First passes with a clutch

[Paul New]

Finally made it out to the track first pass with a clutch was quite a bit smoother. First pass ran a 6.95 @ 202 with a .058 light second pass was a 6.98 @ 201 with a .066 light. Had only .004 wear on the clutch pack each pass zeroed it out but made zero changes. Now I need to lean it out some as it was way to fat!

Thanks to Andi and Larry McFarland for the pic

[masracingtd1167]

Great job !

[H.G. Wells]

Very cool, tell us more about the set up.  What clutch are you using?

[Paul New]

My combo is 387ci 4.125x3.625 with Brodix canted valve heads. I ran this engine in the car for years with a powerglide and a 8-71HH Littlefield and a powerglide, the best pass to date was a 6.64 @ 206 W/4.11 gears 4%OD we swapped out the 4.10's and put in 3.70's to drop the RPM's across the finish line it slowed the car down a little but less maintenance spun the blower a little harder 12%od to run consistent 6.70's.

Now we decided to switch to a clutch to have some adjustability for slick tracks. I bought a 9" 3-disk titanium pedal clutch from East West. The transmission is a B&J 3-speed w/1.94 low gear. We also changed blowers this season to a 10-71HH SSI that needs to be re-stripped, I put a very fat fuel set up in the car just to be safe in case the blower made more boost than I assumed. I only made two passes this weekend we had a rain out. Our next race is in three weeks I am going back to a fuel tune up I know works with the boost I built this last weekend to see if I can bring some ET back.

[H.G. Wells]

Thanks for the info, why a 3 speed?

[Paul New]

I put the 3-speed in the car as I really do not fit into a class such as A-fuel or the such due to blower and fuel pump size. I just figured that with my SBC I would be struggling a little to a run a 2-speed.

[Zooman]

Impressive Paul!
I'll be watching your progress - good luck mate.
Von Zoom

[Frontenginedragsters]

Hello Paul:
 Now that you have a couple of years with a clutch, how about an update?
Also let us know about tire and rim sizes.
Thanks

[Paul New]

After 2 events with what I was told was a 1.96 low we took the transmission apart and had a 1.76 low.  Also learned the Big Boy B&J was not a Big Boy it was an older model.  So I decided to buy a brand new B&J Big Boy with a 2.09 low gear.   We ran the East West 9” 3-disc clutch for 3 seasons I would go from a pass that was walking through the clutch to a pass that would break the tires loose on the shift and the car would get violent with a 2 gram change.  The clutch was very finicky we did end up running a 6.51 with this combination though (we did change engines after 1 season with the clutch, still a 387” SBC just a little different). On our fourth season we installed a 10” 2 disc Crower and fought it for most of the season.  Finally at the last three races of the year we got a handle on it.  We found this clutch to be more   forgiving with the tune up.  The person we sold the East West to told us that they are a ½ gram tune up change and to use nylon washers to make these small changes……  By the end of the 2017 season we ended up with 37.5 grams on our .225 levers and 3 ½ turns on our static  and the car ran a 6.47 @ 214 mph
60’ 1.099
330’ 2.806
660’ 4.206
660’ MPH 176.85
1000’ 5.426
1320’ 6.470
1320’ MPH  214.08
What we have learned is talk to the cars running around you and buy similar components I was the only guy other than some of the AA/Supercharged cars and TAD guys running the 9” 3 disc so I was the lowest HP guy running it and did not have to many people to talk to about tune up ideas.  Also the best information I have received on both clutches is from the manufacturer, other than the East West needing such small changes with nylon washers.
 
As far as tire and rim I run 15x14 Sanders double bead locks with Goodyear D2070 tires 33x14.5 with a 3.70 rear gear.
I have zero tire shake issues also since going to the clutch. I know my 60’ is slow compared to the rest of my numbers.

[wideopen231]

IMO 3 spd was wise choice. Most TA cars run 3 spd and have for decades. By Top Alcohol I mean blower cars running alky not a/fuel guys.

[tcoupekyle]

Awesome post