So you have finally made up your mind to go to the local drag strip. Before you go for a drag race, know that it can be dangerous. Some are even illegal. But if you aim to participate in an organized event, well and good. How do you convert your street car into one fit for drag racing?
Decide if you really want to tune your car for quarter-mile acceleration. But first, you must know how much money you are willing to spend. You ought to be sure if you intend to go to the quarter-mile strip or the full circuit. After all, you cannot do both.
Before you even work on the speed, you need to have your circuit car well-balanced and easy to handle. The car also needs lots of mid-to-top-end power for ease of pulling out of corners. For the straight parts of the road, the speed must be as high as possible.
The car you take for drag racing should have the ability to get from 0 to top speed within a very short time. The top-speed doesn’t have to be very high to gain a good time on a quarter-mile track. All you need it to be through with it as fast as possible. Think of being against a car with a top speed that’s 20mph higher than yours but which takes an extra four to five seconds to get there. Why shouldn’t you win that race?
Building a drag car involves making it as light and as powerful as possible. Its ability to handle and go round corners is not that important but that doesn’t mean you should not take into consideration maximum traction. Best Classic Drag Racing Cars
So just what should you do?
- Strip down the engine and make sure it is okay. You might have to replace your piston rings, oil seals, and all engine bearings. Also, fit a high-pressure oil pump and other high-performance parts.
- Choose a car and fit the brakes and engine in it. You don’t need a power steering, instead fit it with a manual rack. What you want is less weight and reduced drag on the engine. Fit the exhaust and put an extra flange point just behind the engine for easy removal while at the drag strip. Drive the car around for 500 miles with lots of that on hills so as to work the engine. Do not exceed 3,000rmp. Once you are through, change the oil filter.
- There is no need to lower the car but rather install harder shocks to hold the wheels more firmly on the ground.
- By going through the car, decide what you need and what you don’t. Take the back seat, door cards, roof lining, spare wheel, carpet and underlay, and passenger seat. You need to carry as little as possible.
- Get a spare pair of wide wheels to use on the drag strip. Use thin rims for easy rolling.
- Get a low-ratio gearbox which should be from a smaller engine version of your car, something like a 1.3l box on a 1.8l engine.
That should set you off for the drag race you have been longing for.
