Drag Strip Set-ups

Pablo81 · 30 March 09, 16:45

Guys im using a drag strip and to kill time before the car mods come out im using the stockcars and so on to rip down the strights. what im looking to know if anyone know the best way to set the cars up, like the basics to setting up a car for drag racing? any help wouild be great thanks

cheers!

Pablo81 · 31 March 09, 19:15

.. Take it no one knows?

timex · 31 March 09, 20:09

In general (I'm sure someone will disagree), you want the front suspension fairly stiff and the rear as soft as possible while still being able to hook the rear tires up. The rear suspension needs to be free enough to work at launch.

The only goal is rear end traction to propel the car forward. Fronts only serve to keep the car straight. Play around with lowering the rear tire pressure. You can set the fronts as high as they'll go.

I'm 41 and my geezer dad is in his mid 60s but he's still at the local 8th mile strip most weekends during the summer. He's building a new car (tube framed tubbed monster) but his old one is an early 70s Nova. It hooks up enough to pull the front end just a bit. Not that you want the front end 6 feet in the air mind you, but you do want the rear to bite. He's running some pretty large slicks though. It certainly isn't exotic.

I couldn't say anything about top fuel or really high end drag racing setups as I've never been around that. Just local stuff.

Pablo81 · 1 April 09, 17:25

Thanks Timex, will give it a go, ive set-up bikes for drag (in RL) but not cars and just wanted to set an in-sight

LordRa9826 · 1 April 09, 17:35

Stiff front springs,maxxed slow rebound in front and soft rear springs and low slow bump in the back.

guybo · 1 April 09, 22:25

Lock up your diffs

reduce your toe settings to straight as possible

run as little rear camber as possible

Remember- these settings are under load, not static, so you'll have to experiment to find "...as possible"

30 March 09, 16:45	#1
Pablo81 Join Date: Mar 2008	Drag Strip Set-ups Guys im using a drag strip and to kill time before the car mods come out im using the stockcars and so on to rip down the strights. what im looking to know if anyone know the best way to set the cars up, like the basics to setting up a car for drag racing? any help wouild be great thanks cheers!

31 March 09, 19:15	#2
Pablo81 Join Date: Mar 2008	.. Take it no one knows?

31 March 09, 20:09	#3
timex Join Date: Jun 2008	In general (I'm sure someone will disagree), you want the front suspension fairly stiff and the rear as soft as possible while still being able to hook the rear tires up. The rear suspension needs to be free enough to work at launch. The only goal is rear end traction to propel the car forward. Fronts only serve to keep the car straight. Play around with lowering the rear tire pressure. You can set the fronts as high as they'll go. I'm 41 and my geezer dad is in his mid 60s but he's still at the local 8th mile strip most weekends during the summer. He's building a new car (tube framed tubbed monster) but his old one is an early 70s Nova. It hooks up enough to pull the front end just a bit. Not that you want the front end 6 feet in the air mind you, but you do want the rear to bite. He's running some pretty large slicks though. It certainly isn't exotic. I couldn't say anything about top fuel or really high end drag racing setups as I've never been around that. Just local stuff.

1 April 09, 17:25	#4
Pablo81 Join Date: Mar 2008	Thanks Timex, will give it a go, ive set-up bikes for drag (in RL) but not cars and just wanted to set an in-sight

1 April 09, 17:35	#5
LordRa9826 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Romania Age: 33	Stiff front springs,maxxed slow rebound in front and soft rear springs and low slow bump in the back.

1 April 09, 22:25	#6
guybo Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Age: 42	Lock up your diffs reduce your toe settings to straight as possible run as little rear camber as possible Remember- these settings are under load, not static, so you'll have to experiment to find "...as possible"