First drag race with the Mach1

[jgkurz 52]

I went to the dragstrip with the Mustang on Sunday. I have experience drag racing but it was the first time with this car, with a big block, with drag radials, and with an automatic. All very different from my previous experience. The car has a mild 429 (385 series), C6 and 4.11 gears. I also have CalTrac's with Viking double adjustable shocks. A friend loaned me some drag radials so I thought I was set. The best run was a 13.55 at 101.2mph. The car weighs 3625 with me in it. Mid 13s is what I expected but I thought it would run closer to 104-106mph. I'm not disappointed in the car, only my calculations if that makes sense. The car was VERY consistent and ran perfect all day as long as I shifted the the stock shifter properly (challenging!!). I put the 4.11s in recently in anticipation of my new engine/overdrive trans going in soon. I couldn't stand them long term with a C6 or 4spd but they were perfect for drag racing. I couldn't cut a decent light to save my life. My previous experience didn't help me much. Oh well. Had a blast just the same.

 

 

 

[sportsroof69 13]

Very nice. What's your location? I know our DA fluctuates so much this time of year that it's not uncommon to see a few MPH differences from day to day.

[jgkurz 52]

Thank you. I raced at Woodburn Dragstrip in Woodburn Oregon. It's between Portland and Salem.

[SM69Mach 68]

Nice runs and good looking car!

[jgkurz 52]

Come to think of it, the wildfire smoke probably had an effect. I know the barometer was fairly low. You can see the smoke haze in my videos.

[J's69Mach1 17]

Sweet Car. Thanks for taking the time to post Video. I really enjoyed .

[RPM 1,190]

Your car looks great! You do know you can stroke that 429 and have 557 ci!  :}

[jgkurz 52]

Nah.. I'm an FE fan. I know I'll spend more $$ but it will be period correct and fit better. Trust me, it'll keep up with a 557 when I'm done :-)

[jgkurz 52]

One more comment, the 429 has been impressive. It is very reliable, has never let me down, and makes good power. Can't say a bad thing about it except maybe it's a little heavy and wide.

[STL. Mark 11]

Great looking car, and boy that is fun playing on the drag strip!

[Max Power 74]

Those big old diesel trucks can really scoot, cant they?

[jgkurz 52]

Yep, I probably had half the HP/Torque. It's OK. No matter how much horsepower I have there will always be somebody faster. In this case I'm glad it was a PowerStroke and not a Cummins. Ha!

[jgkurz 52]

Question to you all you experienced drag racers. I expected much better 60 foot times with 4.11 gears and drag radials. My best was 1.988. I had to launch the car from idle because I couldn't foot brake. The stock stall speed plus sticky tires just pushed my car through the staging lights. The front tires wouldnt hold the car. Do I just need more horsepower, higher stall, both?

 

Curious what the biggest contributor to the slow 60 foot times was?

[shaun071 62]

I'm not super experienced with drag racing, but I think a higher stall convertor would do the trick for you. It will help with the launch. As a comparison, my old 351c Falcon ran 13.8 @ 102mph and weighed about 150lb more than your car. It probably had up to 100hp less than your stang, but had a 2500 stall and 3.25 rear. The stall helped the engine get up into its power band at launch.

[Rsmach1 71]

Nice car, nice video, can't wait to finish mine. Yes a higher stall converter will help for sure, just don't go overboard, match the converter with your cam.

[sportsroof69 13]

Question to you all you experienced drag racers. I expected much better 60 foot times with 4.11 gears and drag radials. My best was 1.988. I had to launch the car from idle because I couldn't foot brake. The stock stall speed plus sticky tires just pushed my car through the staging lights. The front tires wouldnt hold the car. Do I just need more horsepower, higher stall, both?

Curious what the biggest contributor to the slow 60 foot times was?

 

Converter is everything. It is the single most important piece of equipment, when it comes to drag racing. I tell people all the time that my engine doesn't make that much power, and the money I spent on the converter is what makes the car perform. My car does all its work in the 60'.

[jgkurz 52]

The converter I am planning to use with the new trans is a 2500rpm although a high torque engine might bump that up a slightly. I think that will match my cam properly. The engine will be on the dyno first so hopefully we can validate if 2500 stall is correct. I don't want to go more than a 2500 so hopefully that'll get the car off the line nicely.

THANKS FOR ALL THE HELPFUL REPLIES!

[sportsroof69 13]

I highly recommend calling a good converter company, giving them your specs, and having a converter built. Freakshow, BTE, Neal Chance. A good converter goes a long ways.

[Rsmach1 71]

What cam are you running?

[Max Power 74]

Yep, I probably had half the HP/Torque. It's OK. No matter how much horsepower I have there will always be somebody faster. In this case I'm glad it was a PowerStroke and not a Cummins. Ha!

LOL...I have no brand loyalty when it comes to diesels. They are all alienware to me.

 

I certainly learned that trying to be the fastest in anything is an exercise in national debt building. I look at new sedans in Road & Track running in the 13s routinely and even some special ones getting into the 12s and 11s and it just doesn't seem fair. The days when muscle cars held the standard for factory performance are long gone. I even converted to a milder roller cam because I got sick of dealing with the driveability issues to get beat by a Taurus SHO.

 

Anymore, it's about the sound and the feel. And of course, the styling will never be duplicated.

[jgkurz 52]

What cam are you running?

 

The new engine will have large roller hydraulic. I don't have the specs from my builder yet.

[jgkurz 52]

LOL...I have no brand loyalty when it comes to diesels. They are all alienware to me.

 

I certainly learned that trying to be the fastest in anything is an exercise in national debt building. I look at new sedans in Road & Track running in the 13s routinely and even some special ones getting into the 12s and 11s and it just doesn't seem fair. The days when muscle cars held the standard for factory performance are long gone. I even converted to a milder roller cam because I got sick of dealing with the driveability issues to get beat by a Taurus SHO.

 

Anymore, it's about the sound and the feel. And of course, the styling will never be duplicated.

Well said and so true. If I always get worked up about the next guy beating me I'd go broke.

[sportsroof69 13]

Maybe that's why I'm broke....lol

[superduty69 11]

Maybe that's why I'm broke....lol

I feel your pain. Lol

[sportsroof69 13]

I feel your pain. Lol

 

 

WHOA!!!!! Where'd you come from?