New guy with a question

[butterbean]

good luck guy's and the main thing is to have fun!!!!!

[s10gramps]

Fun was had for sure. The truck ran great today, the track not so much. The reason they postponed the points race was because the timing system was a mess. Sometimes you'd get a 1000' time and sometimes not. I never got a 1/8 ET or MPH. Thank goodness the 1/4 mile times worked. They said they were having the company reps from the timing system out this week to get it fixed right. Something usually happens with their timing system at least once a year. So between them working on the system and the 3 fords that oiled the track down I only got 3 passes in, but they were quality. I was playing with the temp at launch and the rpm I'm launching at. Last time out it ran 11.74@114. Today after jetting down 2 sizes and fattening up the idle just a bit and taking 2 degrees of timing out it ran 11.70@116 launching at 1800 rpm and 180 degrees water temp, 11.69@115 185 degrees water temp 2000 rpm launch, and then 11.67@115 190 degree water temp 2000 rpm launch. This motor really liked the heat in it on race gas too. The tune seems really good no hesitation at all on the launch and that last pass I left the line at 190 degrees with the fan on and at the finish line it was still 190 degrees, it was about 75 and sunny at the time of that pass, track temp was 101, the track was very well prepped and traction was like it normally is there, they had 3 200mph alcohol funny cars out today, they only made one pass each but they hooked right up too so traction was good. So you guys tell me what you think, from what I've figured out so far it seems with those temps it may still be running just a bit rich but I want to run on the rich side as opposed to being lean. I really kind of wish the points race would have happened I was nailing the light great .04, .01, .08. The points season now doesn't start until the 17th and then it's 3 weeks in a row for the first 3. Man I'm ready.

[butterbean]

sounds like you getting there and it ran pretty d**n good, how was the richness smell??? if not to bad then the next time out give it a little more timing and see what happens, the MPH is a little fast for the ET so it may want/need some more timing, look you still have a few weeks to fool with the tune before the points start so try more tuning, congratulations the numbers look good

[s10gramps]

Yep that's exactly what I was going to do, I have Wednesday and Friday nights I can test and tune on. I still have to look at the pics my wife took today, she said she has some from behind the truck on the launch and said it was going a bit sideways which is strange because I didn't feel that in the truck. As for the smell, the exhaust smell is way less now than it was before I rejetted it, so I think I'm good there. Which brings up another question. Right now I'm getting 80% ethanol in the E85, if it does end up going up to the 85% as the summer gets closer do you think that would be enough of a difference to have to richen it back up some?

[s10gramps]

What I need is a night when they aren't screwing around with the timing system and I can get the normal 10-12 passes in if that's what I want to do.

[triplenickel]

Sounds like progress in the right direction! I'm with Bean. Put the timing back & try it. Were you able to get 60' times? If so, how did they compare with before? You say you want to stay on the rich side which is safe. I prefer to be a touch on the lean side of optimal. In my experience, that seems to be best for consistency. This fuel has a wide tuning window. You leaned it out & it seemed to like it. Keep going in that direction until it doesn't like it. then, hit the middle or maybe a touch lean of the middle. When it slows from jetting down, don't worry, it 's not lean enough to hurt anything, so long as you're not making big jet changes. I would try the timing. If it responds positively to that, then I would try jetting down more. Once you get it right, you should notice that you won't pick up going day to night like when on gas. In the hot & humid weather that I race in ( Bean deals with the same), I run a certain number in the heat & when the humidity is the lowest, then at dusk when it starts to cool off a little & before the humidity starts to climb significantly, I usually pick up about .01. Then, when the night humidity comes in, I usually lose that .01 & wind up the same as in the heat.

[triplenickel]

As far as the fuel %, If you lean it out more to get it optimal on E80, then yes, you will have to jet up. If it's still a little fat the way it is now, it would probably be close on E85.

[s10gramps]

Ok more good info, I'll try the timing and then as you say I can jet it down another one and see how it likes that. As for the 60' yes it was better today the 11.70 pass was 1.70 the other two passes were 1.69 and 1.68. I'm also going to try launching it a bit harder too, I can hold it with the foot brake up to 2200 anyways, we'll see how that works out too. This postponing of the first race is turning into a blessing in disguise.

[butterbean]

I'm with Nickel, everything he said I would do the same, and yes when the % goes up then you jet up but only 1 at a time because you are already close at 80%, good luck and have fun

[s10gramps]

Well I thought I'd be able to get out and do some testing to get this tune just right but that hasn't happened. The one nice day that I could have made it, the track was closed, they rewired the whole timing system and it took them 4 days one of which was that testing day, the other two test dates were rainy and a no go. It may all work out for the better though, I just went and filled my one empty 5 gallon can and the delivery ticket said the last load was 85% and it tested right at 85% when I got home so hopefully the rest of the summer they will have real deal E85. Here's my plan I have 5 gallons of 80% in the fuel cell, and 2 5 gallon jugs of 80% left so I'm not going to change anything on the truck now and then go possibly chasing the tune the other way when I burn up all the 80%. There are 3 bracket races in a row now starting this Sunday so once I get the 80% all burned up and have all 85% in the cans then I'll see what the tune looks like running on the 85%, what do you guys think of that plan?

[triplenickel]

Sounds good to me. Good luck!

[butterbean]

X-2

[bigdaddy198]

Good luck with that tune Dan hey one other thing you should find out about is heat range on your plugs. I started running NGK racing heat range 6 plugs last fall cause this fuel can be hard to light on those 40* mornings and although it starts well after you get some heat in it you will find it will get more of a crisp snap on the hit if the plugs are doing their job. But when the temps go up I will jump into a heat range 7 NGK plug. Tripplenickle was spot on with the lean out thing. I went out with the 104's squared although it felt really responsive on the driveway and idled great clean running when I made my passes it had picked up huge in the 60' times. Went from 1.58/1.56 last year to 1.46/1.45 this year but as soon as I smacked 2nd gear it was running flat. Most guys would have added more jet and my plugs were very dry looking but my speed told me to lean it out so I went 102's squared I was running 6.70's on the 104's 3 passes in a row 6.71/6.71./6.72 then it went 6.60 3passes in a row then a 6.57 and my plugs looked cleaner. I brought it home after a break out Dialed a 6.57 ran a 6.569 broke out by 1000th of a second and was cutting .022 lies in a row so I am gelling with my set up. I put a set of NGK 8 range plugs in it at home and the car ran way rich smelling so you can get that rich smell if your plug is too cold. I finally got some NGK heat range 7 plugs which I am putting in it to race on this weekend hopefully I can lean it down one/ two more size jetts and get my gameface on. Either way this car is so consistant it will make you giggle when you see the tickets. I got 83% on my last fuel but as soon as its where I want it I am going to start running the Renegade e85 leaded. Its about $240 a drum but its awesome fuel and still less than 1/2 the price of good 112 octane. But check your heat range Dan it does make a difference real big difference with our racing temps. Good Luck Danny Race Safe Buddy. Johnny

[s10gramps]

Hi John, yep I'm running NGK heat range 7 plugs and they seem to be working real well. (R5671A-7)

[bigdaddy198]

I have a new set of heat range 7 NGK plugs that I am putting in mine too. The 6's were great in colder temps but the 7's should be perfect now that its warmer out. Good luck Dan