b4black
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 24, 2001
- Messages
- 3,773
This past weekend was the Midwest Buick Challenge, and for once, something didn't keep me from going to a Buick Racing event.
Now I have only had the '83 T Type for a short while and haven't really done anything other than matianence and adding a knock detector. So about a week ago, I started getting ready.
First I tried seeing how well the car would power lauch. At about 2 psi (yellow light), it would spin both tires (open rear) for about 5 feet and the catch. But there was plenty of wheel hop. So the first thing I did was take some new, stock lower control arms I already had (with new Z28 bushings), bought some steel plates and had them boxed by the local muffler shop. NO MORE WHEEL HOP. Total cost was $68.
Next I bought a cheap 15 psi pressure gauge ($12) and installed it. Went on a test ride and found a serious problem. Only 6psi of boost. And this didn't come on until 3rd gear.
So I started doing whatever I could to bring the boost up. First I tried a K&N cone. Big help- I cold now see 7 psi and even 8 in 4th gear, plus spool up was much quicker. Then I inspected the carb. Found the secondaries' air valves were binding. I fixed that and also bent the tab to let the air valves open a little more. Found another psi.
I unhooked the downpipe at the convertor and found a little more boost. I added a spring to the actuator and could now hit 10 psi, but only it forth gear. This was the best I could do before Sundays racing.
I was able to make about 10 passes at the Midwest Challenge. The most boost I ever saw was 7 during the quarter mile and that only came at the end. While the knock detector wasn't going off, the OTC was showing 15° of retard from the knocks during shifts. (Track didn't have any unleaded race gas like the were supposed to.)
Wheel spin was a huge problem. With no boost I could leave without spining and a 2.25 60' time. With any boost, the times went up to 3.00 seconds. This is when I realized that while my whitewalls may hook and hook together on the street, the track was completely different. One wheel spinnig for 30 feet sometimes.
OK now that I have listed all my excuses, I'll tell you my best time. 16.90 @ 77(?)
An air bag, better tires, another turbo and ignition (cap, wires, coil) are in the plans. The Chicagoland GSCA will be racing again soon. Maybe I'll have a little less embarrassing ET to post.
I guess I have to start somewhere. Definately had a great time with the Buick guys and look forward to racing more.
Now I have only had the '83 T Type for a short while and haven't really done anything other than matianence and adding a knock detector. So about a week ago, I started getting ready.
First I tried seeing how well the car would power lauch. At about 2 psi (yellow light), it would spin both tires (open rear) for about 5 feet and the catch. But there was plenty of wheel hop. So the first thing I did was take some new, stock lower control arms I already had (with new Z28 bushings), bought some steel plates and had them boxed by the local muffler shop. NO MORE WHEEL HOP. Total cost was $68.
Next I bought a cheap 15 psi pressure gauge ($12) and installed it. Went on a test ride and found a serious problem. Only 6psi of boost. And this didn't come on until 3rd gear.
So I started doing whatever I could to bring the boost up. First I tried a K&N cone. Big help- I cold now see 7 psi and even 8 in 4th gear, plus spool up was much quicker. Then I inspected the carb. Found the secondaries' air valves were binding. I fixed that and also bent the tab to let the air valves open a little more. Found another psi.
I unhooked the downpipe at the convertor and found a little more boost. I added a spring to the actuator and could now hit 10 psi, but only it forth gear. This was the best I could do before Sundays racing.
I was able to make about 10 passes at the Midwest Challenge. The most boost I ever saw was 7 during the quarter mile and that only came at the end. While the knock detector wasn't going off, the OTC was showing 15° of retard from the knocks during shifts. (Track didn't have any unleaded race gas like the were supposed to.)
Wheel spin was a huge problem. With no boost I could leave without spining and a 2.25 60' time. With any boost, the times went up to 3.00 seconds. This is when I realized that while my whitewalls may hook and hook together on the street, the track was completely different. One wheel spinnig for 30 feet sometimes.
OK now that I have listed all my excuses, I'll tell you my best time. 16.90 @ 77(?)
An air bag, better tires, another turbo and ignition (cap, wires, coil) are in the plans. The Chicagoland GSCA will be racing again soon. Maybe I'll have a little less embarrassing ET to post.
I guess I have to start somewhere. Definately had a great time with the Buick guys and look forward to racing more.