I am happy (and surprised) with how well the 43 launches. However, at three tracks this year, including Jeffers, I had severe bouncing. These three tracks were very sticky. I tried going up in air pressure to no avail. That's what a solid mount diff will do for you. Everyone I asked about it said soften the shocks.
Slow motion video showed the tires wadding up and then releasing the energy, starting a bouncing ball effect. It seems to start the second the front end comes back down. In fact, one racer advised me to "plant" the front end, then work on the traction. Slick tracks allow slight wheel spin and off she goes, pulling the fronts up.
I have talked to several hard tail dragster guys, and they say stiff side wall tires cured it for them. Stiff sidewall tires are intended for heavy cars, but with no suspension, the tire sees the dragster as a heavy car. At least that's what the dragster guys say. Now, I'm running a 9" MT on 8" wheels. They don't make stiff sidewalls in a 9". I'd have to go up to a 10.5 tire. Or....maybe a drag radial.
Anyone have experience with drag radials?
When at Jeffers, I mentioned to Dallas that the track was WAY too sticky for slant six cars. It was just as sticky at the 1/8 mile as it was at the starting line. Peal your shoes off kind of sticky. He said I was the only drag racer he ever heard of that said the track was too sticky. I guarantee you if they would glue the track to the 60ft and taper it out to nothing over 30 feet, all the cars there that day would have been faster. Seriously, we don't have enough power to break the tires loose 60ft and on. The cars were just glued to the track.
This picture is of the very first pass the car ever made. Notice the even tire pattern at launch. Amazes me seeing that the car is heavily loaded to the right side.
All this to say I am happy with the engine/transmission stock mounting configuration. Maybe more power and shock will reveal system weaknesses.
Speaking of that, I tore down the engine this week. Everything looks new. I'm surprised since I thought I was pushing the limits of the engine, especially at 6500, and launching at 3200
BTW: I appreciate everyone's comments and methods of engine/trans mounts. Keep in mind guys, that's what makes this groups special. Everyone has or has seen many different ways of doing the same thing. Not one car at the Jeffers race was the same, or even used the same approach to getting down the track. Yet the slant was common in all of them.
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