Jeep at the track today

[Ghinmi]

Just as the title says, finally got some track time with the Wagoneer today. I was driving back from a car show and saw the track was open. It happened to be a test and tune day, so $20 and a tech inspection later I was on the track. It was pretty empty and I was able to take 9 runs in under 2 hours. Times are as follows:

14.9300 @ 93.17
15.0330 @ 91.81
14.9431 @ 92.54
14.8742 @ 92.75
14.9119 @ 92.77
14.8329 @ 92.78
14.8761 @ 91.99
15.6169 @ 87.55 (accidentally left it in drive)
14.9440 @ 92.78

Things I learned:
1. Running WAY rich. If I launch hard off the line I get a good 60' but it stumbles and runs slow (see the MPH on my second run). I have to ease on the throttle to get any kind of pull through the lower part of first gear. Since I wasn't planning on racing I didn't have any tools and couldn't do any tuning. It will run a good bit quicker if it can get off the line decently.

2. It will light up the tires past the burnout box. Everyone with street tires was driving around the water box and dry hopping before staging. I tried it in emergency drive and spun the tires pretty good. People were taking pictures the next time I ran.

3. Emergency drive does NOT like speed. Transfer case made bad noises going over 40 or so in emergency drive. Ran in normal drive for the rest of the night with no noises. I had to deal with the front tires spinning off the line but it didn't seem to affect my times.

4. Running in drive sucks! Car in front of me left wheels up, then took a hard left. Had to shut down and wait for track cleanup and when I started back up I instinctively put it in drive instead of first. Worst time of the night by far.

5. No one expects a Wagoneer that runs decent. I know 14's aren't exactly fast but everyone was really surprised. I could make some money decent money surprising the ricers.

6. It's WAY too heavy. To be exact, 4370 lbs with me (150 lbs) in it. I've got to do lots of little things to lighten it up, remove rear seat, swap to aluminum bumpers, etc.

7. Could use lower gears. With 3.54s it's just starting to pull in third as it crosses the stripe. Could use 4.10s or so.

All in all, a pretty good first time at the track. At least now I know what I've got to work on. Sorry I didn't get any pictures, I was there on my own and didn't have a camera anyways. I want to go back next weekend and I'll get pics then.

Greg

[Jeepstress]

Originally Posted by Ghinmi

3. Emergency drive does NOT like speed.

HOLY CRAP!!

Originally Posted by Ghinmi

Transfer case made bad noises going over 40 or so in emergency drive.

NO $HIT! I sure hope you got a spare transfer case.

[Dmntxn77]

Not bad... I bet one of those ricer drivers made an mpeg of you racing one of his buddies.. Might find it on youtube..

[DanHS]

Nice times, lighten that thing up and get some better gearing and a part time t-case, perhaps you'll get into the 13s. I wonder what times my Chero would get.

[Ghinmi]

There wasn't really much rice at the track this time. I've been there before when it's overflowing with 16 and 17 second ricers. I did beat up on a celica though.

As far as the transfer case, it's just bucking because it can't differentiate the power. I can see where it could take it's toll over time but I only did it once. If quadratracs are as strong as Flint says they are I should be fine. I've got a few spares anyway.

As far as going quicker, I think with enough tuning and little stuff I can cut a fair bit off the times. Going to a full time 2wd setup would probably help a lot too. I've already got a straight tube front axle, I just need to have a 2wd tranny built and find a rear axle. Don't know how far in the future that is but it will happen. I've got a few things I'm going to do for next week and see what happens. I'll get some pics and vids then too.

[FSJ Guy]

You DON'T need E-drive at the race track!!!!!! (Or on any hard paved surface)

You'll destroy your t-case, drivelines or axle shafts if you do!

[jeeping1974]

its your jeep, run it how you want and where you want..... but i have to agree with the others. when you get a new case, get one with a part time kit in it and then take it back. i wish that i could drag mine but its not inspected or regsistered and i'm not too sure if it'll pass tech inspection at the local strip.

[Gambler68]

awesome

When I got my 79 Chero, the PO said 'watch this'..put it in 1st and TROMPED IT, and shifted up through the gears. It sold me on the rig. (so did driving 800 miles to get there).

I haven't repeated that, but that's the one time I really really remember feeling power in the thing.

If you're going to be romping at the track, why not build a Th400 that will let you hold gears and shift properly? That and some fenderwell headers..would make ricers poop.

