This wk-end I had a a guy in a brand new 2002 Trans Am with Ram Air with the L1 motor in it. He asked me if I wanted to race and I said sure because I had never raced one and I wanted to see how I would do. So off we went out to a place were no cars were at 12:00 midnight. We made about 5 passes let me tell you how they went.

Race 1: I jumped the guy off the line, was prolly 1 1/2 - 2 links head of him at 60...held that till 80 and then at approximately 85 he started pulling and passes me right at the line. He had me by about a car legnth. I did not think anyone would pull on me like this. What happened!

Race 2: I spun horribly and had to get off of it. How can you launch this beast properly.

Race 3: Same as race one. He did not get as good of start I win by about 2 links.

Race 4: I win again...I think he misses gear.

Race 5: I spin bad again and lose pretty bad.

So the final is L1 Trans Am 3..Lightning 2. I know part of my problem is my launching this thing. It spins so bad. The main concern for me is race 1. Should he have pulled on me like that?? I hear of alot of you guys talking about you beat L1's. I think you should know that from a stop light to stop light race, a L will always win, I killed him off the line. He just catches me at about 85-90.

Also just so you know...My mods are: JDM Stage 1 kit, Flip Chip, Cool Air Induction, Line Mod Valve, Oil Breather Cap.

 

Come on guys, no help with this one. Also I would like to note that it was very hot & humid that night.

I was also considering getting the 4lb pulley, would this help me alot throughout the RPM band. How much difference would it have made it the quarter mile...

 

The outcome is what I would expect. No comments to be made.

 

L1 motor? you mean LS1 motor? was he stock? those engines pull strong on the top end

 

Yes...I mean LS1. Typo I guess.

So it is normal for him to catch me and pass me with the mods I have??

If I put on the 4lb pully would he still pull on me that hard?

Thanks for the help!

 

BOne stock to bone stock a T/A should take an L everytime with exact drivers.

With vehicles so close in the 1/4 the slightest error will decide who wins on the street. Spinning the tires or jumping the gun will decide for SURE!!!

If you want to make sure you win nomatter what kind of jump he gets on you your going to have to get a 4Lb lower ATLEAST! I would also consider some traction bars, power cooler, intake porting and polishing job and a throttle body.

If you really want to smack him around then get a 6lb lower and a full JDM long tube header silver bullet or bassani exhaust and call it a day!

 

What you are seeing is normal. Go to a track and race the same car or similar car. You will find that you will win the race to the 1/8th, but after that, the Camaro/Firebird/Cobra will be gaining on you. For me it is when I hit third gear, they start gaining on me. Stock to stock, here at 5800 feet at the track, a stock Camaro/Firebird runs .2 to .5 quicker in the 1/4th than a stock Lightning, assuming a good driver in the Camaro/Firebird.

 

I'm not stock though. I have JDM's Stage 1 Kit, Flip Chip, Cool Air Induction, ect. Should it still be like this. Yes Miller, you are right its about when I hit 3rd gear thats when he starts to gain.

Thanks again, any more info will be appreciated.

 

Silver 02, if you have the money add JDM stage 2 to your exsisting mods. If not only get the 4# lower pulley, Tr6's plugs, and if possible an E-fan w/ water pump. I have the stage 1 along with the 4# pul. and TR6's (Silver bullet on order). It pulls really strong, the pulley made a HUGE difference. I only have the J39 program though because of the 91 octane gas here in CA. Our trucks pull really strong w/ these mods/ but after 80 -100 MPH, the aerodynamics of the truck really dont help and start to slow you down

Later

 

u raced a manual but how about an auto? my friend has a 2000 and i was woundering the outcome? thanks

 

Thanks for all the post that our coming in. I will prolly be ordering the 4lb pully within the next couple months. Will that put me ahead of the LS1's then? I hope so...I HATE to lose!

 

right now you should be ahead of him when you both launch perfect and drive perfect, but there's driver error thats hard to control.

A 4lb lower will help allot, but a 6lb lower would be better!
Traction bars will definetly help you out also!

 

You should be able to take him off the line, but since the TA's are more aerodynamic they will have a advantage once up to speed.

The trick to launching these things on stock tires is to ease into the gas the first few feet and then hammer it. With our torque you should still woop him off the line.

 

Oh I did whip him off the line...its just that he caught me. And I don't like that and we have to do something to prevent it. (lol)

 

The first thing you need to do is hit the strip. Make a couple of runs and study your 60ft times. That is where you will learn to drive. Once you learn this with the mods you have then go with the 4lb pulley. This is my opinion because i myself have gone with my old 2000 and that was my problem. I have a buddy with a 35th anniv ss camora and he runs 13.4 in good weather and he has respectable 60ft times. With your mods now you should be able to beat a STOCK ws6 bird. That's if his car was stock. You should be able to beat him now.
Find him and put a whoopn on him. AT THE STRIP.
Remember that the ws6 will catch you eventually on your run past the 1/4 mile. Were you guys racing exactly a 1/4 mile?