ET with and without wheelie.

[Dan Bennett]

This is one of the best threads I've ever seen here. I'm seeing other racers experiences and it's making me think.

I'm beginning to think the disconnect from my original post is due to the fact that I worked almost solely on 4 link stick cars. And that the rules class cars have to run under just won't allow the important parts to be tuned to top performance.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I've been giving a lot of thought to the people who say a big wheelstand flashes the converter better. My gut feeling is that's because the slicks are loaded more and the traction loads the converter more.

You could do the same thing and keep the nose close to the ground and use the torque to move the car forward with a four link. I'm thinking that your classes simply don't have the ability to add that extra traction other than standing the car up. Again, I'd love to find I'm on the wrong track here so please speak up if you disagree.

I ran into this while working with Steve Johnson. I looked at his graphs and saw immediately where things could be improved in a major way. But the problem was that the clutches PSBs had available at the time were not able to do the adjustment that was needed.

In short, the people who are saying different vehicles need different things have helped me get a grip and I thank every one of them.

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by Dan Bennett

This is one of the best threads I've ever seen here. .

you're welcome

[Mike Pearson]

In a low HP combo the wheelie is similar to wheel speed. It helps get the engine to its max power quicker. The higher HP and bigger Cu Inch combos might be quicker by keeping the front end down. The car will be more consistent with the wheels up and no spin/wheel speed. Stock and super stock cars are set up to dead hook. Most are on radials.

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Dan Bennett

In short, the people who are saying different vehicles need different things have helped me get a grip and I thank every one of them.

Ya know Dan, it's a funny thing that you put it that way. In a Stocker that can use a Powerglide or a 3-speed, with the 'glide the 60' times are almost irrelevant. They're almost a residual number. The car needs to be set-up to run it's best E.T. and whatever the 60' time is, it is. One of the "funniest" things ever said to me about "tuning" a car was by the late Jim Beattie; "Nees, is there somebody standing on the 60' clock handing out $100 bills? Then don't worry about it".
Now a 3-speed Stocker is a totally different animal. From my experience, what ever you can do to get a 3-speed car to the 330' clock faster will translate to better E.T.s all the way down the track.

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

From my experience, what ever you can do to get the car to the 330' clock faster will translate to better E.T.s all the way down the track.

again, it all starts and ends with 60 foot and yes, I have run both a powerglide and a turbo400 in the same car!

[Adger Smith]

We have had a lot of good info passed around in this thread...
This thread brought back an old memory from when Lee Shepherd was racing the Shepherd/Morrison Modified Production Chevy 11 wagon at my track in Whitehouse Texas. This is back before reaction times and we only had 60' and 1/4 mile times. I ask him if the 60' was the most important part of the race track. His answer was NO...
He then said "The First Inch" is most important
Think about it!

[1320racer]

He was wrong!

[L.Fite]

How dare you blaspheme Lee Shepherd...
Them there is fightin' words!...

[Billy Nees]

Originally Posted by Billy Nees

Ya know Dan, it's a funny thing that you put it that way. In a Stocker that can use a Powerglide or a 3-speed, with the 'glide the 60' times are almost irrelevant. They're almost a residual number. The car needs to be set-up to run it's best E.T. and whatever the 60' time is, it is. One of the "funniest" things ever said to me about "tuning" a car was by the late Jim Beattie; "Nees, is there somebody standing on the 60' clock handing out $100 bills? Then don't worry about it".
Now a 3-speed Stocker is a totally different animal. From my experience, what ever you can do to get a 3-speed car to the 330' clock faster will translate to better E.T.s all the way down the track.

This what you mean Frank?
Nothing to do with "wheelies" but 60' to 330', PG vs. 3 speed.

[1320racer]

Again, the OP's question was...

Originally Posted by my69396

How much will a wheelie affect ET plus or nothi?

NOT whether they are need for your car to hook, NOT whether they are fun, NOT about SLR, NOT about any specific combo or car, NOT about PG vs. 3 speed

Originally Posted by my69396

How this got started was a conversion about wasted energy going up and not forward.

The FACT remains what you lose or gain in 60 foot directly effects the ET!

If you get to the 60 foot clocks slower and you WILL, breaking the beam with any part of the car behind the front tires no mind the back tires, you WILL run a slower ET!

That statement is indisputable and FACT!