Shoot, if you can't wheel it..drag it!

[Millerluck]

Thats cool Greg.

Was it the track on the way up to the sand dunes?

Get some pics next time for sure.

Larry

[PlumCrazy]

Shoot, if you can't wheel it..drag it!

Man after my own heart.

Good showing on a two ton rig "BIG THUMBS UP"

Wayne S

[Ghinmi]

Just to clear things up, it's bone stock except the engine. I know there's a lot of things that need to be looked at but I just wanted to see where I'm at.

Like I said before, I only did one run in emergency drive to combat spinning the front tires. I'm not planning on doing it again. I still do use emergency drive to clean the tires before the run. A part time kit isn't going to help me much, if at all. The only advantage you get is not turing the front diff and driveshaft. It's still turning the transfer case. Plus I won't have nearly as much traction. Might even be slower.

As for the transmission, I'm not going to waste my money on it while it's still 4wd. When I drop the money on one it's going to be 2wd. I'll get a pair of drag radials to get the traction back.

No fender well headers for me, I'm actually thinking of running ful exhaust out the back with resonators at the end to quiet it down. People won't know what hit them.

Larry, it was the track in Martin (just north of Kalamazoo). It runs right next to US131 so you can sometimes see some racing as you drive by. How far away is it from you? Sure would be cool to have a 'running of the Wagoneers' someday.

[fulsizjeep]

Impressive.

Have you installed manual hubs for the front yet Greg? I would not run Edrive like that in 4WD, only with hubs unlocked or front shaft pulled. Actually, for the 1/4 mile runs like this, I would remove the front shaft anyway. That will decrease rotating mass and weight.

Oh, and where are the 4 wheel burn out pix?

[Stuka]

e-drive is perfectly fine for a straight line, it only binds up when turning. But I would NOT run it in RWD for drag racing. AWD is a HUGE help when launching. My cherokee would smoke the rear tires when I launched it.

I am surprised your wag only weighs 4300 pounds? My cherokee weighed in at 5000+ wit me in it. Although I had a larger tires/aftermarket bumpers. But I would expect them to be closer, the bumpers are only 50 pounds or so.

Nice runs though.

[jeeping1974]

Originally Posted by Gambler68

Shoot, if you can't wheel it..drag it!

thats what i want to do with the next j10 that i get. build it into a street/strip truck. it would definetly be different.

[1977cherokeechief]

Originally Posted by jeeping1974

thats what i want to do with the next j10 that i get. build it into a street/strip truck. it would definetly be different.

HIJACK***you just stole my idea that i have/had with the j10 i am buying, HIJACK***


pretty sweet times you have, especially for a jeep!

[Scoot]

Take the engine out and put it in a gremlin, pacer, hornet, rambler, etc. Just keep that thing away from my Mustang GT!

[fulsizjeep]

Originally Posted by Stuka

e-drive is perfectly fine for a straight line, it only binds up when turning. But I would NOT run it in RWD for drag racing. AWD is a HUGE help when launching. My cherokee would smoke the rear tires when I launched it.

I think I can see your point here Brandon. You are going to have a little wind up in normal 4WD that could cost some time. The spline in the differential brake cones will also take more of a beating with hard launches when it is not locked. I would not be afraid to run a NOS QT and unlock the front end to run edrive RWD though.

[Tad]

I know absolutly nothing about racing but "14.8329 @ 92.78" in something with the aerodynamics of the Lincoln Memorial just sounds impressive.

[billyrb]

if you haven't already, spend some money on your braking system before the other upgrades. Do a 3/4-ton front caliper conversion, ceramic pads, high performance fluid, etc. (hydroboost or dual diaphram), and consider a rear disc swap.

Other than that, cool that you took it to the track and awesome to see you improving your rig and running it LEGALLY at the dragstrip. I still can't believe how many idiots post that they raced someone at a stoplight or down a road. Morons risking everyone else's lives. The dragstrip is the only place to do that stuff.

[jeeping1974]

Originally Posted by 1977cherokeechief

HIJACK***you just stole my idea that i have/had with the j10 i am buying, HIJACK***


pretty sweet times you have, especially for a jeep!

every since i saw a pic of a N/T lowered and a black j10 built into a street truck i loved it. you'll probably have an easier time finding a j10 in good enough condition though to do it in as the ones up here int eh north east are rusting and rotting away fast.