First time running..

[97_eclipse_gst]

Im going to be running my 97 gst at the track for the first time tomarrow and im really excited. I was wondering if there is anything i should know or any tips anyone can give me. Right now i have a turboback exhaust, 17" kumho drag radials, act 2600 clutch, act streetlite flywheel, underdrive pulley, walboro 255 fuel pump thats all i can think of. Any info would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

[BlackbirdOfPrey]

Watch a few runs before you get into the staging lanes, especially note where the staging lights are, there is nothing more annoying for a veteran, than to be behind a rookie that takes 10 mins to stage their car. Another good tip is to bring a few basic tools with you, you never know when something will go wrong. Let your car cool down between runs. If your on the stock IC and piping, you will heatsoak really fast if you run without cooldown (hot lap), and your performance will take a hit. Don't expect to run exactly what someone else says. It takes many runs to get a feel for your car, and drag racing is far different than driving on the street.

 

[97_eclipse_gst]

Thanks that is usefull information, what do you think i should launchat. And when should i shift to get most power, i heard its best at around 6000 from some people and 6500 from others.

 

[Marc91GSX]

Like blackbird said. Tools - a ratchet with 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, and 14mm sockets. Wrenches the same sizes.

Misc, - Fluids ( ie.. antifreeze and oil ) logger,.

One mod you need to do to your car before to long is get an AFPR. The 255 will over power your stock FPR and can cause your fuel pressure to drop which is not good.

Hint: If you are not using a pro-light ( all three ambers light at the same time on a pro tree) then leave the line as soon as you see the third amber light up. Watch a few launches first and you will see what I am talking about. Let everyone know if you needed a pillow. Anything over a 1 sec R/T is considered falling asleep at the tree.

Most important of all is to have fun and be safe.

 

[ALLBoostAWD]

Take off the drag radials!!!

You do not make enough power to need them. All they are going to do is slow your time, TRUST ME. Drag tires are designed to put an emense amount of HP to the ground (obviosuly), if you dont have enough power to spin those tires enough, all that momentum from your engine trying to spin those tires WILL go somewhere else (tranny, axles, etc...). If you use them dont be surprised if you break an axle when you launch it, especially with that ACT 2600. Tire spin will actually help you, it will enable your turbo to spool thus moving your ass off the line and down the track. Backpedal and dont launch to high (5000-5500 works for me) you will be impressed with what kind of numbers you can put up just by doing that. Good luck.

 

[DSMark]

5000 is a little high imo for a front wheel drive car. I would suggest around 3500, but that's just a guess on my part because i have never owned a gst now have i tried to launch one. Take a few practice runs and get a feel for your car since it is your first time and like it was stated before give your car time to cool down between passes. And lastly, but most importantly, have fun and be safe!

 

[97_eclipse_gst]

Right now i have 245/45 kumho tires on front and the drag radials on back. I have some problems with traction as it is now. I get really bad wheel hop in second, should i still stay with the 245/45's or swap the drag radials to the front?

 

[97_eclipse_gst]

How many lbs of boost should i go with for the track with stock internals. And whats best to shift at for most power?

 

[BlackbirdOfPrey]

For the boost, if you have a logger, set it for highest psi you can get without knocking up top. With a T-25 IIRC anything past 15psi is just blowing hot air, and not worth it. For shifting, most shift around 6500 give or take a few hundred.(thats what I do, but then again I'm on a 14b not sure if the T-25 is still efficient at that high an rpm).

 

[97_eclipse_gst]

I have a bottl of ocatne booster to, but i jus filled my tank yesterday and have 3/4 of a tank left. Would it still help if i put the bottle in the tank now, or it wont make a difference?

 

[BlackbirdOfPrey]

I'd be surprised if your octane rose more than half a point. Octane booster is mostly a gimmick, and on the rare occasions its worth it, you have to have around a quarter of a tank and a logger to notice any difference it may make.

 

[fwdeclipse]

It all depends on the brand you buy,if you buy the nos racing brand it will actually raise it 5 points.There is also another brand I cant think of at the moment that works well to.But the cheap stuff does nothing.

 

[97_eclipse_gst]

Thanks for all of the help guys. Id love to tell you what i ran but i could not get anyone to run my car through tech inspection. Because im still seventeen and raceway park doesnt allow anyone under 18 to race, I was so pissed but mayby ill have more luck next time. Did anyone else on the site run there car on friday at raceway park?

 

[D_Eclipse9916]

Couldnt you have a gaurdian sign off for you? Wow thats really stupid.

 

[BGRIPTP]

Take off the drag radials!!!

