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Drag Racing Discussions => Altereds => Topic started by: 1000hpJohn on August 28, 2020, 01:46:33 PM

Title: What did I do
Post by: 1000hpJohn on August 28, 2020, 01:46:33 PM

Hi all,   
  Well, my wife and I bit The bullet and bought a 1932 Bantam altered with a 540 big block Chevy in it.
Goes high 7.9’s/8.0’s.  What a rocket ship compared to my 3500 pound El Camino running eights.
Has a glide of course and is definitely a learning curve for me.   I did two small hits and the best 60 foot was 1.08 and it scared the crap out of me 8)

Next time out I hope to do a nice 300Ft to 8th mile pass and see how it goes.
I need to figure out how to attach some pictures.

Title: Re: What did I do
Post by: THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER on August 28, 2020, 05:29:25 PM

I see one of your home tracks is Milan. Check out Nostalgia Comp they have three times a year. The next one is their Nostalgia Drags Sept 25 - 27.
pro tree
half second indices
qualified ladder off reaction times
full entry fee pay back in purse

Title: Re: What did I do
Post by: 32bantam on August 29, 2020, 02:20:34 AM

Check out the NDRL (Nostalgia Drag Racing League) ...GREAT group !!!

Title: Re: What did I do
Post by: 1000hpJohn on September 03, 2020, 08:29:54 AM

I’m trying to get my license in time for the September race.
Yeah since I’ve got the altered I need a Group to race with.

Title: Re: What did I do
Post by: Curly1 on September 14, 2020, 05:18:39 PM

A few things to keep in mind with an Altered. Make sure you get a good burnout and very important make sure you are pointed straight down the track and in the groove. Once you get out of groove it can get ugly quick. If it ever does anything stupid just get out of it and let it settle completely down. Most of crashes I have seen were because they got back on throttle after getting out of it. One of the other things is just get out there and make laps, run every race you can to get good competition seat time. It is a whole different animal than a door car and you will learn a lot.
On my car and probably many other Altered leaving soft does not cut it, the car wants to walk around. Just does not hook up right. I have to line it up good and hit it hard, then it plants rear tires, transfers weight, brings the front end up a little and hauls butt. Rear tire pressure is critical as on mine it is riding rear tires for a while. Your car runs similar to mine so if chassis is set up right should not be too bad. At that speed and faster a rear wing really helps, faster you go smoother it rides. You can run with out a rear wing but after you put one on there you will probably never run with out one again.

Title: Re: What did I do
Post by: Finnish Fireball on September 22, 2020, 10:52:09 PM

Thumbs up for the purchase, but we need pics of that puppy!

Title: Re: What did I do
Post by: 1000hpJohn on November 13, 2020, 02:06:27 PM

Hi guys,
  It has been quite a learning curve in the altered.  1.08 60ft was a start.   Tried a 1/8 pass but the front wheels went about 2 feet up so I need to do my chassis plotting.

So, where do most Altered’s end up with a lift point to keep the chassis reaching out but not too high?
Chassis lifts way too much.  I will know my chassis numbers (ie, neutral line, I/C, C/G and all my 4 link hole locations this weekend with weight in the chassis, race ready... it’s not a door car and I set my car up but I need to calm down the altered and get it going down range not up too high.   

Just curious what others have set up at.

Not sure if I can still use photobucket for pics or not!!!

Thanks for the info an pointers as well.

Title: Re: What did I do
Post by: THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER on November 14, 2020, 07:07:21 AM

Its not uncommon for an altered to have greater than 50% of the weight on the rear wheels. On my 1800# car I have about 1050# on the rear wheels. I'd start with an IC out around the front axle, 6" up. I set my wheelie bars to limit maximum possible wheelstand about a foot high.

Title: Re: What did I do
Post by: 1000hpJohn on November 14, 2020, 10:46:18 AM

Thanks FF, just about to put numbers on paper.

Title: Re: What did I do
Post by: Curly1 on November 15, 2020, 04:35:07 PM

If I remember right my Altered had 70% on the rear wheels. When it is working right you wil have 100% on the  rear wheels for the first 60 feet.  I ended up moving my IC up and back to limit wheelies. Also put top bar in bottom holes to to limit its leverage to pull front wheels up. I like to use wheelie bars as a fine tuning tool and not rely on them much.

Title: Re: What did I do
Post by: 1000hpJohn on July 14, 2021, 10:03:29 AM

Been awhile on here for this thread, my apologies.  Thanks soo much for the insight on these Altered’s.
The last launch I was was a violent wheelie and went to the right a little.   Needless to say I got out of it and then bounced off all 4 tires!!! :o   I got a real good schooling that day and am ready for the next hit.  Trying to get it out this month and will try and remember to give feedback.

It IS a monster…