Why the 1/4 mile w/ SCz

[f1rocco]

Ive been here alittle over a month and just dont get the push for the fastest 1/4 mile times...To me these cars are like a Sport version of a Lincoln....Full Power and heavy... Sure make them faster maybe a little lighter....But I just dont get why some try to turn a Lincoln into a single digit race car....

No offense to anyone...Not meant as a slam....I do like 1/4 mile racing just not with a SC.......


F1

[tim-g]

I see these cars as a over weight mustang that rides better:) Plus you can pic these up cheaper than a mustang.

[midgetchaser]

casue we can:cool:

[eli66048]

You are right, they would be better in a standing mile type run going for the fastest top speed. But it sure is fun to race against the other SC's!

Ditto the other response. The reason I originally bought a T-Bird was that the Mustangs were too expensive. Now gas is too expensive for either one as a DD.

Danny

[fturner]

Besides, I like the look of :eek: on a rustang's drivers face when the old tbird takes him down :D... and then the double :eek::eek: when they find out its only a V6.... then the triple whamy :eek::eek::eek: when they find out your at least 500 lbs heavier.

Frit

[91supacoop]

ya know, we keep getting this question on the forums here, and I feel like the best way to answer it is to tell you another story that happened to me, and you can take from it what you like.

A few years ago I owned an 89 Buick century. It ran fine, looked fine, and had about 130K miles on it. It was a great daily driver. One night at work I had it inside and i was doing some random minor maintenance like vacuuming it out or doing an oil change....something like that.

When someone was strolling out they jokingly asked, "What are you doing; turning it into an el Camino?"

My eye's lit up, and i ran over to the workbench and grabbed a file. I ran back to the car and smashed out the two rear windows. I worked through the night on in and by the time people started coming in for work I had chopped two feet out of the roof and moved the rear windshield to right behind the front seats. The trunk lid was about 5 feet long, and for the most part, the car was coming together.

There were two types of people. There were those people that asked "why would you do that to a Buick?" And then there were those people that showed some curiosity, and understood that there wasn't really a reason for doing it, other than it was something fun and totally different. They would say things like: "Wow, this is really ridiculous! How did you support the middle of the car when the roof was cutout?!?" or "How did you run the wires for the taillights, brake lights and fuel pump?" "Do you think it will leak when it rains?" "What did you do with the back doors?"

[Jim Demmitt Jr]

Ive been here alittle over a month and just dont get the push for the fastest 1/4 mile times...To me these cars are like a Sport version of a Lincoln....Full Power and heavy... Sure make them faster maybe a little lighter....But I just dont get why some try to turn a Lincoln into a single digit race car....

No offense to anyone...Not meant as a slam....I do like 1/4 mile racing just not with a SC.......


F1




Good Question


I have been here for years and understand why people ask this question. Why would anyone take a heavy family Super Coupe tbird spend lots of money and time to run the 1/4 quicker and faster than it was ever built for? I think deep down its the (challenge) knowing the odds are agenced you taking a car never ment to drag race take all your skills building the most powerful 3.8 V6 tuning the stock chassies and using your driving skills to do something few have ever done before


Another reason why? It is knowing others appreciate the time and money and effort in knowing they as well can do the same. I know the money I have spent on this car I could by an ex-Pro Stock car and go much quicker but this is so differaint and neat to see one go down the 1/4 less than 10 seconds or even 12's and 11's

[Kevin Leitem]

i like the the challenge, anybody can make a V8 mustang fast. open up any mag and you will see numerous recipes on how to make it fast. and actually the bird makes a better drag car than a mustang anyway, longer wheelbase. remember when they ran the birds in prostock? plus they look way better. and it is much more fun spanking a big block chevelle.

[coolhand]

I think the answer is that we do it because we can, period. Its even fun to see how fast(slow) my old LX is in the 1/4. Seeing guys wrench on these barges, getting them into the low numbers, hearing all the BS on the forum, the benchracing at the Shootout, watching Dave N lay 400ft of rubber, watching Dave D's SWB make a Grabber Blue streak, Ed N's Black '95 run low #s after having seen it run miles on the road course, thats why we do it.
Everyone knows that with enuff cash and knowhow you could make a '57 Caddy run in the 9's, or, like my old car, make a '65 Rambler American smoke the tires like a Demon. Its just damned fun!!!!!!!!!!!
These cars are a niche, and they always will be. Limited market, limited parts, unlimited ingenuity, and they turn corners and can be driven for a 1000 miles without the need of a CHIROPRACTER. The exasparate, they frustrate, they stimulate and they mutilate your wallet.
I just got my first S/C. Havent driven her more than 20 miles. Waited a long time to get her. I know she will cause me problems, thats a given, but I cant wait to see what she runs in the 1/4..............................

