2000 S10 Xtreme Drag Truck

[D.B]

Opening day is tomorrow and I am loaded up ready to play. Th back end looks ok with the roll pan removed. I did install an MSD RPM Selector in place of the RPM modules. I am bringing the modules just in case. You never know what could happen.

[regan wilson]

Have fun and do good.

[D.B]

Regan, I removed the shift selector module and going back to the chips.



Today's runs were not real bad for me but not good either.

1st pass - .0128 light, 1.4266 60 ft, 6.2876 at 109.73 mph
2nd pass - .0095 light, 1.3796 60 ft, 6.2884 at 109.83 mph
3rd pass - .0538 light, 1.4890 60 ft, 6.3911 at 106.81 mph

For some reason the motor stuttered at the top end right before the finish line. Thinking it is the shift selector module.

Saturday heading south to Little River outside of Temple, Tx. Never ran the S10 at this track. So, this should be fun. Be more fun when I can start making rounds.

[D.B]

Well, the race at Little River was cancelled due to weather. I was hoping to get some runs in to see if the changes I made fixed the problems I have. I will try to get back to XRP before the next race for a couple or three test runs. Next race is at the Texas Motorplex in Ennis on April 13th.

The fixes I did was readjusted my shift pressure. M&M said their shifter needs 125 min to 150 max pressures. I found out somehow it dropped to 90. So, I readjusted it to 150 psi. Minimum bottle pressure is 800 psi and mine is over 1,000 psi.

Then I replaced the MSD RPM switch I use to activate the shifter with a new one. The old one I bought at a swap meet back in 2013 when I put the truck together. A poor man finds a way to build his toys. Mine was to use swap meet parts. I did the change because one: that was the only item I have not changed and two: the chip did not seem to fit as tight as with a new switch.

And lastly, I wired the MSD Digital 6 box direct to the battery. I had it wired through an MSD noise filter, then into a terminal strip that include a lot of other items. Not sure if mine was being feed "dirty" power. A "clean" power connection is direct to the battery terminal.

You never know what can cause gremlins in electrical components. Hopefully one of these fixes my problems so I can make full power runs.

[D.B]

I fixed the coolant catch can that broke a couple of weeks ago. Made a bracket out of an exhaust pipe clamp. Then put a strip of rubber between the clamp and can.

[regan wilson]

That's a good clean fix DB.

[HO455]

Originally Posted by D.B

I fixed the coolant catch can that broke a couple of weeks ago. Made a bracket out of an exhaust pipe clamp. Then put a strip of rubber between the clamp and can.


Attachment 2417976



Attachment 2417977

Nice fix. Now I'm going to have to start looking for the smaller truck clamps at the swap meets just for this kind of thing. Thanks.

[D.B]

No pics today. Just getting ready for the race tomorrow at the Tx Motorplex. It will be a long day. Before I load the S10 I want to check a lot of things again just to make sure I didn't miss something. I do know that I will be making my first pass with a 4000 rpm launch and 6500 rpm shift. So, I want to make sure to get that set up. Then check all of the fluids and make sure my catch cans are emptied. Then clean the interior and wipe the truck down. Because I don't plan on loosing but if I do I want to look good doing it.

[D.B]

I said no pics today, but I had to take a couple. The first one is of the cutoff switch, and I lowered it so the tailgate could open. The second one is of the S10 loaded up ready to go. Leaving 6 am Sunday morning to head to the Motorplex.

[HO455]

Best of luck to you.

[regan wilson]

Be sure to fill us in with a Race Report this evening.

[D.B]

It was a bad day at the track. Everything seemed to be going well, and I was looking forward to making some full passes today. I want to get this top end issue behind me so I can concentrate on winning.
Well, that didn't happen. First teat pass I launched the wheels went up and I must have brushed my transbrake button. Just over 60 ft out it slammed down hard like I put the brakes on. I had a 1.42 60 ft which was what I had the last three runs. So that tells me it happened after 60 ft.
Coming down the return road I was hearing a weird noise. I was thinking transmission but when I rev'd the motor the noise stayed the same tone. Trans shifted into all gears fine and the transmission temp was low. When I got to the trailer and got out, I left the motor running. The noise was coming from the front. So, I opened the hood and found my alternator bracket bolt had broken.
I was trying to think what would have caused my problem and should I take the alternator off and go for another pass. The one of my friends' cars broke so I went to fix his. I found his issue was a broken suspension bracket. So, I loaded my truck, then got him loaded. We went and made a pass in out tow rigs so we could get first round points. I then went back to my trailer, hooked up, unloaded the S10. I drove the S10 over to a back road to make sure the transbrake would hold. It did, so it appears that whatever happened was something I did. I keep going through my race steps and it's hard for me to say it but that's all it could be.
Next race is at Thunder Valley just outside of Oklahoma City.

