Okay, I've gotten quite a few PM's from people asking "What I did" to get my 14.1 1/4 mile ET. As a disclaimer, keep it mind that my runs were not very consistant, so I have absolutely no proof that my "method" will work...it's just simply what I tried, and what I subsequently ran. So if you try this, and it does not work for you, please do not send me hate-mail or death threats.

First off, was track preparation. I took out everything unnecessary out of my car before I went to the track. All my CD's, all my handbooks, vehicle manuals (the only thing in my glovebox was my registration and proof of insurance)...everything, even the floor mats. You could even remove the jack and spare which would be a pretty decent weight drop, I chose not to because of the long drive....Anyway, doing this allowed for a vehicle weigh in of 3010lbs w/ me in it on an "empty" tank. Keep in mind I am 6,1 and 240lbs (muscle weighs more than fat ), so the vehicle weight without me in it would have roughly been 2765lbs...not bad at all vs a lot of the magazine ratings. When I arrived at the track my "low fuel" warning came on, almost exactly as I was getting teched in. I did not put any gas in until we left, so there was still enough fuel to get some runs in.

Okay, this is exactly what I did on my 14.1 run:

We were in line about 45 minutes while the track was being prepped, during that time I popped the hood and let the engine cool down a bit (when I got up to stage I checked the coolant temp via/ instrumentation and it was 171 degrees F). I also dropped my two front tires pressure from 40lbs to 23-25lbs. When I got up to the staging area, I drove around the water box and did not do any burn-out what-so-ever...just my personal opinion that it's worthless to heat up regular street tires....

Once lined up, I revved the motor just slightly and tried to hold it around 1.5k RPMs; at that time I also let off the clutch just before the disengaging point. As the tree lights went down I revved the motor just slightly more to around 2k rpms and let off the throttle a little bit. (By the time the last yellow light flashed it was back down to almost exactly1.5k)
As the final yellow light flashed, I eased off the clutch and very carefully, and smoothly, applied the throttle. The car really felt strong out of the hole, I did not get any tire spin, wheel hop, or bogging in first. Second was a different story. I wrapped the car up to about 6.3k and powershifted into 2nd (doing this @ that particular rpm jumped it straight to redline), I then experienced either clutch slippage or wheel spin, as the car seemed to coast while the rpm's rose consistantly (probably clutch slippage), I feathered the throttle and quickly regained traction and went WOT again (I don't think this entire scenario was more than half a second in length), I powershifted again into 3rd and that is when the SS really seemed to pick-up and go. I finished @ the top of 3rd gear and coasted to the exit.

Hope this helps, stay safe out there!

 

Thanks for the how-to man!

Once again great job.

 

actually, 10lbs of muscle weighs the same as 10lbs of fat (but i know what you meant)

again, nice runs man

 

lol u know i read that and didnt think about it, but you are so right. lol. good catch.

 

LOL, I got pwn3d!

 

Nice write up

That's really a great time, you only had an intake right?

 

we had a 20 minute arguement about it in my K-Ped class a few weeks ago. the young 'ins just couldnt grasp the concept. i couldnt believe we wasted that much time trying to explain it to them

anyway, didnt mean to hi-jack the thread, bc it is a very informative one

 

i dont understand how you could get a 2.0 second 60ft time.... thats ******* ridiculous.... good job

 

Yes sir, well as far as engine modifications.

 

I am guessing you have the G85 right with the LSD?

Anything is possible with a good driver. What were your other times like? I would like to see a comparison of all of your times slips for that day. I hate to say it and I am not doubting you, but I have seen mistakes in timing at the track before.

 

I have the same problem. Everytime I redline in 1st and powershift, I noticed the rpm's going up really fast, but the car doesn't seem to follow along. I'm hoping an aftermarket clutch will remedy this problem before the tracks open up in NJ in the spring. Good write up though, keep us posted with more info on getting traction off a launch.

 

what were the mods when u ran this? I'm talking about springs or anything.

 

Tofu, You have a video of the pass ?

 

Very nice.

You keep your tires at 40 psi? Isn't the manufacturer recomended is 32, and 35 if you plan on driving over 100mph.

 

Mods were K&N intake and DC sports bar and B&M shifter.. I don't have a video, I took the camera but the only other person w/ me was running the same time I was.

As far as the the tire pressure it was roughly around 40, no higher, I never messed with the pressure until that night lol, so they are kept @ 35psi at the moment.

 

I dont get how you had a 2.0 60', but only ran a 9.6 in the 1/8. As in my sig. i had a 2.197 60' and ran a 9.37 in the 1/8. I guess it was the clutch slippage. I wish we had a 1/4 mile close to my house. I would love to seen what my 1/4 would have been. I was bone stock at the time.

 

YellowSS05 Also got a 2.0 60ft on stock tires, he showed me his slip at the track that night. Probably not something that we'll be able to do on a consistant basis w/ minimal to no mods, but it's definitely not impossible.

 

The weight difference between equal amounts of fat and muscle isn't all that much. 13.84 is what I ran in my 1965 GTO back in the late 70's. It had a 389 with 3-2bbl carbs and a turbo 400 auto trans 10bolt rear with posi and 3.90 gears. Ran with street tires and full exhaust system. Launched by torque braking with the center carb opened as much as possible without opening the other two, and then once the car stared rolling, easing into the throttle as quickly as possible without breaking the tires loose. The trap speed was 101.23mph. So there you are, a Cobalt SS would run with a 65goat, not bad, the Goat only cost me $800 used in 1976 though.

 

good stuff

 

hard to believe you ran 14.1 on stock huge 18 inch wheels, im definately gonna try dropping the tire psi next time at the track. nice time though

 

What rpm did you run up to in 2nd before shifting tofu?

 

It was really weird actually..I was power shifting around 6300 rpms..but on the tach it would jump around 6800rpms (only when power shifting) during the shift, some how bypassing the limiter.

I have absolutely no idea what caused this. But anyway, I always tried to powershift around 6300rpms on the 2-3 shift.

 

That is called momentum. the fuel cutoff kicks in and the engine goes beyond cause of the force to get up there.

I plan on experiementing with shift points. 6,000 is perhaps ideal to shift. we will see. I shifted at 6300 and got my fastest time. I think trying to get to 6500 is a wast. more torque is found a little lower is my theory.

 

Ah, learned something new. Thanks for the explanation I always thought it was weird when it happened.

 

wait so this is is stock or stage 1? i thought these cars could do 14.1 stock, according to a few reviewers... then again i can't reach the 6 second 0-60 yet, more aorund 7.1... workin on it