Make it hook!

[1980elcamino]

Ill start by love the site and finaly decided to sign up. My car is a 1980 el camino t has about 400 hp and 450 ft pounds of torque. Stock conveter, turbo 350 trans and a eaton 3.73 rear end. The tires are brand new 255 60 15's with R in there somewere. fronts are like 215's. Anyways It will not hook up to save its life. I have brand new stock springs and shocks and no rear roll bar. It doesnt lean and then break loose it just spins from the start. I tried to get it to hook on my road today and took some pics. I foot brake it to 2000 rpm and the front end comes up about 3 inches. Then when I take my foot off the brake and hammer it, it just spins. It spins when I put it in second to. If you dont completly let off the gas it spins till third gear. At the strip I run a 13.6 but It spins at first and when I put it in second. Its a street car so slicks are prety much out of the option but im looking for the cheapest way to make 400 hp stick. Any ideas? I have looked into shocks, sway bar, rear control arms, traction bars, and like a sunny side lift bars or something. here are the pics.

my car

See above. I hammer it, let off and then when I hammer it again it starts spinning again.

Oh yeah. With no bumpers on either end, no heater, wipers, ac, subs, or any other un needed weight it is about 3150 pounds with me.

 

[Al]

You'll need different tires if you ever want to hook. The tires you have on it are cheap and are not a performance tire. Get a drag radial at the very leastfor when you take it to the track.

 

[abigda]

X2, I was having similar problems to you, except with major wheel hop. I did a few things to it. But the 3 things that helped the most was some adjustable front drag shocks, stock Monte SS rear swap bar, and 275/60/15 drag radials. You could also box your rear control arms

 

[1980elcamino]

sounds like some good advice dont know if I can fit a 275 in but ill look at 255's. (my frame isnt stock and is fully boxed) By the way nice choo choo front end, or is it a malibu? I cant ever tell. What does it run? Im looking for cars with similar horsepower numbers to see if im in the ball park with my times. maybe im just slow cause its a el camino.

 

[abigda]

Thats my 275 G Force drag radials tucked under, on 15x8 rims. Would be even easier on your car since it's flat black and you could easily roll the quarter lips and be golden. It's an el camino with a Monte SS nose Swapped on the front. Can't help you with track times, haven't Been down it yet

 

[1980elcamino]

ok. Cool. Ill take a look around for tires. If I go out not in I guess a 275 would fit. oh yeah, if I had a cowl hood we would have the same body mods.

Will new tires improve traction on just the strip or will it also help on the street? if so how much?
Thanks for the help.

 

[DOUG213XRJ]

Welcome aboard. Personally I think you need more tire (wider),So a 275 60 15 may do the trick a 295 50 15 is shorter but a little wider. Have you tried playing with air pressure, Try 20psi and go up and see how it launches. I think your suspension is fine with no wheel hop. I would play with the air pressure before I got new tires. Doug

 

[abigda]

Ya pretty close, you have the choo choo nose swapped on. Mines actually a Monte nose, alot more work lol, body mods and such

 

[1980elcamino]

I hope it wasn't as hard. mine had 7 coats of paint and had a crash somewere along the line. also still haven't got it mounted. there are three holes to hold it on the fender on each side. couldn't get to the bolts so had to rip it out and yet the rear roll pan bolted up no prob. found some cheater slicks on craigslist. might call.