[D.B]

Originally Posted by HO455

Best of luck to you.

Thank you, I needed some luck. But the only thing I got was some bad luck. Hey, its racing and things are going to happen.

[D.B]

Originally Posted by regan wilson

Be sure to fill us in with a Race Report this evening.

Hey Reagan, I have a question. What do you use to lube your four-link rod ends. I have been spraying mine with WD40 but maybe I should be using something else.

[D.B]

Here are a couple of pics of the launch and then it broke. The pics actually look good but what happened a second later was not.

[SCOTI]

Angle of the images can deceive actuality. It looks like it hit hard on the brake release. The chassis looks like it lifted evenly.

[D.B]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Angle of the images can deceive actuality. It looks like it hit hard on the brake release. The chassis looks like it lifted evenly.

Hey Scoti, yes it hit hard off the transbrake, brought the wheels up and was carrying them. Then I must have moved my hand on the steering wheel enough to graze the transbrake button. Or maybe my wrist grazed it. I don't think there was any damage except to my lower alternator bolt. It sheared it off and went to the land of the lost.
I fixed the bolt tonight and will start it up tomorrow. I was hoping to get to the track this weekend, but the wife reminded me it was Easter weekend, and the grandkids will be here. So, I will go to Oklahoma with the S10 not knowing if its fixed or not.
I did get over to my friends place yesterday and fixed the bracket on his drag car. He is ready to turn on some win lights.

[D.B]

Thunder Valley in Oklahoma. We were set to go Saturday but the event was rained out. So, we went Sunday. Got to the track around 7:30am. Got the vehicles unloaded, checked them out and got them warmed up. Track was to be live ready for time trials at 10am. But due to early morning rain the timing system was jacked up. The track worked on it until 2 pm and finally called it, No Race. They did tell us if we wanted too, we could make passes but there would not be any time slips. I was ok with this since I wanted to make sure the work I did on the S10 fixed my issues. The track provided us with an arm drop.
My first pass I set the transbrake at 3500 rpm launch and 6500 rpm shift. I did the big burnout to heat up the slicks, rolled to the line and the track official dropped the arms. I took off, beat the Dart to the stripe. The S10 never missed a beat, it ran perfectly.

The Dart driver said he wasn't ready and wanted to make another go at it. I said, "No problem, let's do it".

On to the second pass. I bumped up the transbrake to 3700 rpm launch and same 6500 rpm shift. Did my normal rolling burn out, rolled to the line. Arm dropped, the S10 shot out like a rocket and clicked off the shifts and beat the Dart to the stripe.

Went back to the trailer, very happy how the S10 ran. Was loading it up and the Dart driver thanked me for his lesson that day and complimented me on the truck and my arm drop reaction.

Next event will be at Houston Motorsports Park on Saturday May 10th. My plans are to go watch Regan Wilson run Friday May 9th at the Texas Motorplex, then get home so I can get all loaded up for the Houston trip. Saturday is going to be a long day.

[regan wilson]

Good to hear the truck worked well for you. It sucks to drive that far for a rainout but it happens. I'll be at the Motorplex from the 13th to the 17th

[D.B]

Originally Posted by regan wilson

Good to hear the truck worked well for you. It sucks to drive that far for a rainout but it happens. I'll be at the Motorplex from the 13th to the 17th

I noticed that date when I was looking at my calendar this morning. I actually have Jury Duty on May 9th. My plan then is to come out and see you on Friday May 16th. I will be going back to Thunder Valley on Sunday May 18th.
The TMCCC schedule this year has us traveling a lot. But that's racing.

[D.B]

Ok, I made it to HMP in Houston. Thats about all I can say. First pass the wheels came up and hooked towards the wall. I had to get out of it. Found out that someone before me dripped enough oil on the right side of track which caused my truck to spin. Second pass I lined up on the left side of the right lane. Truck left good and made a decent pass. reaction was bad but all I wanted to do was get a good pass. Third pass I launched and got beat.
I am really struggling with my reaction times. I was doing pretty good with my old motor, but this new motor has got my head all jacked up. Plus, I was having trouble getting to the finish line or just taking off. If I can get the truck to make good passes, then I can start concentrating on cutting better lights.
Now we have Thunder Valley OKC on May 18th. Hoping to have a good race day. We will see.

[litebulblsc]

Sounds like you need to get some more passes in before the next event. Get things lined out a little better so you can have a good showing.

[D.B]

Here are a couple of pics from Houston:

[D.B]

I just found out that the Thunder Valley race on May 18th was postponed until June 1st. So, no race events until then. Maybe I can get out to XRP for TNT. I really need it.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by D.B

I just found out that the Thunder Valley race on May 18th was postponed until June 1st. So, no race events until then. Maybe I can get out to XRP for TNT. I really need it.

That's good & bad. It does allow that seat time to get your groove back but sounds like it will be stacking events/travels @ another point.