Hay forum

Just recently put my 3.8l converted magna through it paces at willowbank id say I'm kinda happy with my time only expecting better because my average 60ft time of 2.2. I was hoping more off a 2.0 60ft time with the power and torque off the 3.8. Best time I did was an 13.7 flat. Had terrible problems with traction in first gear just couldn't get a good take off. If I tried to launch it off the line it would just bog down and start spinning :( . I've got 17" wheels with bob Jain all rounders and king springs with new shocks. Wats people's thoughts on getting traction?

Cheers

My thoughts on traction are the obvious, buy good tyres lol.
Althought 13.7 at willowbank seems to be about on par with all the other 3.8 magnas

You have the cheapest of the cheap tyres and you're complaining about not having traction?

Am I missing something here?

Bob Jane tyres tend to be grandpa spec. Wear reasonably well, but poor on traction. Wet weather best avoided.
Anyone recommend some good grippy tyres?

lol@Red - for what they are, they should be a lot cheaper!

Sorry guys I should have realized how cheap these tyres are. I gotta get some really good tyres and chop off .2 off my 60ft time and do a 13.5. Even in really cold winter weather I reckon a 13.4 is possible.

Federal rs-r tyres any good?

I think they're motorsport-only tyres. Which is fine if you have a set of track rims. For a set of tyres to drive on daily, the Federal 595s are supposed to be good for the price.

The federals are good but you have to get some heat into them. Do you have the stock diff still?

Look for some 2nd hand slicks off ebay for the front and see how you go. Burnout frenzy beforehand might wreck the diff and clutch though

The federals are good but you have to get some heat into them. Do you have the stock diff still?

Look for some 2nd hand slicks off ebay for the front and see how you go. Burnout frenzy beforehand might wreck the diff and clutch though

I've got a quaife LSD. But to be honest I don't really like doing butouts. Wats the best street tyre? Can I use semi slicks?

I've mentioend this before - I spoke to a guy at the drags with a Telstar Turbo (old, late 80s stuff) - previously his best was 14.5 and when I saw him he had slicks to try out.
Result = 13.5 with slicks. So, traction off the line can dramatically improve a drag race time slip. Get some grip please :)

See if you can borrow some drag slips for a run - if yours is auto, no problem, if it's manual it might abuse the drive train a bit - are you game ??

Still 13.7 is impressive IMO. To put it in some context, I found this quote from a HSV forum:


I have a MY12 E3 GTS. I ran it 3 times to make sure there is no fluke lol.
Mine is stock with a manual trans.
13.8, 13.6, 13.9.

Mind you this is the first time I've driven a manual car.
Either manual or Auto. If a pro driver drives it, I've been told they can crack into the high 12's.
Anyhow thats what wheels magazine state. 12.8 down the 1/4

So what I assume is a 10 year old FWD Magna with a 5 year old 6 pot engine is as fast as a <2 year old HSV GTS currently worth over $60k on the used market.
THAT is what car modding is all about. Good stuff and I tip my hat to you sir. Hope you're enjoying it as much as I would.

I think I have to get a 3.8 for my AWD. Mal, are you busy? :)

Federal rs-r tyres any good?

These are pretty good, similar to the KU36. Both these are marketed as a semi slick but aren't as good as the top (real) semi slick like dunlops.

I have them on my wagon and find they aren't as bad in the wet as I thought.

I'll send you a pm.

oggy dont quote times any run done at willowbank cant be compared unless the other runs are done at willowbank as they are always a good 0.4 seconds under.
If you refuse to do a burnout buy daily tyres. slicks wont help you.

These are pretty good, similar to the KU36. Both these are marketed as a semi slick but aren't as good as the top (real) semi slick like dunlops.

I have them on my wagon and find they aren't as bad in the wet as I thought.

I'll send you a pm.

Dont mechelin make a really grippy tyre? Do u find u have to warm your tyres up?

oggy dont quote times any run done at willowbank cant be compared unless the other runs are done at willowbank as they are always a good 0.4 seconds under.

Yea true, seems to be case as none of Sydney guys can get their 380 converts under 14 @ WSID

I don't think so guys. Willowbank had 2 xr6 turbos and a couple of standard typhoons at the track too. The typhoons were doing 13.1 all night witch is on par to wat there quoted too. And the xr6 turbos doing 13.5s all night. There was another magna there 3.0l manual best time off 15.5 he has an exhaust and was a good driver. Don't think the tracks faster just think that's wat people may think.

trust me its faster lol. stock ralliarts do 14.1 there. i struggle to beat 14.4 in mine with all the goods. not to mension wsid is one of the most accurately timed tracks in the southern hemisphere. I just wouldnt get ahead of yourself saying your v6 magna is getting mid 13s cause anywhere else its not. 13 seconds is a FAST quarter mile.

sorry to sound so negative but we have to be realistic here lol

Isnt willowbank downhill?

