[EricL]

on the TA in my sig, what should i do besides tires to improve traction without breaking things?

i'm probably going to go with something like 275/60-15s out back.

i'm guessing the engine is putting out about 350hp and 450-500lb ft or torque. it has the stock 10 bolt and a stock th350 but i don't know how much traction i can get without breaking things.

also, whats the weak point? the trans or rear end?

______________________________
1980 Special Edition Trans Am

1975 2 bolt 455, 6X-8 heads, summit 2802 cam, stock intake, holley 600cfm vacume secondaries and modified adapter(q-jet should be going on02 soon).
TH350 trans and convertor out of a 78 TA, stock 10 bolt with 2.41 gears(3.23s going in soon)

pypes 2.5" exhaust on its way

[EricL]

on the TA in my sig, what should i do besides tires to improve traction without breaking things?

i'm probably going to go with something like 275/60-15s out back.

i'm guessing the engine is putting out about 350hp and 450-500lb ft or torque. it has the stock 10 bolt and a stock th350 but i don't know how much traction i can get without breaking things.

also, whats the weak point? the trans or rear end?

______________________________
1980 Special Edition Trans Am

1975 2 bolt 455, 6X-8 heads, summit 2802 cam, stock intake, holley 600cfm vacume secondaries and modified adapter(q-jet should be going on02 soon).
TH350 trans and convertor out of a 78 TA, stock 10 bolt with 2.41 gears(3.23s going in soon)

pypes 2.5" exhaust on its way

[troy_barker]

Have you installed any traction bars or some type of traction device like Cal-Trac? Also I would think you would want to install a set of subframe connectors.

Troy

http://home.comcast.net/~troy.barker/home.html

[BAD ANDY]

I agree with Troy. Make the weight of the car give you your traction. They also make special shocks, but they may not be what you're looking for as far as everyday. As far as breaking things, traction is better than hop! Plus one should always be on the look out for the weak link.

[Brian Baker]

He should be able to get into the low 13's to high 12's before worrying about bolt on traction aides.

Here's a shot of my T/A before adding subframe connectors and any traction aides. The only thing I did was remove the front sway bar. Car was typically running 12.90's at this point, on McCreary g60 Road Star's with the "dirt" compound, mounted on 15x7 Ralleye II's. 60' times in the low 1.9's to high 1.8's.

[EricL]

Brian, what engine are you running in there?

______________________________
1980 Special Edition Trans Am

1975 2 bolt 455, 6X-8 heads, summit 2802 cam, stock intake, holley 600cfm vacume secondaries and modified adapter(alum intake and bigger carb some time).
TH350 trans and convertor out of a 78 TA, stock 10 bolt with 2.41 gears(3.23s going in soon)

pypes 2.5" exhaust on its way

[Brian Baker]

At the time that picture was taken:

455 + .030"
6X heads with 1.77 exh. valves, home ported (225-230 cfm maybe)
Performer (not RPM) intake
Q-Jet
Hooker 1-3/4" x 3" headers with 2-1/2" dual exhaust (Flowmaster)
Custom ground cam with 237/237 @ .050", 110-lda, around .530" lift w/1.65 rockers and standard lifters

th400

3.23 gears in the stock 10-bolt

Race weight was between 4050-4100 lbs.

This cam went high 12.9's at 103 MPH. Too much cam for this low compression combo.

Switched to a Comp280AH10 that I believe was 231/237 (or 239) @ .050", 110-lda, and same lift with 1.65's, used standard lifters. With no other changes other than switching to M.T. E/T Street tires (26x10) the car went 12.81 @ 105.

Switched to a different cam with Rhoades lifters after that (238/243 @ .050", 112-lda) and raised compression to 10.12:1. Also changed to a Continental 10" convertor, and installed subframe connectors with solid frame bushings, and Cal-Trac's. Also switched to 28x10 E/T Streets. Eventually got a 12.78 @ 106 out of it, but the 60' times fell off from the old combo and I never did get a handle on them. By then, race weight was up to 4150 (per Mason-Dixon's scales), between the weight I added to the car and my fat a$$.

[Jeffzilla]

I ran a 12:73 with no traction aides. I do have subframe connectors (built by me), and was running a bone stock trans and convertor with 3:43 rear gears and street slicks 26 inches tall. Mine should run way better when I get the trans built to take the power. If you are having traction problems I would reccomend cal tracs.

[wheelspin]

80,

You asked about the weak link and breakage.

So long as as it spins em up on launch you are fine. Once you tighten up the chassis, make more power, and "hook" hard (slicks and traction bars); the trans, driveshaft/u-joints, and rear will need beefing up.

Les

66 GTO Coupe,455/trips,700r/2500stall,12bolt/3.08,1.79/13.01/104.5
68 GP daily driver and 2004 Route 66 Tour participant under restoration
--------------------------
Better lucky than good

[EricL]

thanks. i'l probably get some wider tires and subframe bars and keep it like that for now.

Brian, that setup looks kinda close to mine. i'l be happy if i get into the 13s. with the rhoads lifters and 10.12:1 compression can you run it on 93 octane ok?

______________________________
1980 Special Edition Trans Am

1975 2 bolt 455, 6X-8 heads, summit 2802 cam, stock intake, holley 600cfm vacume secondaries and modified adapter(alum intake and bigger carb some time).
TH350 trans and convertor out of a 78 TA, stock 10 bolt with 2.41 gears(3.23s going in soon)

pypes 2.5" exhaust on its way

[Brian Baker]

I always ran 93 octane in it, but would occasionally put Sunoco 94 in it. It ran no different. Ran it like this for nearly 3 years, some of it driving daily to and from work (12 miles each way, some of it on the freeway). Never had any trouble with it. I will say, however, that I didn't get any noticeable gain going from 9:1 to 10:1 compression, so if I had to do it all over again, I would have stayed at 9.06:1.

[Brian Baker]

Forgot to add:

My block wasn't anything special. 2-bolt mains (with ARP studs), cast rods with ARP bolts and polished beams, JE forged pistons.

I shifted at 5400 rpm and it would trap around 4800-5000 rpm.

The beauty of it was it would run on pump gas, dip into the 12's at over 4000 lbs. race weight in street legal trim, and still cruise down the highway at 70+ MPH.