General question about horsepower numbers

[PDUB]

Thanks! I have a 3.31 as well and am planning to use a wide ratio toploader. But I might be using a rebuilt 289 instead of the 408 that I originally planned. Wheel spin may not be as bad with the 289...

[Excaliber]

Wide Ratio top loader 1st. 2.78
Close Ratio 1st. 2.32
TKO 1st. 2.87

There is a substantial difference between the TKO and Close ratio.

Most folks run the wide ratio and the difference is not "that much" with the TKO. It was a BIG step for me, I'm struggling with how to launch and get through second gear, can't run it wide open, don't want to use slicks, learning throttle modulation. My 1/4 mile ET has actually been SLOWER than with the C.R. top loader!

[cobrashoch]

Ernie - I don't know how serious you are about going faster @ the digs. But for cars that spin out through midtrack more rear gear and a short shift stratagy usially works fairly well. Don't know how your camed, but a experimental 4.10 may help. The object of short shifting is to be somwhere in mid power band in 4th gear at the end. Just guessing but your car should be in the mid to high 1.30s @ at the 60ft mark. It also helps to have someone watch your launch. Idealy you want the tires to slightly squat down with the butt end lifting slightly. If the rear is not lifting, (sqatting down instead) you have some work ahead of you. Takes a while to learn how to drive a car this way. Most guys think they can just get in and go @ the digs and win. Reality is you must learn to drive your car, experiment, re-learn how to drive it again, then live with some awkward change till you can figger out something better. And o-yes, you will probibly loose, and loose a lot too. And that's if you don't break parts. Try to keep the front end giong forward. Good luck

[Excaliber]

Well thats the thing, I do the 1/4 mile only on occasion, just to see how the car is doing more than anything. Road racing or Auto X is my preferred choice and how I've got the car setup. I hate to short shift, but I hear ya! I'm an rpm junkie,

Used to run 11.9, now it's tough doing a 12.1, only change was gear ratios!

I'd rather spin the tires than break an axle with slicks though....