Regarding michelin tyres, you could get yourself some Pilot Sport 3's or SuperSports but they arent cheap

Isnt willowbank downhill?

Regarding michelin tyres, you could get yourself some Pilot Sport 3's or SuperSports but they arent cheap

I heard the Michelin tyres are very very good are the super sports semi slick.? When I look at willowbanks track it actually looks slightly uphill. Can someone tell me why they think willowbank raceway is a quicker track other than comparing times?

how can you know apart from comparing times? maybe cars in qld are just faster from the factory.

how can you know apart from comparing times? maybe cars in qld are just faster from the factory.

I don't know mate. But comparing times is pritty in accurate. It's how u drive your car
Also especially manual u can give time away pritty easy. Hayden vrx wat rpm do u shift at the drags? In first second third and fourth?

kurt..? I thought you were banned..?

Anyway Willowbank is known to be on average 0.2 seconds faster than WSID

That's just one groups opinion though.. Others say its as good a track and it comes down to the weather.

Opinions.. Opinions..

SuFz :ninja:

Oh hey Kurt. Good to see you back buddy.

I suspect Willowbank has some differences there somewhere. Decent times are hard to get at WSID. Perhaps it's the road surface or something interfering with grip.

kurt..? I thought you were banned..?

Anyway Willowbank is known to be on average 0.2 seconds faster than WSID

That's just one groups opinion though.. Others say its as good a track and it comes down to the weather.

Opinions.. Opinions..

SuFz :ninja:


0.2 sounds more real. It's a very grippy track out there so id say the times are coming from tack off possibly. Kurt?

It's definately more like 0.4
The sydney 3.8s can't crack the 13s, even Ben's 3.8 with merlin tune and 6g75 manifold, it bloody flew. Best was still a 14 flat.
I shift at 6500 first and second then 6000 into 4th because it's the fastest way in my car, well and truly tried and tested lol.

When i can actually find the correct clutch i'd hope i can get a 14.2 on the prefect run in my car, the anti lift kit and coilovers have taken about .4 off my time :D

When i can actually find the correct clutch i'd hope i can get a 14.2 on the prefect run in my car, the anti lift kit and coilovers have taken about .4 off my time :D

I'm planning on coilovers soon. Wat anti lift kit have u got? Cost much? Try stretching out 1st and 2nd gear to 6700rpm and keep the 3rd to 4th at 6rpm.

I'm planning on coilovers soon. Wat anti lift kit have u got? Cost much? Try stretching out 1st and 2nd gear to 6700rpm and keep the 3rd to 4th at 6rpm.

yeah thats what i do, just a whiteline kit i picked up second hand. they dont make them anymore, helps with traction in 1st a heap.

The rsr are a little better with some heat, but not like the difference between cold and warm slicks.

As said above the more performance oriented slick you get, the more heat they need, the more you risk breaking stuff.

The rsr are a little better with some heat, but not like the difference between cold and warm slicks.

As said above the more performance oriented slick you get, the more heat they need, the more you risk breaking stuff.

So you'd say the ku36 are better as u don't have to warm them up to get the traction?

ku36 are great when theyre new, however with any of these tyres dont flog it in the wet, when they arevlower on tread they are horrid.

Hay forum

Just recently put my 3.8l converted magna through it paces at willowbank id say I'm kinda happy with my time only expecting better because my average 60ft time of 2.2. I was hoping more off a 2.0 60ft time with the power and torque off the 3.8. Best time I did was an 13.7 flat. Had terrible problems with traction in first gear just couldn't get a good take off. If I tried to launch it off the line it would just bog down and start spinning :( . I've got 17" wheels with bob Jain all rounders and king springs with new shocks. Wats people's thoughts on getting traction?

Cheers

Good time, im about to put my nugget down the strip too. im not going to do anything special when i go, just run it on the 20s as that how i drive it so i wanna do my pass like that. Differant tyres are aways going to make a big differance. Other option in get two spare wheels and put real good grippy tyres in them for the strip, it just depends how often you wanna go out there. Pop up a pic of the engine bay, I have never really paid attention to TJs with 3.8L Conversionso wanna see what it looks like finished.

13.7 is a big hats off. Any mods to the motor or rather stock..?

Good time, im about to put my nugget down the strip too. im not going to do anything special when i go, just run it on the 20s as that how i drive it so i wanna do my pass like that. Differant tyres are aways going to make a big differance. Other option in get two spare wheels and put real good grippy tyres in them for the strip, it just depends how often you wanna go out there. Pop up a pic of the engine bay, I have never really paid attention to TJs with 3.8L Conversionso wanna see what it looks like finished.

13.7 is a big hats off. Any mods to the motor or rather stock..?

