First time out AU XR8 Auto - 14.544 @ 95

[xr8ute]

Had my first drag racing experience yesterday at WSID with V8Owners. My car is a relatively stock automatic, series 1, AU XR8 Ute.

Only mods are Crane 2030 cam, Crane valvesprings, YT 1.6:1 RR's, electronic shiftkit, and modified airbox. I have done all the work myself, and it owes me less than $1500.

My first run was a bit nervous but ran 14.9 which was my target for the day, so all the pressure was off. Did a few more laps back to back to get a feel for it.

Best of 14.849 @ 93.84, 60' 2.251.

Had a half hour break during which I removed the spare tyre, dropped the tailgate, and folded back the door mirrors for full aero-mode. Did 3 more laps.

Best of 14.781 @ 93.63, 60' 2.222.

Took an hour break for lunch. I pulled the air filter and went back out for 5 laps. MPH went up a fair bit for each of these (up to 94.95), maybe it's time for a K&N? Got my first 60' in the 2.1's as well. Also got an .094 R/T.

Best of 14.608 @ 94.73, 60' 2.181

I let it cool down for ~30 minutes and went back out for another 4 laps. I didn't improve ET or MPH, but 3 of these 4, my 60' was in the 2.1's.

Best of 14.649 @ 94.36, 60' 2.211

Took another break, this time for about 45 minutes. I poored some iced water over the inlet manifold a few times in a vain attempt to cool down a little better. I also took some advice from someone about the Dunlop 3000A's I was running. I had only been doing little 1st gear burnouts. The last 4 laps I did big 3rd Gear smoke shows, and stalled it up another 200rpm (to 2000rpm total). I got best 60', best ET, and best MPH in the last 4 laps.

Best of 14.544 @ 95.02, 60' 2.170

Next time I will take a bag of ice with me. I couldn't believe how hot the inlet manifold got, and jut how long it took to cool down.

I'll also take a tyre guage with me, my rears were still on 38psi.

And lastly, I won't fill the fuel tank the night before. At the end of the day I still had over 40L of fuel left in the tank :

P.S. I have attached a spreadsheet with all my timeslip info throughout the day.

[jonbays]

Really good times and interesting to see them all spreadsheeted out with comments.

Its sooo good for an autoin the 60" its not funny.

I will post up someresults from a similar day i went to with a few other forum members so you can compare.

It would be nice to say it was your technique improving but with all the figures mapped out to be honest I see the times dropping and the mph increasing during the day as the humidity and track temp dropped.

Of course your reaction times did improve too over the day. fairs fair.

[jonbays]

Here is some of our falcon six times for you to look at.

I was the only auto and struugled to get the launch and 60' tmes the manual sixes got easily.

Your auto V8 obviously not hindered here.

[xr8ute]

Thanks for sharing those figures jonbays. 2.1x seems OK for an auto then, especially when my racing weight is about 100KG more than a six cylinder sedan. This cam certainly is making more power everywhere

I think the weight had a bit to with the better times as well. I started out with just over 3/4 of a tank, and finished with 1/2 tank.

Interesting to see what power (and AF Ratio) it's making at Intune this weekend.

[jonbays]

Sedans with live rear axles seem to be easier to get good 60's from and the ute isn't a light weight either so you've done well.

My auto doesn't like big stalls it stalls up at 1800-2000rpm and will limp off the line if I stall it that far. For me 1200rpm was about the best. Best being only 2.35 for the 60' though!!!

Interestingly a lot of Auto V8's have difficulty doing all that much better in the 60' and I can include BA 220's as well as Windsors here.

The cam certainly has the goods in the mid range . it will be interesting to see what it pulls on the dyno now.

[SpoolMan]

Good stuff, i bet your keen to go out again...keep flying the Blue flag..

[JG3282]

Well done buddy, keep the flag flying!

Any plans for a sniff of "the gas"?

[xr8gn3]

Ice bags, it sounds like youve been hanging around those LS1 boys for too long.


Other then that excellent results xr8ute, It goes to show how good the AU V8s really are.

[xr8ute]

Originally Posted by xr8gn3

Ice bags, it sounds like youve been hanging around those LS1 boys for too long

lol, 80% of the cars there on Sunday were late model (LS1) Commodores. Sounds like the ice on the intake is a bit of a ****?

Originally Posted by xr8gn3

Other then that excellent results xr8ute, It goes to show how good the AU V8s really are

Cheers. Plenty left to modify too...exhaust/headers, tune, converter, rear gears.

Dave

[xr8ute]

Originally Posted by XRFPV8

Good stuff, i bet your keen to go out again...keep flying the Blue flag..

I am hanging to get back out there. I want to make sure I am going quicker next time though.

I've got a WBO2 i am yet to hookup so I can datalog AFR, MAF voltage, throttle position. Should help me understand what is going on, so I can make it quicker. Would love an OBDII scanner like the SCT Raptor or similar...

[xr8ute]

Originally Posted by ONGAS

Any plans for a sniff of "the gas"?

No plans for gas at this stage. Exhaust, tune, and V1 S-Trim are next.

Bottle and boost might be a bad (or very good) mix?

There is a guy on FordMods doing low 13's in his 5.0L EL on the gas. Cheap fun for sure

[JG3282]

if you ever decide to run it on gas and need some assistance send us a PM cos my mate and I will be up in Sydney later this year with his nitrous Cortina [9.4 sec at 144 mph]

[PhantomXR8]

Originally Posted by xr8ute

Had my first drag racing experience yesterday at WSID with V8Owners. My car is a relatively stock automatic, series 1, AU XR8 Ute.

Only mods are Crane 2030 cam, Crane valvesprings, YT 1.6:1 RR's, electronic shiftkit, and modified airbox. I have done all the work myself, and it owes me less than $1500.

My first run was a bit nervous but ran 14.9 which was my target for the day, so all the pressure was off. Did a few more laps back to back to get a feel for it.

Best of 14.849 @ 93.84, 60' 2.251.

Had a half hour break during which I removed the spare tyre, dropped the tailgate, and folded back the door mirrors for full aero-mode. Did 3 more laps.

Best of 14.781 @ 93.63, 60' 2.222.

Took an hour break for lunch. I pulled the air filter and went back out for 5 laps. MPH went up a fair bit for each of these (up to 94.95), maybe it's time for a K&N? Got my first 60' in the 2.1's as well. Also got an .094 R/T.

Best of 14.608 @ 94.73, 60' 2.181

I let it cool down for ~30 minutes and went back out for another 4 laps. I didn't improve ET or MPH, but 3 of these 4, my 60' was in the 2.1's.

Best of 14.649 @ 94.36, 60' 2.211

Took another break, this time for about 45 minutes. I poored some iced water over the inlet manifold a few times in a vain attempt to cool down a little better. I also took some advice from someone about the Dunlop 3000A's I was running. I had only been doing little 1st gear burnouts. The last 4 laps I did big 3rd Gear smoke shows, and stalled it up another 200rpm (to 2000rpm total). I got best 60', best ET, and best MPH in the last 4 laps.

Best of 14.544 @ 95.02, 60' 2.170

Next time I will take a bag of ice with me. I couldn't believe how hot the inlet manifold got, and jut how long it took to cool down.

I'll also take a tyre guage with me, my rears were still on 38psi.

And lastly, I won't fill the fuel tank the night before. At the end of the day I still had over 40L of fuel left in the tank :

P.S. I have attached a spreadsheet with all my timeslip info throughout the day.

Great story mate, some of us have been through all of that but it's great to hear it again. It's re-assuring to know I wasn't the only one going through this learning process.