The Achieva Indy Test & Tune

[Robert Swartz]

The saga of the Achieva lives on. Had expected to work this past Saturday, that got canceled. That opened the door to go to Indianapolis Raceway Parks Saturday test and tune.

The car has undergone a few more changes. I removed the exhaust about two inches from the cat. The total exhaust system weighed 60 lbs. I also removed the spare tire and jack, those amounted to 48lbs. The hubcaps were 6lbs. Total weight loss = 114lbs.

Got to weigh the car at the track, dry weight of the car with a little over 1/2 tank of gas, 2860lbs. EF/SA weight for the car with driver 3020lbs, weight of this car with driver, 3080lbs, a little room to work there.

Now performance wise. We've put a set of M/T drag radials on the car, air pressure was 38lbs for this series of runs. I also put a set of spring rubbers on the rear to stiffen the car up. Art Leong, if you read this, used your Funny Car burnout routine. Wasn't impressive but did put a little heat in the tires. I was very happy with 60 foot times, they improved from 2.5 to 2.4's, not great but a gain none the less. It felt harder on the launch.

Et wise. I was a little stunned. I had modest expectations, anticipated it would run high, maybe mid 17's. First run off the trailer, 17.04. Most passes were in the 17.0-17.1 range. With two passes in the 16's, the fastest being a 16.88. Mph being consistant 79, with one 80 mph pass.

Since we had yet to run this car on the 1/4, all the above information is new. Raceway also gives 1/8 times. This I had information to compare. The previous best 1/8 pass had been an 11.43, we recorded a 10.83 on one pass, a 6/10's improvement. 1/8 mph improved from 59 to 65 mph.

IHRA EF/SA index(es) are 15.90/9.85. So, with 120K used car with little done to it. We're within a second of both indexes. Maybe to others this is no big thing, I was happy with the improvements, pleasently surprised might be more to the point.

Ed Wright, I appologise, I haven't pulled the computer chip yet. I will get with you on that.

[Billy Nees]

Fun ain't it?

[owen]

I like it!!!!!!!

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Fun ain't it?

Yeah, addictive to boot. Got good bang for my buck on this trial. Afraid the next step is gonna take a little more. Think I'm going to stiffen up the rear with another spacer..

[art leong]

Try this. I don't know how to download a video. it's grainy but it seems to work.
http://s203.photobucket.com/albums/a...t=M2U00455.mp4


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/j6nRLsU86S0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Robert Swartz]

Originally Posted by art leong

Try this. I don't know how to download a video.
http://s203.photobucket.com/albums/a...t=M2U00455.mp4

Pretty much what I did. Including the dry hop prior to staging. Just roll it to the forward edge of the water. Stab it! Your making more hp, I still get a decent spin, like i said, puts a little heat in the tires. Didn't bother with it when I had the street tires on the front.

Art, you coming to the Nationals? I'm going up on Thursday. Going to meet Ron Seibenek, he has two of these Achievas. Not racing them at Indy. Like to try and meet some of the other board members, put names with faces.

[art leong]

Originally Posted by Robert Swartz

Pretty much what I did. Including the dry hop prior to staging. Just roll it to the forward edge of the water. Stab it! Your making more hp, I still get a decent spin, like i said, puts a little heat in the tires. Didn't bother with it when I had the street tires on the front.

Art, you coming to the Nationals? I'm going up on Thursday. Going to meet Ron Seibenek, he has two of these Achievas. Not racing them at Indy. Like to try and meet some of the other board members, put names with faces.

No. I'm not going to far for to little. Going to try to make a run for the class champion thing next year. Ron and his son are great guys.

[Dennis P Chapman]

Originally Posted by Robert Swartz

Pretty much what I did. Including the dry hop prior to staging. Just roll it to the forward edge of the water. Stab it! Your making more hp, I still get a decent spin, like i said, puts a little heat in the tires. Didn't bother with it when I had the street tires on the front.

Art, you coming to the Nationals? I'm going up on Thursday. Going to meet Ron Seibenek, he has two of these Achievas. Not racing them at Indy. Like to try and meet some of the other board members, put names with faces.

Robert say hi to Ron for me if you will haven't seen him in sometime.

[Robert Swartz]

Dennis and Art. Will relay greetings to Ron from all on the board. Have passed numerous messages with him from another board. Have talked with him on the phone once. Looking forward to a face to face. Being Nationals time, doubt we'll have much time to talk.

In the meantime. Purchased the Racer IQ app. My wife has a Kindle, was looking at it, decided it might be a good way to track performance. Biggest thing it has told me so far, my reaction time sucks. Until I get the car sorted out, not too concerned with that. Looked at the calculations, it had one for weight to hp. Was dead on for the et and mph the car is currently turning. Basically, the old 120K engine is making about 120hp.

Maybe with one of Ron's headers, a head with a legal stock valve job, some legal cams, a computer chip and if I can find one, a torque converter. I just might be able to sniff the index? That might be enough to make up for the lost hp. Or I'll leave the old engine in piece's, LOL!

Worst thing about this car, it finally reached the initial potential I believed it held. It ran within the times I was looking for on the first weekend. I'm now spending too much time thinking on this thing and working on it. Not getting much (really anything) done to my other cars.