You do not make enough power to need them. All they are going to do is slow your time, TRUST ME. Drag tires are designed to put an emense amount of HP to the ground (obviosuly), if you dont have enough power to spin those tires enough, all that momentum from your engine trying to spin those tires WILL go somewhere else (tranny, axles, etc...). If you use them dont be surprised if you break an axle when you launch it, especially with that ACT 2600. Tire spin will actually help you, it will enable your turbo to spool thus moving your ass off the line and down the track. Backpedal and dont launch to high (5000-5500 works for me) you will be impressed with what kind of numbers you can put up just by doing that. Good luck.

Uhhh, no. Sorry, just no, he WILL NEED the drag radials.

Shift at 6000 in first gear, 5700 in secound, and see if you can wind out 3rd (depending on your trap) or goto fouth at 6000 if you can't make it down without going into fourth. You are going to want to slip the clutch out at around 4000, don't dump it or you will spin tires.

 

[BGRIPTP]

I have a bottl of ocatne booster to, but i jus filled my tank yesterday and have 3/4 of a tank left. Would it still help if i put the bottle in the tank now, or it wont make a difference?

Their is no subsitute for race gas. Don't waste your money on octane boosters.

 

[97_eclipse_gst]

I would have had a guardian sign for me if i had the waiver. But i didnt feel like driving 45 minutes to have my mother sign it then drive another 45 minutes back to race. So no its not that stupid.

Thanks for the info guys i will use all the advise you guys gave me.

 

[ALLBoostAWD]

Uhhh, no. Sorry, just no, he WILL NEED the drag radials.

Shift at 6000 in first gear, 5700 in secound, and see if you can wind out 3rd (depending on your trap) or goto fouth at 6000 if you can't make it down without going into fourth. You are going to want to slip the clutch out at around 4000, don't dump it or you will spin tires.

LMFAO

No, Sorry Jr. HE DOESNT MAKE ENOUGH POWER TO NEED THEM! Oh. but Im sure you know this from experience. I have seen many people do this and hurt thier times. Drag radials are NOT needed until you are making some good HP. It applies to BOTH FWD and AWD vehicles.

exapmle. 91 GMC Syclone ran 11.78 on street tires (not cheap tires, good street tires). A week later, 4 Nitto Drag radials were added DROPPING the time CONSISTANTLY to mid 12's. And thats an automic, not much room for error at the line.

My advice is put the radials in the garage until you really need them.

 

[BGRIPTP]

LMFAO

No, Sorry Jr. HE DOESNT MAKE ENOUGH POWER TO NEED THEM! Oh. but Im sure you know this from experience. I have seen many people do this and hurt thier times. Drag radials are NOT needed until you are making some good HP. It applies to BOTH FWD and AWD vehicles.

exapmle. 91 GMC Syclone ran 11.78 on street tires (not cheap tires, good street tires). A week later, 4 Nitto Drag radials were added DROPPING the time CONSISTANTLY to mid 12's. And thats an automic, not much room for error at the line.

My advice is put the radials in the garage until you really need them.

Have you ever driven a FWD 2g? Judging by waht you are saying I would say you haven't. Weight transfer is a pig on these things. So yeah, if you want to keep cutting 2.2 60ft's on your FWD, don't install the dr. You should be able to cut a 1.9-2.0 60ft with the drag radials on. If you floor it in first you are spinning. If you are spinning, your are loosing traction. This is where drag radials will help, as long as he doesn't bog, which he shouldn't, the drag radials will only help him. You can't compare a RWD to a FWD when laucnhing, everything is different. Also, I doubt he lost .7 of a seocund by adding drag radails. Now I remeber why I stopped reading t00ners. WTF

 

[N1balla16]

I would put the DR's on, try to launch around 3200 your first couple runs to get a feel for the track. If its a well prepped track and your fealing comfortable go ahead and try to launch it a little higher. Also, like BGRIPTP said there is no substitute for race gas

And for shifting I found that I get a better trap if I run second gear out as far as I can.

 

[N1balla16]

So what happened at the track. Times? 60ft? Trap? Did you use the Dr's?

 

[gridlyne]

This is an auto cross tip but it might come in handy.

Bring something to chuck your wheels with like a brick or some wood. While your cooling down, dont put on your parking break but put something behind your wheels to keep the car from moving. You could warp your rotors.

 

[97_eclipse_gst]

I wish i could tell you what my times are but i couldnt run the car. I was suposed to meet a friend there to go through tech for me because im 17 but he couldnt make it. So i waited and nobody came, so now hopefully i will be running my car on friday but im suposed to get surgery tomarrow so i might i have to wait another three weeks.

 

[N1balla16]

Sweet well keep us posted. I always like some track stories.

 

[N1balla16]

That sucks man. Try to keep us posted. I always like some track stories.