Hay mate

Yeh it looks exactly like a 3.5 engine bay but with the 380 manifold on it. The cars dyno tuned on 98 ron fuel has a 70mm throttle body port matched to the 380 manifold cam timing was played around with aswell when the tune was done. Other than that it's a stock. Once good tyres and coilovers pritty much guaranteed an 13.5. Based on my poor 60ft time I was getting. Ultimately I won't an 13.4 in winter time.

Hay mate

Yeh it looks exactly like a 3.5 engine bay but with the 380 manifold on it. The cars dyno tuned on 98 ron fuel has a 70mm throttle body port matched to the 380 manifold cam timing was played around with aswell when the tune was done. Other than that it's a stock. Once good tyres and coilovers pritty much guaranteed an 13.5. Based on my poor 60ft time I was getting. Ultimately I won't an 13.4 in winter time.

Any chance of seeing the time slip.?? want to compare with a mate as he has a 380 conversion and doesnt believe you got a 13.7. He has a bit of work and battle big time for 13.975. Ill shoot you a PM with my number so you can txt it over so i can send pic to him. That will shut the cry baby up.:)

Man I'd be happy with a 2.2 60ft.. I was doing 13.7 with a 2.5. What kinda power does the 3.8 produce in your car? Really wish I got the chance to do a run in my car without the clutch slipping.. I wanted a 12.99 lol

Any chance of seeing the time slip.?? want to compare with a mate as he has a 380 conversion and doesnt believe you got a 13.7. He has a bit of work and battle big time for 13.975. I shut you a PM with my number so you can txt it over so i can send pic to him. That will shut the cry baby up.:)

Hay mate. Yeh I'll post the slip up tonight when I finish work. I know another member has done a 13.8 but his 60ft time was 2.0 flat. With a good launch and tyres a 60ft time of 2.0 should be easily achieved

2.0 flat is intense.. Best i have achieved is a 2.2 and i was happy with that
Will go back to drags when i fix my car and have a go at getting it lower, The magnas once off the line go so well, Racing an xr6T the other night his 60ft time was 2.0 and he beat me by 0.6 seconds, but both our final speeds were the same at 155km/h! If i get the launch right ill be flyinn.

i'd love to see everyone's magnas and 380s in action at a strip like willowbank some day. i've heard there are a few who attend it but aren't part of/know about AMC.

KU36 are similar to the RSR, they both work better with a little heat but don't need a 'big' burnout like a real semi slick.

What would a 3.8 converted 5 speed auto do down the quarter if anyone knows?
13.7 is a nice time

What would a 3.8 converted 5 speed auto do down the quarter if anyone knows?
13.7 is a nice time

14.2 at wsid, 13.8 at willowbank as an average lol. cabt ever say exactly.

So the auto isn't much slower than the manual?
What 60ft times does the auto make if anyone knows?

try and tell us!

So the auto isn't much slower than the manual?
What 60ft times does the auto make if anyone knows?

I think the only auto 380 convert was a 14.7 that Brendan got, don't know if that was 4 or 5 speed.

The 14.2 Hayden referred to was for 5 speed manual I think.

IMO autos are always slower than manual until running stupid amounts of power that can't be managed well with a manual.
My AWD (auto) did a 2.3 second 60 foot but a 15.8 400m - no traction issues off the line, but the AWD + auto sap out power. I keep hearing about these 3.8 conversions and they seem like a better conversion (price / kW) than a supercharger or any other enhancements.

IMO autos are always slower than manual until running stupid amounts of power that can't be managed well with a manual.
My AWD (auto) did a 2.3 second 60 foot but a 15.8 400m - no traction issues off the line, but the AWD + auto sap out power. I keep hearing about these 3.8 conversions and they seem like a better conversion (price / kW) than a supercharger or any other enhancements.

best enhancment for qtr mile time is to take out your front or rear diffs :p. Did brendan only get a 14.7? that was in a heavy car thats basicly a verada wagon though. Apparently hojos car with the 3.8 and 5sp auto flys, id like to see what he can get. I think it would be low 14s

:) It's bucketing down outside. I'm about to do a run to the shops and will still get a 2.3 second 60' time :)
I wonder if a 3.8 in the AWD in the wet will be able to make traction an issue? the 3.5 is still tame.

3.8 has so much torque. Such a good upgrade.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/716/img2044ij.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/145/img2045h.jpg/

2 of my times. used to do 2.1 60ft with my 3.5 with shitty tyres.

Sweet, ill send pic to mate now. That will keep him quiet for a bit. When did you do the run. He is starting with the willowbank is down hill bull now.

Sweet, ill send pic to mate now. That will keep him quiet for a bit. When did you do the run. He is starting with the willowbank is down hill bull now.

well they dont go faster for no reason jase lololol