E85Forum.com

Gran Touring Labs · Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Posts: 129

What chassis stuff have you changed sine switching to E85?

I've recently switched to something near a 4.56 using a 21.5in installed height on 4.11 gears. It sacrifices almost all top speed for ridiculous acceleration and I don't know if it's too much of a good thing just yet. It's blazing fast in the first 300 ft. of the track but a dog thereafter. There's almost no wheelspin in the dry. I can wet launch and get into 5th sooner but it's already doing fine getting there. I thought I wouldn't reach 5th until 1/2 track but apparently not. I was shocked how fast it would get into 5th and just keep going in 5th but not as violently.

Whatever is in the next lane is going to end up reeling me in after halftrack easier than I would like Laughing

. The top end is what I feel is "off" with that steep 5th. What is left for 5th to work is about 900ft of distance for a maximum of 30mph gain. It is geared as short as possible for really cheap--just tiny wheels and tires. That leggy fifth gear still has a lot of room to work. I get lost without better calculators.

The gearing and drag calcs I've been using are really basic. The power isn't there like other big inch machines, but the traction and gearing sure is. I tried to get closer to 4.88 but 4.70 is all the calculators cough up with a deflated tire. The speedo is 10mph optimistic on the lower gears and 20mph optimistic in the upper gears.

Nothing is out of synch or out of character. It's only imperfection is a bit of a long 5th gear. What's ideal is how fast 1-4 disappears to get into 5th much earleir than I expected.

A gear with no compromises and a low top speed for the 1/4 is what I've got. The power really isn't there for 120 traps where 5th gear ends. But, I'm blowing through the first four gears in a bit more than a football field doing about 80. I seriously have to shift it like I have Tourette's and I'm mad at it. 5th is doggy compared to the first 4 gears doing that (.78 gear). However when it reaches it's peak powerband at 5-6k it goes like stink. 100-120 is faster than 80-100 and I think there might be enough room and time to get there, NOT power. The "slow period" should actually be around mid track where 4th-5th falls off a touch.

This would be like a T-5 on a stock Mustang with 4.56 gears and non-tubbed DOT slicks. Fuel change stuff aside, that's the closest comparison of chassis numbers.
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TinkerFreaks

Gran Touring Labs · Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Posts: 129

In the simplest of terms:

Starting at 85mph, is 900ft. enough distance to reach 120mph in another 7 seconds?
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Can't leave well enough alone? Neither can we.

TinkerFreaks