Matt

[slipknot1212121]

heck, when I was lookin for my car back in 2001 I turned down an 11 second 1/4 mile built to tha gills notchback mustang ready for racing for my 93 tbird sc bone stock 70k black on black...and the final decision came down to"well what fun would the mustang be? its already built, everyone has one.thunderbird is different , unique niiice ride and it was an bone stock sc!!" then when I went to go look at it, I just had to have it....

[MagpoweredSC]

Ive been here alittle over a month and just dont get the push for the fastest 1/4 mile times...To me these cars are like a Sport version of a Lincoln....Full Power and heavy... Sure make them faster maybe a little lighter....But I just dont get why some try to turn a Lincoln into a single digit race car....

No offense to anyone...Not meant as a slam....I do like 1/4 mile racing just not with a SC.......


F1
I am insane :eek:;)

[Micahdogg]

"i like the the challenge, anybody can make a V8 mustang fast. open up any mag and you will see numerous recipes on how to make it fast."

Ditto. If you have a 500 RWHP Mustang its like....hmm, that's alright. Unless you are doing it all motor on pump gas or with a SOHC 4.6L or something creative, most people just won't think much of it. People seem so detached from the Ford V6 world though that if you said that your SC either ran 13's or made 300 RWHP....that's usually all it takes to really impress people.

I remember at WFC when david was pulling into the showfield I was trying to aim him up into his parking space and a couple dudes were really captivated by his car. It wasn't much to look at...I mean, stock looking SC with chrome cobra R's, but it sounds pretty mean so I think that got their attention.

Immediately he hops out and pops the hood and then with all that MP chrome blingness the two dudes crowd in a little closer. David was sidetracked, but they were complimenting the car, talking about how good it sounds....so I took it upon myself to let em know that it's not a showcar, but ran mid 10's and they were like....SUPER impressed. Then the one dude looked at me and said, "351?"..........................................

I was like, "What? Does that look like a 351?" He was like, "302!" I said, "No, it's a V6 man. A 3.8L. See the primaries?" They really didn't know what the hell was going on then. That's the good stuff.

[SuperCharged91]

Lol there are people who get impressed with the stock Numbers on these v6s

[f1rocco]

Shoot I even raced my DD stock auto 2001 ford escort....17.3 by the way....Why...Cause I can...Just like stated above....I even raced the same car as mine that day....Go figure....It was a stick/Cai/Borla exhaust...He ran 18z and went home after the second race.....

Guess I just figured there would be more of a long distance/handling + speed competition on a SC forum....But doing that on a legit track once is probably the same as paying 20 times at a local 1/4 mile track...Guess thats why it seems the way it does......

But in the end....The easiest way to show your car and have fun is at your local 1/4 mile track..or as a daily driver or at a car show....Im with you guys and gals about having a blast at the drag strip... ...


F1

[al35thsc]

I honestly think most of the SC dragsters ate lead paint chips when they were young :eek:

seriously, it's the look on people's faces when they see an SC trap low times and high mph and then telling them its a 6

[David Neibert]

Why 1/4 mile ??

Because it's a universal measure of performance that anyone racing anywhere in the country can use to compare their car's performance to someone elses.

With changes in elevation and weather, some locations will give better numbers than others, but that is pretty easy to factor in when making comparisons.

No matter what kind of car or truck it is, there are always people who want theirs to be faster...1/4 mile is just an easy way to measure it or to see how it compares to other cars or trucks.

David

[pablon2]

I mod and race my car b/c I feel it never got the respect it deserved. Being a 4,000lb car with a V6 made it an underdog in the public view. I remember reading once in MT that 100hp per liter displacement is considered a very good feat. My stock '93 SC had 55 per liter and when I am done modding I hope to have 135hp per liter. Get enough cam and M90 OD under the hood and this thing sounds mean as hell. :D I remember pulling into gas stations around here and popping the hood to let her cool off and people couldn't help but strain the neck looking as they walk by. Why? b/c most have never seen a modded SC engine before.

At Car Craft Summer Nats in St. Paul last summer I was driving out of the fairgrounds and a group of '20 something' boys were yelling, "Thunderbirds suck!" as they gestured 'thumbs down'. I thought to myself somewhat quietly, "You punks have no idea."

I'd be interested in what the boys in the GTP club(s) have to say to your question if posed to them.

[Tech_Greek]

When you push this old chug of weight down the quarter mile faster than the other and win - he feels crushed, you feel REALLY good - nuff' said. :cool:

[blade brown]

lol good point :D