BBR's 83GT - 552 BBF version 3.0 (at least)

[Scott Liggett]

Rubbing against the bolt for engine's frame mount for a decade.

[CDMBill]

Bill, I'm not proud. I figure it's better to tell it all. That way when I do have an epic screw-up, it's not a shock to anyone. haha I'm still learning as I go.

Scott, looks like that thing drug on the asphalt for about 5 miles.

Good on you guys. I have no pride.

[squirrel]

I would show more of my mistakes, but I don't know where to start....

[BBR]

I am going to head out to the track this evening. Maybe this thing will finally dip into the 10's up here. The 1/8th mile times it ran last time out indicate it has the potential, so I guess we'll see!

Improvements since the last track outing:

1. Clearanced fenders for slicks - reduce/eliminate slick rubbing on fender lip down the track.
2. Driveshaft loop modified to eliminate the driveshaft banging on it at launch.
3. New 16" x 3.5" air cleaner assembly that replaced the old 14" x 2.5".
4. Front of car lowered 1.5" or so. (More for looks lol)
5. GIANT hunk of rubber removed from the fuel pressure regulator inlet! No more running out of fuel at the 1/8th mile!
6. Timing SOLIDLY locked out.

Thinking about making an initial pass in the Drag Radials just for fun, then switch to the slicks if the track is not there.

[TheSilverBuick]

Cool, it should pick up nicely.

[BBR]

Well it did not make it into the 10's here last night. There was a stiff wind blowing from the SE (track runs east) and the DA was 7000 feet. So the conditions were just not there.

Made the first pass on the MT drag radials and it blew them off at the hit. No surprise there, had 18lbs in them, but this car with the current suspension setup, just flat won't hook on MT drag radials. Rolled back into it and motored on to an 11.58 @ 121. Went back and put the slicks on it and that fixed the tire spin (60's were all the normal 1.54-1.56) It ran 11.17 @ 121 and the AFR was at 13.2-ish at WOT, so I decided to jet the secondaries up 1 size (because I only had jets 1 size bigger!) and bump the timing 2 degrees. It liked that and went 11.08 @ 122.3 on the next two passes. AFR was 12.7-ish at WOT. After that, it was getting late and my buddies were all about to head to Whataburger so I called it a night and loaded everything up.

I think next time out I am going to bump the timing 2 more degrees to 36 and see if it likes that. All runs were made on plain ole 91 octane E10 pump gas.

I am getting this carb pretty dialed I think. On the highway drive out there and back, the AFR was hovering right around 15:1. Car ran great all night, stayed cool, made laps and came home in one piece. Thinking about welding in some exhaust cutouts as a last resort to get a 10.99 here but man, open headered cars are ridiculously loud. haha Might even switch back to the 3.90 gears to pick up the sluggish 330 and 660 times.....

Since I fixed the drive shaft banging the loop clearance issue, this thing is a total blast to drive. Every BS'er should own a car like this at least once in their life. Stab the throttle thru the firewall on green, hold it there the whole time, shift when the light comes on 2 times, drive it out the end, pick up timeslip, repeat. When you're done, swap tires, hook up trailer and drive it home!

[TheSilverBuick]

Did you try and unhooking the trailer?

[BBR]

Dammit!!!! That's why everyone kept pointing and taking pictures!!! I though they were just in awe of my shiny paint job!!

[BBR]

Found a couple of pics!

[squirrel]

Damn that scoop is BIG!!!!

Nice job, that's really moving for 7000 ft air. I like the carb progress too....working about as good as efi would be...

[BBR]

The carb is really starting to work well. I may need to play with the accel pump some because it hesitates (leans out) a little if you ease into the throttle when cruising, then recovers when you give it a little more throttle. Overall, I am tickled with it.

I am super happy with the mph the car is making. Looking at ideal incremental times on Wallace Racing, it shows it to still be a little slow on the first half of the track. Now that I am running slicks all the time, I am thinking I might swap back to the 3.90's to gain a little help or maybe make a converter change. This ACC brand converter (the brand everyone loves to hate) was used when I bought it and it's probably not as good as it once was (or should have been) in the first place. But, I'd rather change the rear end than pull the trans out!

Might be a good time to upgrade the 8.8 to 31 or 33 spline axles and a spool. Not sure how long these 28 spline axles and stock limited slip will last. It does groan a bit when turning. haha

[BBR]

Airbags ordered.

The Strange shocks have reduced the body roll somewhat, but since they are single adjustable for rebound only, this sometimes results in the rear suspension squatting and staying squatted and then rubbing the rear tires. The rear springs may be past their prime too. I really wished I had bags last year on DW when the rear tires were rubbing while loaded on the road. The bags have individual lines so I can stagger the air pressure from side to side.

[TheSilverBuick]

I wanted to get air bags for the Skylark, but I think I'm going to shackle the rear up a hair first. Might still get airbags later, idk.

[Teddyzee]

Did you try and unhooking the trailer?

[Scott Liggett]

Airbags ordered.

The Strange shocks have reduced the body roll somewhat, but since they are single adjustable for rebound only, this sometimes results in the rear suspension squatting and staying squatted and then rubbing the rear tires. The rear springs may be past their prime too. I really wished I had bags last year on DW when the rear tires were rubbing while loaded on the road. The bags have individual lines so I can stagger the air pressure from side to side.

Start your lung exercises now so you can blow them up.