Jerry:
You better believe weather conditions
will Help or HURT our Lightnings!
It effects our Super-charger, more so than N/A
Humidity hurts them BAD
I ran a best of 14.26@95mph in 90degree heat80% humidity (stock) Added a Superchip 14.02@97mph in the same conditions a few weeks later.
Added a K&N stock replacement filter, just to get in the 13's (temp was in the 80 degree range..40% humidity)
Guess What? 13.73@99mph!!!!
My best time so far is in my Sig
I am in OKC area (Thunder Valley)
Elevation is around 1200 ft.
(YES, That hurts them TOO)

------------------
99.5 White Lightning
Superchip
PSP Filter kit
13.42@101.55




[This message has been edited by A-Lightning (edited 02-27-2000).]

 

Jerry,

Go look under the trans cooler discussion.

I'm not saying for sure this is your issue, but you should look into it. I ran mid, low-13s on a number of passes and then all of a sudden ran 2 14.4s in a row...and it was the computer going into a sort of "fail-safe" mode. Of course, since it did this on the same day I could tell right away that something was wrong. One second slower and 13-15mph less...that's over 150hp lost somewhere...and it was just from the computer bleeding off boost.

Reset the computer and all was well.

I have been running blown late model EFI Fords for a long time now, and I agree with A-Lightning that air quality will make a big difference...but in this case, I would not agree that it would make 1 second difference. I bet your trap speeds are down 12-13mph also. No way that is all weather related. If your trap speeds are down 2-3mph, then it could certainly be weather condition related. This is the best way to tell if the weather conditions are involved...not so much ET (b/c that's more of a function of how well the track hooks and the timeliness that you can go full throttle off the line), but trap speed b/c that has more of a relation with horsepower.

Good air and a sticky track do wonders for any vehicle (N/A or one with a power-adder), so again I'm not discounting that.

My LX will run 10.8-10.9s in the summer at 131+ and runs 10.6-10.7 in cooler air at 134+. So, yes it makes a difference...but not even close to one second.



------------------
Wes Tarbox
90 LX 5.0 (10.69 @ 134.7)
96 Cobra (12.63 @ 114.5)
97 SHO
99 Lightning (13.20 @ 103.3)
http://members.aol.com/Wa2fsT/index.html

 

Thanks for the info. Wes I was hoping you would see my post. On one of my passes I looked at the boost gauge, and it was pegged. I'm only doing about a 3 second burnout in drive, and pumping the throttle soas not to get the RPM's up. I have had the boost go completely off for around twenty seconds on the street after spinning the tires from a stop for a long time. Here are my times.
with chip and filter 13.4461 @ 101.664 60' time 2.0142 1/8 8.6329 @ 81.89
without the chip 14.3928 @ 95.96 60' time 2.2715 1/8 9.3554 @ 77.58.
Don't know what to think.

Jerry

------------------
Jerry Jordan
99.5 Red Hot Bolt
13.44 @ 101.64(stock F1 tires)
PSP filter and chip (tire destroyer)
Impulse Lo-Pro bed cover
71 Cutlass conv.
Piper PA28-235
74 Suzuki TS185 (128 original miles)
Looking to buy an 8 second rear engine dragster (cheap)

[This message has been edited by Jerry Jordan (edited 02-27-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Jerry Jordan (edited 02-27-2000).]

 

Hey Wes, Sal here. I do agree with both you and A-Lightnings thoughts. But you have to remember that Jerry's truck was running 13.4s with the chip, and this particular night he did not have the PSP chip in as it was send back to me for updating. So figure his truck without the chip probably goes in the 13.7-13.9 range, and then I would agree from personal experiance that poor weather could have slowed him down to a 14.4. For those of you out there who are not familiar with the effects of weather on your ETs, let me explain- Poor weather can have a large effect on your ETs. There are three elements of weather that are most commonly looked at for drag racing. Temperature, Relative Humidity (RH), and Barometric Pressure (BP). Temperature is pretty self explanitory. The cooler the air, the more dense it is. The more dense it is, the more oxygen can be packed into the cylinder for fuel. RH is the amount of moisture in the air. High RH (ex-90%) is generally not good for ETs. If your RH is high, then water vapor molecules will displace some of the oxygen molecules in the air charge, and less power will result. On the other hand, having more moisture in the charge will reduce the chances of detonation, as water helps cool the cylinders. Many years ago, it was popular to have a secondary "water injection" system on high compression cars. Advances in tuning and race gases have pretty much eliminated that today. As for BP, this is probably the one aspect of weather that many "novice" racers do not use. But it is one of the most important for good ETs. BP is the "weight" of the air, or the pressure that the air is being pushed down on the earth. Low BP (28-29) means that the air is not as dense and will have less oxygen in the air charge to burn off. High BP (30-31) means the air is more dense and has more molecules of oxygen packed into it to burn off. High BP will make more power. One other number used, is altitude, as the higher you go, the thinner the air. But that is not usually brought up in this kind of discussion as people usually race at the same tracks, and the altitude factor is basically common sense. Now, if you are bracket racing, these numbers in optimum form are not as vital because you don't have to go fast, you just have to be consisant. But if you are looking for low ETs, then you should always check the weather. Unless I'm bracket racing, I don't bother going to the track if the BP is under 30. Let me give you an example of what I mean concerning weather effecting ETs- When I first started modding my 95, I had gone to the track on am early March day. Temp was 55*, RH was about 30% and BP was an awesome 31.1. With just a chip, cam, U/D pulleys, and a K&N, the truck went 14.61. Best it ever did to that date. The rest of the summer, the weather never came close to that day. I made many more mods (convertor, headers, exhaust, etc.) which made a ton more power, but the truck never ran that fast all summer, even with more mods and power, until the fall rolled in and brought back similar weather. I hope this helps everyone understand how important weather can effect your times, and will help everyone be that much better a racer. Wes, I know you have a ton of racing under your belt, feel free to comment please.

