1/4 mile and 1/8 mile times

[Leesfer]

just curious as to what people are running... I would like to go run my fiat spider (82 fi) but I want to know what to expect so I don't embarass myself :p

[So Cal Mark]

I'd suggest timing a rolling 1/4. Those rear axles don't hold up to burnouts very well

[fiatS2000]

[So Cal Mark]

interesting data, especially the brake fade. Although the Spider and X have the same brakes and the Spider weighs more, the X experienced much more brake fade after 6 panic stops

[yap123]

On the spec sheet, it calls for 91 octane fuel for the Spider. Do most people use premium gas? I use regular. Will I get better mileage or performance using premium?

Clint

[Danno]

interesting data sheet, but not really an accurate answer to this guy's question. The sheet shows data from a carb'd 1800 pushing about 15hp less than this guys FI 2L. 20sec in the 1/4? geesh... My Aerio could run, according to C&D tests, 17.7 in the 1/4mile. It's got a few miles on it at this point, but so does the Fiat. When I went for a drive the other day in the Fiat Beth followed and she couldn't keep up with me. I'm guessing with some good shifting you could pull upper 16's in your fiat. Not a race car, but not a slowpoke. Can anybody confirm this stuff I'm saying? anybody have actual slips?

[Leesfer]

with any luck, I'm going down to the strip this Friday... We only have an 1/8 mile but we'll see what we can get either way

[spiderrey]

i think that chart gives him just what he asked for. roughly what to expect, a ballpark. now lets see what happens.

[baltobernie]

Let's do the math:

predicted 1/4 mi. ET = cube root of pounds per HP x 6.269 (that's flywheel HP and test weight, including driver)

Using the data supplied in the Road Test, the cube root of 30.6 = 3.1278 Multiplied by 6.269 = 19.6 seconds

Pretty close to their actual results. Sixteen second ET in a Spider? That would require 140 net horsepower; certainly within the capabilities of our engines, but hardly commonplace.

The formula, BTW, is the invention of the late Roger Huntington, a drag racer from the 1950's

[Danno]

ok, lets say 105hp (isn't that what the BoschLFI spiders were producing? Someone help with numbers if I get these wrong). Curb weight +(driver) ~2500lbs?

predicted 1/4 mi. ET = cube root of pounds per HP x 6.269

ET= cube root of (2500/105) x 6.269

ET=23.80952...^1/3 x 6.269
ET=2.8768... x 6.269
ET=18.09

Ditch the 100 pounds of bumper + stuff associated with the bumper and spare tire and trunk fixins and I bet you can do this with a weight of about 2350. refiguring using the same formula as above

ET=22.3809..^1/3 x 6.269
ET=2.8181.... x 6.269
ET=17.67

Those times seem to be closer to upper 16s like I said, then to 20something times. we'll see how close a calculator can get, nothing beats real life numbers!

Doing a backwards calc I'd think it would take

ET=16.9
16.9 = (2350/HP)^1/3 x 6.269
2.69580 = (2350/HP)^1/3
19.591392 = 2350/HP
HP=~120

[CarNut]

I'd suggest timing a rolling 1/4. Those rear axles don't hold up to burnouts very well

Yeah. Unless its a muscle car, I don't get taking a classic car to the drag strip at all. Why risk breaking something to prove its not as fast as a a modern econobox.

[Leesfer]

Classic car? I was under the impression that these cars tore it up in the rallye races during the 70s...

Anyway I only am going to drag another couple fiats coz my cousins have two of em, too

[stefhahn]

Classic car? I was under the impression that these cars tore it up in the rallye races during the 70s...

Yes, well, but using another gearbox (e.g. colotti) and another rear axle (irs) than the street version. I can look up the homologation material for the 124CSA (even in the stradale=street version)- they are really different looking at these parts.
ciao,
Stefan
P.S.: yes, there were some private drivers using changed street versions - but not exactly successful afaik.

[Leesfer]

Anyone know if its possible to find a performance rear axle?

[baltobernie]

The 124 sedan's successor, model 131, was a highly-modified (by Abarth) 3-time World Champion rally car. Like the Renault Alpine and Lancia Stratos (with its Ferrari engine), these were pure race cars. Not as outrageous as the "Killer B's" of the 1980's, but race cars nonetheless. Components in these cars had to last only one event, not 30 years of corrosion and pollution.

Given enough money, you could buy/build a Spider drivetrain to endure weekends at the strip. Heck, for $200,000 you could build the world's fastest Vauxhall sedan!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D54J9XFKBHo

I doubt that the Fiat independent rear suspension would be any more suitable for drag racing than the solid axle. I guess you could cryo treat the gears, etc. of your car, machine a solid spacer to replace the rubber doughnut, etc. Then there's the clutch. I'm installing one now, and the clutch disc is 8" in diameter and weighs two pounds. The friction material is about 1/8" thick. How long do you think that would last on the drag strip?

Put me down for 12.6 seconds in the 1/8 mi. pool for your car. Please don't break it. Winner gets a beer at Pocono.