Taller gear = More MPH!

The last couple of weeks have been pretty wild.
I went to Silver Dollar Raceway in Reynolds GA to prepare for the final Div.2 points race of the season. I went there Saturday before last to run a CSR Series Super Street (10.90) race. The ol' 58 went a 10.905 at 146 right out of the trailer. I was very happy.
The next pass, it shucked all of the teeth on the pinion just as the trans brake released. Crap!@*%$ happy..gone... I had been running a 4.56 street gear with the 514 for over 10 years, broke it last year with the 605...and right at one year later...broke another street gear!
I had a brand new 4.29 pro gear at home...141 miles away. SO....on the way home, stopped at Summit and picked up an arm load of parts, yoke, pinion retainer, bearings...and proceeded home for an ALL NIGHT thrash to set up a new cog. At noon the next day I pulled back into Silver Dollar and cranked of a terrible...vibrating...aborted pass. I had not taken the time to rebalance my rear tires, and had "clocked" them differently causing a super bad out-of balance. Being up for over 30 hours, I gave up and went home.
All week business trip last week and it is Friday night. I got home, checked the car over...rebalanced the rear tires and headed back to Silver Dollar, where the Div2 race was already in progress. I only got one time shot on Saturday morning, and then round 1.
I figured the 4.29 would slow it down a little, so I sped-up the throttle stop, set it for a 10.90. It ran 10.77 at about 148!
I got a handle on the throttle stop and went to the third round when a bad light took me down. I dumped my opponent right at the stripe and it still ran over 146 at 10.91. Most of the runs were 10.90 or 10.91 at 147.22 or so. ---- It was 146 with the 4.56 before.
Point of the story...I went from a 4.56 to a 4.29...and it sped the thing up. Now I wish I had went to a 4.11 or so.
Now I wonder what it will run wide open. It is on the thottle stop for about 3 seconds.

Ingredients: 3600 lb + 605 A-Head + 2 speed 1.80 + my home-brew progressive throttle stop + all high gear run = Lots of noise and FUN!

Oh..yeah.....the '58 finished #5 in Div2 S/ST and is currently #3 in Jegs All Stars - Div.2 S/ST
That is my best season ever.
Long story..but I thought it would make others feel better about all night thrashes.
Later,
Keith ( & the '58)
1958 Ford Custom 300
www.KeithFulpMotorsports.com

Your my hero Keith!! Congrats on a good season buddy

Congrats Keith !

I have found the same thing with some of my bracket 460 cars.
Since you are on the T.S. for so long, and it appears you want to top end your opponents, then a lower numerical gear will work in your favor.

Hell, you could probably put 3.73s in it and be on the TS for 2 sec. and get 150 mph @ 10.9

In most cases (imo) if you are running 1/4 & 1/8 w/bbf. The 4.30 IS the all around gear. Good Job Keith

bbf-falcon wrote:In most cases (imo) if you are running 1/4 & 1/8 w/bbf. The 4.30 IS the all around gear. Good Job Keith

That would be ME......


I agree Dan-O... Keith is my HERO!!

I've had this same issue for all of last year. Every run I made was 153mph or 154mph. The logs show that it's on the limiter for just over a second on the big end. Next year it's time to ditch the stock block and 3.73's.

I think it has something to do with frozen margarita's, homemade woodruff keys. The BEST beer ,and hanging out at a certain "Bikers" pub ,and a little SOB holding a lantern.....oh yeah ,and Larry Dixon Sr. probably had a hand in it too. If ,not it has to be Hot Rod Fuller or Bob Vandgrift"s gang putting the tune up on it. I'm sure you had to be there to totally understand it, but Keith knows...holy cow ,I almost forgot the hosers and Banana Ice Cream...Geez ,where's my brain today........

Wow...guys,,,
Thanks for all of the nice comments and ratio input.
The '58 is a 36-year project that just keeps developing more every year. Some years...it did not go so well....
I hope to rework the rear suspension this short winter and get to leave WFO without rattling the tires. Installing the glass doors would be a nice help too. I have been sitting on them for about 10 months or so.
As far as DanO's info.....you woulda hafta been there....
Thanks again,
Keith

Good deal...keep it going

Wheelie58 wrote:Wow...guys,,,
Thanks for all of the nice comments and ratio input.
The '58 is a 36-year project that just keeps developing more every year. Some years...it did not go so well....
I hope to rework the rear suspension this short winter and get to leave WFO without rattling the tires. Installing the glass doors would be a nice help too. I have been sitting on them for about 10 months or so.
As far as DanO's info.....you woulda hafta been there....
Thanks again,
Keith

I plan on being there next year

You better be planning on having the time of your life if show up at the HotRod Reunion...it 's the bomb baby!!