We finally went to the track again. A month ago (the last time we went to the track,) we went to a test n tune so my better half could get some seat time, and so I could get the newly rebuilt injection tuned in. Both were successful (other than for some strange reason the car 'lost' a tenth from the first time we had gone.) But we havent been able to afford to go racing since then, so both cars sat. We still really couldnt afford to go yesterday, but it was the 4th of July, and I refused to sit home.
So we loaded everything up and headed to the racetrack.
First pass, I figured it would run right around a 6.52 or so (about the same it ran the last time out), and it surprised me, but not in the correct way. -.010 light, 1.430 sixty foot, 6.62 @ 104.6 mph. This car hasnt been this slow in years. To make matters worse, this track is notorious for their 60' clocks to be actually 58' and my sixty foot time was .03 slower than the last time out. The EGT was good, so I decided so long as it repeated it, I would worry about it later. Next pass, I stuck .011 in the delay box to shoot for a .001 light. But then I missed it and was .036, 1.441 and 6.668 @ 104.5 mph. Crap, no what do I do for first round with the box? I figured I would add .001 just 'to be safe' lol, and go for it. But that last pass, the egt got in that range where I know the car isnt very happy, so I decided to fatten it up just a touch. Not really knowing what it was going to run, I stuck a 6.64 on it (hoping the pill change would bring the et back to where it was for the first pass), and headed to the staging lanes. As usual at this track, I got lined up with a dragster. His .014 lite and 4.743 on a 4.71 dial was not enough for my .003 and 6.670 @ 104.49 on a 6.64. So for the next round, I dialed it 6.66, stuck .001 in the box again, and lined up with another dragster. This fella's .020 and 4.866 on a 4.85 was not enough for my .002 and 6.678 @ 103.2 (whacking it once at the stripe). I figured it would have ran a .67 with a 2 or 3 if I wouldnt have whacked it once, so I dialed it a 6.67 for the next round. This time, I got a doorcar, and one slower than me. Since I wasnt sure how the car was going to react sitting on the convertor and leaving second, I stuck .005 in the box (better safe than sorry). He was .042 and ran 7.613 on a 7.61. I wasnt as good as earlier, but was still good enough for the win with a .023 and 6.688 @ 101.5 (whacking it twice going around him.) Here's the kicker, the MOV was only .004. I almost gave it back to him. The half track time was the same as the 6.670 pass, so I stuck a 6.66 on the window and left the box alone due to the sun being behind the clouds and getting low on the horizon. That turned out to be my downfall. Those 5 yr old slicks really liked the sun being off the track and my 60' picked up .03. And when you are .032 to a .022, and he runs 4.960 on a 4.96, you're day is done. I whacked it twice at the stripe and still ran 6.626 @ 104.0 mph. There is no way I could have predicted the car was going to make it's quickest pass of the day. It wasnt a bad showing; I got down to 8 cars. Check that, 2 cars and 6 dragsters, I didnt have to buyback, and I stuck a couple of piperacks on the trailer. Just for information, the guy I lost too ran dead on with a 4 the next round, then ran dead on with a 2 in the finals, but turned it red.
And here's the thing, the first week I took the car out, it ran 6.43, 6.46, and 6.47. The next trip to the track netted 6.59, 6.56, 6.60, 6.59, and 6.56. Then the next trip (when I went to the TnT for injection tuning) it went 6.55, 6.55 and 6.59 (leaned it out too much the last pass.) I did change the oil before we went to the TnT, but I dont think that caused it as I used the same weight/brand as always. I need to figure out why the car last a tenth from last year (maybe the convertor rebuild and subsequent making it spragless caused it), and then figure out why it lost more et again yesterday. It's still consistent, it pulls fine, the motor doesnt have a lot of passes on it since it was last freshened, and it doesnt smoke or anything stupid. I think new tires would bring a little of the et back, but I'm not willing to spend $500 for tires on a car I am trying to sell.