------------------
SAL (E-mail- PowerSurgePerf@aol.com)
13.35@103mph
All stock with PSP 99 Lightning Chip and Filter Kit

Power Surge Performance--- Your SOURCE for SVT Lightning EFI Tuning and Performance!! http://members.aol.com/NLOCsvt/svt.html




[This message has been edited by LightningTuner (edited 02-27-2000).]

 

Thanks Sal,

Yesterday here in Dallas it was about 60 and the Lightning rans great, I was slipping and sliding everywhere. I also meet a 93 Lightning owner and took him for a wild ride, he loved it, afterwards we talked for about 1.5 hours in the parking lot.

Today it must of hit almost 90 and the Lightning couldn't catch up to a modified Mustang.

Sal, you know your stuff.

 

Hey F1,

Not sure which part of Dallas you live in, but the high today was mid-70s. :-) I was here all day (north Dallas).

I would wholeheartedly agree that my truck has been running much stronger since we got rid of the N. Texas heat back in November. But, it effects all cars.

Not to down the F-bodies, but if you ever get beat by one, race 'em 2-3 times. By the third time, you'll crush them b/c once the engine temp rises above 210^ it pulls out a bunch of timing, and they run much slower. I know...my brother has one.

------------------
Wes Tarbox
90 LX 5.0 (10.69 @ 134.7)
96 Cobra (12.63 @ 114.5)
97 SHO
99 Lightning (13.20 @ 103.3)
http://members.aol.com/Wa2fsT/index.html

 

Yep...No CHIP....Higher Temp......A lot higher Humidity
My point exactly!!!
Thanks for agreeing Sal

------------------
99.5 White Lightning
Superchip
PSP Filter kit
13.42@101.55




[This message has been edited by A-Lightning (edited 02-27-2000).]

 

Yeah, guess I don't know squat,huh? Whatever.

I guessed that the gentleman's trap speed dropped 12-13mph...didn't have all the info on the first reply. 6mph drop with poor air AND no chip (that's definitely as big a factor as the air) is certainly well within reason. IF it had been more drastic power loss (12-13mph) then I strongly disagree that it ALL would have been from weather conditions.

Jerry, you have no problem with your truck fortunately. :-) Get your chip back and go kick some tail. As everyone has ACCURATELY pointed out, it just sounds like you had everything working against you that night (stock programming...which we all know leaves a lot to be desired, poor track conditions and poor air quality)

Why the "I'm right, so there" attitude from some? That's ok. I'll keep to myself...and keep flying down the track. ;-)

Have a good one guys/gals,

------------------
Wes Tarbox
90 LX 5.0 (10.69 @ 134.7)
96 Cobra (12.63 @ 114.5)
97 SHO
99 Lightning (13.20 @ 103.3)
http://members.aol.com/Wa2fsT/index.html

 

Something crazy happened to me Fri. night. I went to the track, without my PSP chip (it's back with Sal for a tune up). After running a 13.44 @ 101.64 three weeks ago on a cool dry night (with 35 psi in the tires and my first time on a track) I can only run a best of 14.392. Sixty foot times on the 13.44 were 2.06 - 2.09, on this night 2.27 was all I could get. Even improving the 60' times would not get me into the 13's. Do you think something is wrong with my truck? Wes Tarbox talks about having good air on his best run. Is it possible for the air I was running in to be that bad? It was 75 degrees and 90 percent RH. Any help on this will be appreciated. This SUCKS after running low 13's. I was stock except for SAl's filter. Could the chip alone make over a second difference? Thanks Again

------------------
Jerry Jordan
99.5 Red Hot Bolt
13.44 @ 101.64(stock F1 tires)
PSP filter and chip (tire destroyer)
Impulse Lo-Pro bed cover
71 Cutlass conv.
Piper PA28-235
74 Suzuki TS185 (128 original miles)
Looking to buy an 8 second rear engine dragster (cheap)



[This message has been edited by Jerry Jordan (edited 02-27-2000).]

 

Wes I hope you didn't think I was doubting you. I have been reading your post on the One list for about a year, and value your opinion. I think Sal does too, as he asked for it in his reply. Thanks for all your help. Next time I will post all the info. the first time.

------------------
Jerry Jordan
99.5 Red Hot Bolt
13.44 @ 101.64(stock F1 tires)
PSP filter and chip (tire destroyer)
Impulse Lo-Pro bed cover
71 Cutlass conv.
Piper PA28-235
74 Suzuki TS185 (128 original miles)
Looking to buy an 8 second rear engine dragster (cheap)

 

Hey Wes,

If you remember the wind was blowing really hard Saturday so I only guessed that the temp in the 60's, as far as Sunday around 4pm it was hot, maybe it was because of the stale air. I even sunburned my left arm driving around, sure felt like 80's to 90's.

I really live in Addison, so I hang out here and a little north of here.

Drop me a line sometime, we can get together and terrorize the place.

f_one_car@yahoo.com