[silver_pilate]

Mach 1,

Actually...I'm not one to make excuses, but there's a whole bunch up with those times . Let's see...where to begin?

Well...this was my very first time to run the 1/4 in any vehicle, and the high altitude doesn't help.

I had about 200 pounds of unneccessary weight in the car (I wasn't planning on running so I didn't track prep the car at all...speaker box...spare...about 100 pounds of grad. school text books in the back seat)

The run was made without any tuning. I don't even know what my timing was set at...my timing light, along with everyone elses that I know, was busted. I think it was pretty close to 10*.

I didn't even lower the pressure in my tires...can you say wheel spin? Also, I don't have enough practice to hit the lights consistantly just yet.

My O2 sensors are about 130,000 miles old and are far past need of replacement.

I had a HUGE exhaust leak on the number four cylinder. I recently replaced my header gaskets (after these times were run), and I discovered that the entire number four primary seal was gone. Basically, there was no seal at all on the exhaust port for that cylinder...kinda like running on 7 and 1/2 cylinders. The new gaskets made a BIG difference in performance.

I'm having transmission problems. My tranny won't hold 3rd gear under WOT. I launch good through 1st...hold second to close to 5800...but when I hit third, I have to back out halfway on the throttle or the tranny will slip directly from third to OD even though the shift lever is in D. Needless to say, hitting OD a few hundred feet before the line kills my et. This is a problem with my VB or shift kit. I'm about to invest in the Lentech VB to resolve this issue. Also, the tranny has been rebuilt twice before I got the car...I feel it's holding me back some...I'm curious to see how the Lentech VB helps out.

Also, there are some more mods I need to make to maximise my combo. I need a larger fuel pump and adjustable regulator. I need some underdrive pullies, and I need to ditch the stock fan for an electric one.

When the tracks open back up in a couple of weeks, I'll hit them again and see what kinda times I can pull off. I know I can hit 13's at this altitude if I get it set up right.

What do you think...what kinda numbers should I be looking for considering the altitude?

--nathan