Question about tire size (24") and gears (2.73)...

[nidyanazo]

First of all don't make fun of me for using 14" wheels. Now here's the question.
I use 215/60/14 bfg drag radials. They are 24.2" tall. They have about 3/8" clearance before they hit the quad shocks.

See what I mean? So I cant run any wider tires....yet....I ordered some granitelli adj. upper arms to fix my pinion angle. I thnk that's the reason it's not hooking up right but that's another subject. So when I get them on and set up, then I'll try removing the quads (I get wheel hop if I take them off right now with the fixed uppers) and going to a larger tire on a 15" wheel....So with my current setup and stock 2.73 gears, I'm still spinning pretty bad in 1st gear and some of second (NOT using the nitrous). I don't know if I'm losing any potential power by
not having grars (3.55-4.10's) but the motor pulls hard and the gears go by quick so I'm not sure. I know that havingg a 26" slick and 2.73's would'nt work, but what effective gear ratio do I have since the tires I use now are only 24" tall?
Are you confused yet??
Any imput??? I need more traction. I hope the pinion angle at -4/-6* will allow the lift bars to do thier job!
:SNSign:

 

[Maryland Stang]

Wheel hop is induced by the tires loading and unloading. Possible cause are the shocks, bushings, weakness in the suspension/frame and not enough tire. If the pinion angle is too much it can shock the tires too hard and make them hop too.

Ditch the skinny tires, make sure all of the bushings are up to snuff, ditch the quads, get adjustable front and rear shocks, go to at least a 3.73 gear (you're loosing out on a lot of free torque with the 2.73s), set the pinion angle properly, subframe connectors and start with zero air in that bag.

 

[Maryland Stang]

I hope the pinion angle at -4/-6* will allow the lift bars to do thier job!

This is way too much even with all rubber bushings. I would start with -4 and move to -3 if it's shocking the tires too hard. If you're using all poly bushings start with the -3 to -2.5. If you have spherical bushings with heim joints go with a -1.5 to -1.0. Oh, and make sure your LCA brackets are welded to the rear really well. I have seen rears with the brackets ripped right off from the use of lift bars with good traction.

Go to this website for some excellant advice and consultation.
http://www.baselinesuspensions.com/info/Launching_A_Drag_Car.htm

 

[Maryland Stang]

Here is an excellant explantion of the importance of shocks and how they relate to wheel hop.

http://www.afcoracing.com/tech_pages/dragshock.shtml

 

[nidyanazo]

Thanks for the reply. The shocks are pretty new (2000mi.) and I do have subframe connectors, a welded 4pt. roll bar, and battle boxes welded in. So I think the frame should'nt be deflecting much...I think I'll see what happens when I adjust my pinion angle a bit, then lose the quad shocks. If I don't get wheel hop (just to clairify, I've only gotten wheel hop in the past when I removed the quads, but with the setup in the picture) then for sure I'll go with a 26" tire and gears. I was just wondering how my gears were acting with a 24" tire... More like 3.27's-on a 26" tire?