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stever/t
Dodge Dakota
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9/08/2005
19:49:22
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 Subject: new to 1/4 mile track
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I've had my fully stock 2003 rc r/t for about a year now and i love the truck..i read posts of how slow everyone says it is but in the mean time I'm smoking all sorts of vehicles just messing around at stop lights...
the problem is that i have nothing to back it up...I'm from a small farm town in eastern idaho and I just moved to boise idaho..they have a fairly nice 1/4 mile track here and I would love to have something on paper to show my performance, but I've never raced on a track before...I've only seen videos. Before I look like a moron rolling up to the line what are the basics I should know before I show up? (if I should roll through the water or not, how long or if I should burnout, etc.) sorry if I'm taking up space on the message boards but I figured the best place to go for this advice would be other dak owners...thanks
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intense blue
Dodge Dakota
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9/10/2005
03:05:33
|  RE: new to 1/4 mile track
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Hey, you're racing at Firebird right? I race there too. I never rolled through the water with street tires. Read somewhere that the water gets into the tread and makes them slicker. Anyway, I used to have an R/T, but I recently sold it. I still have the 52mmTB and M-1 from it in case anyone's interested. I now have a '72 Chevy C20 (it's quite the sleeper) and just built a killer 383, so maybe I'll see you around. (although I don't have a dodge anymore, I still love this site, you guys are the greatest!)
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stever/t
Dodge Dakota
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9/10/2005
13:08:29
| RE: new to 1/4 mile track
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yeah firebird is the track that's going to break me, heh. the m-1 intake and the 52mm throttle body right? how much are you asking? is it hard to install? what horsepower gains can you expect from those two upgrades? thanks
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intense blue
Dodge Dakota
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9/10/2005
21:08:09
| RE: new to 1/4 mile track
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Well, I'd certainly reccomend the throttle body. It is a stock unit ported to 52mm by Hughes engines. (www.hughesengines.com) I filled the MAP sensor cavity myself (that made a big difference). Anyway, I paid $250 and will sell it for $125. Some people claim 10-15 horsepower by switching throttle bodies, but it all depends on your setup.
This may sound a little odd, because I am still trying to sell it, but I wouldn't reccomend the M-1 intake manifold unless you have the Mopar computer that lets you rev to 6000rpm. The M-1 kills a lot of the low end torque that makes the 360 so fun to drive. I had a KRC 210X cam in my R/T and with the M-1, it was dead until about 3800 rpm. Of course, I was too poor to afford a new computer, so I had a 3800-5200 rpm powerband. It was miserable.
Anyway, a cold air intake, throttle body, and a good set of headers really wakes up the R/T. If I had to do everything over again, I would probably go with a ported stock intake instead of the M-1. But that's just my opinion. The M-1 looks better than new and I'll sell it for $300 including the installation kit.
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ewraven
Dodge Dakota
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9/15/2005
00:47:46
| RE: new to 1/4 mile track
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I'm going with a ported stock intake manifold on my 5.2L Dakota as well. I heard about the low end losses and that isn't right for a truck.
For the drag strip, do not do a burn out and definately drive around the water pit. Getting water on your tires is obviously a bad thing when your trying to get a good launch. But doing a burnout on street non-drag tires not only makes you look like a dope, but it actually ruins the tires and makes them even slippier.
I've only ever seen one tree, but you should always launch on the second to last light which was the second yellow light. IIRC, it's yellow/yellow/you launch and then the green light illuminates. They could have a different tree at your track though. You should be able to ask them when you roll up onto the drag strip any questions you have.
And just be careful at the track, your insurance will not cover you or your vehicle while on the track and they'd most likely drop you like a rock if they were to find out you were EVER racing your truck.
I know this because; I decided to check into that with my insurance. Not only did they answer my question but they entered it into there computer. And for the next six months, every time I called; the first thing they said was to ask if I'd been racing!
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Mopar318
Dodge Dakota
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9/15/2005
16:41:48
| RE: new to 1/4 mile track
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"But doing a burnout on street non-drag tires not only makes you look like a dope, but it actually ruins the tires and makes them even slippier"
Actually burning out for a short amount of time on street tires will help. It cleans off any debrees on the tires and it raises the temp of the tire to help the tread stick better to the ground. But you are right about not going the water pit. And you look stupid doing a 30 second burnout with street tires. Just spin a little till you get a light mist of smoke then let off.
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Riv
Dodge Dakota
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9/16/2005
23:30:39
| RE: new to 1/4 mile track
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Mopar 318 is right. Pull around the water, back up to the cement burn pad (if they have one)and do a small burn,(till you see smoke). this will clean the tires and bring them up to temp. At a Mopar meat a few years ago a couple other guys with R/T's suggested lowering my tire pressure to 26 pounds. It seemed to help my 60 foot times a bit. (that pretty much determines your traction). Also if you drive through the water it will splash up into your inner fenderwell and drip back down on your tire. This was explained to me my first time at the track (Milan) back in 1986.
Hope any of this helps you, if it's bone stock it should run low 15s. My 2000 RC R/T ran 15.0s bone stock. A lot has happened since then (including 3 kids) If the weather holds this sunday I hope to see the results of a few mods I've done.
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ewraven
Dodge Dakota
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9/17/2005
00:43:29
| RE: new to 1/4 mile track
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Mopar318
Thanks for pointing that out. I've always been told otherwise.
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ewraven
Dodge Dakota
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9/17/2005
00:43:29
| RE: new to 1/4 mile track
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Mopar318
Thanks for pointing that out. I've always been told otherwise.
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yellowR/T
Dodge Dakota
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9/17/2005
01:31:31
| RE: new to 1/4 mile track
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after all this advice i cannot wait to see your results. i am nervous for you and i am no teven going. GOOD LUCK!!!!
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