dual fours]

Would have been neat to see lights and siren going down the strip .
Wonder what his time would be?
See more then a few jumped the lights
Thanks for the link ResQ302

[resq302]

Yeh, I still don't know why the NJ State trooper showed up.  Maybe he is into cars also?   Its not like the track is right on the main road so he must have had a reason to stop in.  Maybe it was to take an accident report for the Viper which again seems strange since it was on technically private property.

[triple_green]

Two years ago my son raced my 68 stock 383HP Charger with 3.23 sure grip and automatic trans. (28 inch BFG radial T/As)

He ran 3 times and got times between 15.0-15.3 at just under 90 mph. I made him keep it in D the whole way. He practiced his starts ahead of time in a empty parking lot. He did well with not too much wheel spin.

[BrianShaughnessy]

Only downfall about racing is I am not covered by my classic car ins. should something happen like that Viper.

The Viper isn't covered either...     if you wreck on the track it's your own problem unless you buy special insurance just for the track.   Normal policies don't cover it either.


Congrats and glad you had fun...    I stayed home obviously   

[resq302]

Yeh, I didn't think the Viper would have been covered.  I wonder if AAA would have covered the tow since we saw a AAA flad bed tow truck on the way in when we were heading out.

I wonder if an automatic would get better times than a manual car?  I know when I had the car chasis dyno'd back in like 2003 or so, they said you lost about 100 hp due to the manual trans and rest of the driveline.

[triple_green]

BTW, Your car is outstanding!

[resq302]

Thank you Triple Green.  A lot of hard work, time, money, and pride went into restoring this car.  People at the track could not believe how clean the engine compartment was.  Then I told them to look under the car and I think their jaw hit the floor.  They couldn't believe that I actually drove this car in to the drag way.

[RJS]

Brian go out to the garage and see if your getting full throttle.
A 383 in a heavy car with a 4 speed isn't the "hot" setup for drag racing but should go a bit quicker.
Look at all the simple things before you go back to a track.
Glad you had a ton of fun!
Ron

[resq302]

Ron,

When I had the carb rebuilt I made sure the butterflies were opening all the way up per the rebuild spec.  I think a lot of it had to do with my tires spinning when I was shifting.

[Lord Warlock]

Track days can be fun, but reality sucks when finding out how slow the cars actually are in the quarter.  You must have some elevation there in NJ, times look to be a little slower than i would have expected.  I know my one experience at a track wasn't quite what i expected, I was hesitant to launch hard with my 04 cobra fearing snapping an axle 1000 miles from home, and even with a .28 RT still only managed a 13.18 as my best run of the day in memphis TN, did it all in full street trim, street tire pressure, and full interior/spare tire in car etc.  Car was tuned with mods enough to run low 12s, but not unless i was harder on it than I wanted to be.   I was leaving at the last yellow and 60ft times were just under 2.0, i kept having problems getting into 2nd or 3rd all night, (a binding linkage issue with the pedal linkage that didn't get resolved till after i got home, trans had just been rebuilt so blame couldn't go there)

Looks like you got to run your friend with the black challenger, looks like a classic (script on fender) so it likely had the 5.7L v8 in it, it should be capable of running mid to high 13s.  

Stock 440 chargers with 3.55 gears were timed as low as 13.9 back in the 60s magazines.  Hemi powered chargers with 4.11s made it as low as 13.5, some of the other hemi mopars were faster than the chargers seemed to be.  Personally i'd be happy if i could break the 13s in my charger, I'd expect to get a 13.55 or better with the challenger r/t i have, times would be a bit quicker down here at sea level, especially if the weather was cool this time of year.

[firefighter3931]

Just saw this Brian....I should look in this forum more often 

Cool stuff 

The first trip to the track is allways a humbling experience.  A 4 spd with stock size tires makes it even more difficult and you need some seat time to get used to shifting under full throttle as well as finding out the ideal launch technique for your car. 

Next time you take her out ;

-Lower rear tire pressure to 20 psi (better traction)
-Full tank of gas (More weight over the axle = helps traction)
-Increase front tire pressure to 45 psi (less rolling resistance)
-Loosen front swaybar end links (increases front end rise = better weight transfer to plant rear tires)


Glad you had fun....racing is a blast ! 



Ron

[XS29L]

Sounds like it's time for some deep gears and a set of slicks !    Looks like a good time a the track. 

[resq302]

Maybe some internal mods at some point.  Right now, I am busy investing in tools and equipment for my alternator and starter restoration business.  I also have some money going for presents for the resto of Dad's GTX vert.