getting traction

Grumpy

The Grumpy Grease Monkey mechanical engineer.
Staff member
Im placing this thread here for those guys that have not yet fully grasp the concept,
that the major factors in having a fast performance are are its power to weight ratio,
fully functional suspension , steering, and brakes and getting the power train,
to effectively transfer the engines power to the pavement.

I have a neighbor that has built a 1969 road runner,
he purchased and rebuilt a 440 wedge engine ,
from a wrecked motor home, added better heads, a new intake and cam, headers etc.
and installed it in a 1969 road runner, the engine makes decent power but its a non-posi rear differential with a stock suspension, \
and as such hes able to spin the one rear wheel into impressive tire smoke,
but the cars pathetically slow compared to it true potential,
=due to wheel hop and limited traction, crappy tires and a driver that seems incapable of launching the car without flooring the throttle.
yeah, he will need to learn to operate the car to reach its potential,
but I'm trying hard to get him to look for and swap to a posi style rear differential,
and look at the rear suspension,so both tires get traction as a first step.


his car looks similar to these pictures but his is a burgundy wine color, and no thats not his car

1968rr1.jpg

1968rr2.jpg




http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ir-shocks-and-helper-springs.7006/#post-30414

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...par-9-1-4-rear-differential.11490/#post-70813

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ir-shocks-and-helper-springs.7006/#post-30414

https://streettechmag.com/2014/12/04/ladder-bars/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...oing-fast-with-leaf-spring-suspensions.11301/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/tires-and-tire-compounds.1676/#post-4071

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...asonably-fast-in-street-trim.3404/#post-41453

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/traction-bar-install-problem.6549/#post-20805

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/install-ladder-bars-ford-9-inch/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...hysics-of-racing-info-lots-of-good-stuff.373/

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ear-axles-and-differentials.11848/#post-71083

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ith-leaf-spring-suspensions.11301/#post-54392

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/caltracs.11025/#post-48762

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/trans-slip-yoke-problem.8765/#post-46981

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...ng-to-drive-a-really-fast-car.906/#post-27083

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...atios-and-when-to-shift-calcs.555/#post-54229

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...a-camaro-or-firebird-to-bite.4067/#post-10823

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...af-spring-rear-suspension-guys.216/#post-7849

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...eaf-spring-rear-camaro-nova-et.884/#post-4884

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/a-brief-look-at-clutches.447/#post-1090

http://garage.grumpysperformance.co...-get-a-good-launch-off-the-line.486/#post-600

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/a-brief-look-at-clutches.447/#post-1090

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/suspension-upgrade.11385/#post-68537
 
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Yes my project on hold as of now need expensive valve train parts. Even with promotions there seems to be nothing left going into savings.
 
Yes my project on hold as of now need expensive valve train parts. Even with promotions there seems to be nothing left going into savings.
Only 2 things that can be done John.
Cut back on expenses.
And Or find side jobs.

Notta going on in the Corvette world for me to do for sidejobs.
They are all Broke now.
Claim to have Money a few but I know damn well that is not true.

Trans Am Guys are Broke from Pro Tour too.

Have to Network local.
Day By day.
 
Other priorities for guys to catch up on
The Most important thing I found is the daily driver.
Need 100 % reliability.

Guys with Money can buy New and pay in cash.
No Worries then.
Not Mechanics typical.

I went through God Damn Hell too with daily drivers breaking down in the last 1 year.

You do not have a decent reliable 700 R4 or 4L60E unless you build it yourself.
Take everything GM did & throw it away.
Start Over.
Full Drag Race build for the street.

Turbo 400 Hands down the best.
Not practical to install in many late model vehicles.
Ditto for a 4L80 E.

1999-2000 was the last years of the Small Block Chevy.
Vortech 350.
Only going to get nice fuel economy in a C4 Corvette SBC and if you leave the engine Bone stock or near stock for 27-32 mpg.
Impracticable for Midwest & East coast Winters.

Maybe a way to make money on the side for us John building 700R4, 4L60E, & Turbo 400 transmissions.
Trying to buy all the Turbo 400s I can.
All are good cores. Bullet Proof and survived.

Paint work for you.

Thinking of advertising sandblasting & glass beading large parts & car frames.
I have my farm land & lots of room to Blast outside.
Blasting media is kinda expensive.
Gas engine air compressor & my Large Pot blasting tank I have.
Used last summer quite a bit.

Facebook seems to be the best way to network.
 
You guys forgot the other important factor - TIME.
You can have the project, and the cash, but without the time to work on it, the project still sits.
I wish I could buy time, as in extra hours in a day, just for me to use and no-one else to infringe upon.
 
You guys forgot the other important factor - TIME.
You can have the project, and the cash, but without the time to work on it, the project still sits.
I wish I could buy time, as in extra hours in a day, just for me to use and no-one else to infringe upon.
Yes True Mike.
 
Tell your friend to search ebay for a Direct Connection performance book it will tell you everything he needs to set up A or B body mopar
 
You can have all the power in the world, but if you can't get it to the ground without spinning, you don't have squat.
NEVER use your daily ride to race or play as when it breaks, you no longer have transportation.
Ask me how I know this.
 
Spinning the tires means you just lost the race.

Broke the driveshaft and tailshaft housing in my '55 chebby and had to ride my 15 speed bicycle till I got payed and get it repaired/ replaced.

Riding a bike to school and work in the rain sucks and getting home after midnight really sucks.

Stopped by HP for speeding more than once.
Did have a generator with lights. Hearing it hum meant you were boogying down the road.
 
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