A Challenge

[duhtroll]

Welp, a good friend of mine showed up tonight in his brand spanking new Trailblazer SS.

My best time is a 14.39 in the 1/4. I have 4.10s, exhaust, and tune.

What do I need to beat him? Can I do it without the S/C plunge? I'm thinking either that or NOS is pretty much required.

I'm seeing 13.5s from them SS things on DragTimes.

[TripleTransAm]

The question is: how much is it worth it to you to beat this guy? Are you unhappy with your 14.39?

[grzellmer]

Troll

It is time. Give in to the dark side and S/C your Marauder!!

[duhtroll]

Nope - not unhappy at all. Just a competitive thing. This guy loves waving his new toys in my face, and until now I've always had the better vehicle (still do considering price and total package, looks, rarity, etc.) but I also want better times.

I read stock the SS AWD (what he has) does low 14s if the conditions are right. I just need a couple tenths to be sure, though I think I might beat him now. I want to be sure.

My car has 52XXX miles - a S/C is a bit late right now IMO.


The question is: how much is it worth it to you to beat this guy? Are you unhappy with your 14.39?

[Leadfoot281]

If it's a just few tenths you're after, run the guy when he's got 5 other people in his Trailblazer.

[TripleTransAm]

Driver skill plays a big factor. Let him have a run in the 1/4 first and then you can evaluate whether he's a threat or not.

Look at the spread in stock 1/4 mile times here, from high 15s to my car's 14.56. Some of it is build variation, some of it is driver skill and technique, some is environmental, some is just pure dumb luck.

As with the MM, the LSx engines break in nice and easy over a longer period of time. If he hits the track too early, he might come away with a poorer performance than was expected, and you buy yourself some time to see whether the car eventually becomes a threat (and can act on it). He might not even ever try again, if he's convinced that's all the truck is capable of. If, without proper break-in, he comes away with a threatening timeslip, give it up right then and there because that motor's only gonna get stronger, and MUCH stronger at that.

If he decides to start throwing money at the truck, mod-wise, then what are you going to do?

[duhtroll]

He won't mod the truck.

He leased it.

I was kinda hoping he would go to the track soon too, for the same reason, but it doesn't open for another month or more.

[TripleTransAm]

I was kinda hoping he would go to the track soon too, for the same reason, but it doesn't open for another month or more.


A month is nothing to worry about. If the newer motors are anything like my LS1, he'll have to wait a year or so before he gets his best time. In my case, it was 2 years but mostly because I very rarely have time to hit the track and even then I do it for info or diagnostic purposes. I'd say that by 14 months of use (on my honeymoon, actually), my car had solidly arrived at the ballpark of it's best time (especially considering the trunk full of our luggage, LOL!)

Nothing's keeping him from modding his truck even though it's leased. My WS6 was leased, because I wanted the lower initial payments (coincided with my first house purchase) and I was unsure of how it would treat me long term. By summer 2000 I was amazed at the reliability and economy and was now pretty convinced this car was going to stay with me, so that's when I did my exhaust mod and started doing stuff like disabling the annoying auto popup headlights, etc.

[TooManyFords]

Andrew, I can read you like a book. You just got your tax refund, right?

I'd get the PI Converter and a set of Kooks and call it a day. Just talked to Jason and I think that is what he's going to do. Then if you want to spend a little more, get some giggle gas.

Cheers!

john

[Blackened300a]

I'd get the PI Converter and a a set of Kooks and call it a day.

^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^
What he said.

I assume along with the gears, exhaust, and tune that you have some sort of a cold air induction??

[bryanthomas]

My car has 52XXX miles - a S/C is a bit late right now IMO.

:confused: I don't understand what you mean? I am still learning V8s, but when I was big into the Miata scene it was not unheard of to buy a high mileage one (75K or higher) and get a roots blower or turbo. Is there a big maintenance around 52K on a Marauder? Why do you consider this too high of a mileage to add a blower?

[duhtroll]

Nope. No cold air. Last I checked people weren't seeing much change from them. Has this changed recently? I'd do it in a heartbeat if I coul dbe convinced of a change in ET.

I was thinking torque converter would take care of 0.4 or 0.5 if I am lucky. I have the DR exhaust so I am not going to go with Kooks as the $ layout is not going to be worth the difference I gain, if any.

The problem with the NAWWWZZZ (yo) is then I'm in for an install, and a tuner or custom dyno tune to go with it, and that will easily run me $1K all told. I can get a TC and install for that.


^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^
What he said.

I assume along with the gears, exhaust, and tune that you have some sort of a cold air induction??

[duhtroll]

Because if I was going to spend $6K on a blower/install, I should have done it around 10K, not 50K.

Putting it on now means I get to enjoy it for much less time. I didn't have the money back then, and I'm not sure I do now.

Side note - Sorry JF, I did not get my tax refund back yet. Haven't even filed. When I do, it's probably going toward a new musical instrument of some sort as I have lots of "miles" on my current "ride" as far as that is concerned.

Wait - I think I've solved all my problems. I'll get a Turbonator!

-A


:confused: I don't understand what you mean? I am still learning V8s, but when I was big into the Miata scene it was not unheard of to buy a high mileage one (75K or higher) and get a roots blower or turbo. Is there a big maintenance around 52K on a Marauder? Why do you consider this too high of a mileage to add a blower?

[RoyLPita]

100hp of NOS could help.

[teamrope]

Try Lidio's tune for 100 octaine if you don't have it already. :)

[duhtroll]

Thanks 'rope, but the only 100 octane in the area is leaded. I think I might try the TC and maybe some NOS if I think I need it.

[teamrope]

Even at the track?

[duhtroll]

Even at the track?

Yep - I think our supplier near our track has 110 leaded. 'Least that's what they had last summer.

There's a speedway in another town about 12 miles away - they probably have some 100 I can use, but it's gonna be a pain to go get every time I need it since storing it is not really a viable option.

[duhtroll]

Speaking of which, who sells the Stallion 3000 and what is the part #?

Thanks!

[Blackened300a]

Speaking of which, who sells the Stallion 3000 and what is the part #?

Thanks!

So far Dennis seems to be the cheapest around. I have seen prices up to almost $800 for it