How quick/fast have suspended dragsters gone?

I know i'm a boy among men on this forum - which is exactly why I'm here reading and trying to learn. Last night in testing we went 4.032 @ 177.86 mph in a 243" American Swing-arm dragster. I know that's not impressive on this board, but for a suspended dragster there's tons of people who said we could never go that fast.

So am I already doing well? Pushing the limits? Or are there plenty of 3.9x, 3.8x and even quicker suspended dragsters out there?

P.S. - I fixed my fuel problem. Thank for all the insight.

 

I think it'll go as fast as you want - the chassis length being the only item that would concern me.

Brandon Booher
NHRA TAD #323
Torque MGMT. - Owner

 

Brandon - I hear that comment all the time. And I certainly understand a 300" dragster is better than a 270" and a 270" is better than my 243". But why isn't a 243" dragster better than a funny car or a 112" pro-mod car?

 

I assume your a RED dragster....?? If so look were your motor is and the ones your questioning.

Blessings.........Ron

 

I am Ron, yes. But I'd be surprised if my center of gravity isn't forward of the center of gravity for both the ProMod cars and Funny cars. And my instant center is probably further forward than the front end of either of those types of vehicles too.

I'm not disagreeing with anyone. I just don't understand it.

 

I'm no expert either but here are my two cents worth. I see no reason it won't work, just not too many have tried to go that fast.

The only problem I have seen with a high horsepower suspension dragster, has been broken powerglide cases. Is that what you are running? By adding the suspension, there is less angles in the design to keep it stiff enough. That causes twisting and no powerglide case will take that. Tire shake just multiplies that. I know American has beefed everything up but its a question of is it enough for you.

As for chassis length, I see it doing three things. #1, Longer it is, the more stable it is. That's driver preference and why we have both funny cars and dragsters. #2, length adds suspension to a hardtail which you don't need. #3 length move weight further out helping keep the front end down without added true weight. Its that longer lever, less force needed thing. On our hardtail, we stretched the front end and moved the fuel tank out to the end to help manage the wheelies and lower our overall weight. We have went 4.03 but at only 175 mph. So since you have us on mph, you must be softer at the hit than us. Whats your 60 ft? Ours was .941. To get in the 3's, you are either going to hit it harder at the hit which may cause wheelie issues or throw a lot more hp to it down track. In our chassis, that pass of yours probable would have been in the 3's since the suspension does eat up some hp/et at the hit.

Lastly, you need to talk to some door car guys. I believe most are using electronic shocks which you rarely see on dragsters. I believe they are setting them up very stiff at the hit and loosing them up shortly after the launch. That would help you leave like a hardtail and glide on down the track after that.

Hope that helps and good luck
Ron Pickens

 

The length will add stability, when you are trying to get into the 3 second range and quicker you'll be getting after it pretty aggressively. With that short of a car (and suspended) you'll either have a ton of lead on the nose or a suspension setup that will rob quite a bit of e.t. to get the car off the line. All that said I believe your best bet is, like a clutch car, in the can with a proper converter setup. Some of the graphs I've seen over the past year or two it's a wonder the cars went down the track, set them up with the right piece in the can and boom....it's a beautiful thing.

Brandon Booher
NHRA TAD #323
Torqut MGMT. - Owner

 

GREAT comments Ron and Brandon. Thanks!

To answer some of Ron's comments - you nailed it. Our 60' time was .990. We are killing it with timing on the launch to keep everything under control. And I have both a 30 pound AND a 50 pound battery in the nose. Originally I didn't have a wheelie bar so I wanted to make sure the nose stayed on the ground. We added a bar last month and I might take a battery out and see how much rise I do or don't get.

Incidentally, we raced last night in more normal air for this time of year and went 4.08 @ 175 four times in a row. Of course I could have changed pulleys, but for what I'm doing it easily made me #1 qualifier. I'm mostly in the world of Top Dragsters and Jegs Super Quick Dragster type cars. So all things considered we're doing decently.

Thanks for the insight guys. That really helps paint the picture.

 

Just to update my own thread: We went 3.924@184.32 this weekend on a single shock swingarm dragster. BBC with a Powerglide. Certainly better ways to skin a cat. But it's what we've got.

 

Impressive, congrats. Hope to do 3.anything this season too. How heavy are you?

 

I think about 2170. I'll know exactly at the Indy Divisional in TD in a couple weeks.

 

Nice work! What are your engine and supercharger specs if you don't mind sharing?

 

Nice! Thanks for the update.

 

Call Mark Horton at American Race Cars...

He had a customer go 6.0's in a soft tail dragster. That is 3.90's easily.

If your running 1/8 mile only...there are many gains to be had with a soft tail car, as long as you get aggressive with it.

Scott Hall

 

When the T/F cars reached 300", Dale Armstrong, Bud King crew chief, was asked, "What is the difference between a 285" and 300" car. Dale's answer "More room for decals".

 

LOL. Mine IS an American Race Car from Mark Horton.