drag racing woes - updated w/ numbers!

[beetlemandan]

heres the short story: 1969 beetle, stock tranny, 205/60/15 on the rear, stock clutch, 1641 engine, scat crank, balanced, engel 110, straight cut gears, full flow filter with berg pump cover, lightened flywheel, santana power pulley and a pair o' kadrons.

this summer i swapped out the stock heads for a pair of stock heads that were ported and polished and flycut .040". i was also able to bump up the dist. timing 2 degrees to 7 btdc.

the car runs WAY better since the new heads. revs to 5500 before dying off and has way more torque and no more flatspots.


i took it to osoyoos yesterday and the car no longer runs out of steam when i grab 3rd gear. the kicker is that all that the new heads improved was about .100 seconds and 2 mph faster. 10.7 at 63 mph

what gives? have i just reached the limit with this motor?

[Geoff]

I'd say if you have a stock carb it's time to switch to dual carbs and it will make a big difference

[red snapper]

If your making more power, then your probably spinning your tires off the line and not getting traction.

[beetlemandan]

I'd say if you have a stock carb it's time to switch to dual carbs and it will make a big difference

i got a pair of 40 kadrons. i'm not cool enough for webers yet :'(

[Geoff]

Kads are great carbs on small displacement engines. Post all your times before and after, rt, 60ft etc

[Darren]

Your probably making a few more HP up in the RPMS because of the ported heads, but as a result you lost Torque ( bigger ports less airspeed in the head = Less torque)  So what you gained up top you lost down low...

Cheers K-Roc,

[beetlemandan]

i know that running a stinger is a full 1 second  faster than running a mondo muffler. and i'll post some pics of my time slips tonight

[beetlemandan]

so heres some numbers from yesterday:

my best run: e.t of 10.747, 62.91 mph, reaction time of .727, 60' @ 2.367

my worst run: e.t. of 10.99 @ 62.49 mph, reaction time of .643, 60' @ 2.498

in hindsight, it was really slick yesterday. i actually had to get completely off the throttle just off the line to try and hook up and when i got back on i had slight wheel spin. my back tires had 1 or 2 mm of tread when the day began, and were bald when the day ended. and i don't  do burnouts! before the new heads i could just keep my foot in it and the spin would stop after 15', and unless there was a tailwind, my speed were in the 59-60 mph range. i think for next year a set of 195/50/15s in the back to get the gear ratio lower would aid that little teapot 1641

[red snapper]

Personally, I would say your 60 ft. times are not very good. Get a good set of sticky tires give it a try. Have fun.

[beetlemandan]

Personally, I would say your 60 ft. times are not very good. Get a good set of sticky tires give it a try. Have fun.

good to know!

[Chris]

Your still using a stock tranny in an 1/8 mile race, I'm thinking your not likely to see any noticeable improvements/changes until your comparing 1/4 mile times, it's not getting enough time/length to get up to speed, was there a head or tail wind?

[Bruce]

i was also able to bump up the dist. timing 2 degrees to 7 btdc.

Your timing is waaaaayyyy too retarded.  You are also timing your engine wrong.  Set your timing at full advance, not idle.  You aren't doing any idling while going down the track, so the idle timing means nothing.
Your small chambers should be able to tolerate 30-32º total.  Set this at 3000rpm.

[beetlemandan]

Your still using a stock tranny in an 1/8 mile race, I'm thinking your not likely to see any noticeable improvements/changes until your comparing 1/4 mile times, it's not getting enough time/length to get up to speed, was there a head or tail wind?

usually a 10mph headwind, but this time it was still or about a 1mph tailwind