Project Splitter

[V8TV]

Splitter's first qualifying pass went 9.59 @ 143 on one of two nitrous kits... more to come

[c.schulz]

Originally Posted by V8TV

Splitter's first qualifying pass went 9.59 @ 143 on one of two nitrous kits... more to come

YA! Way to go Brett!!

Chris

[BallnRods]

I can't wait to see the video!

Chris

[2ndgenracer]

Pump gas drags was an absolute blast. I recommend anyone signing up for it next year . In order to get ready for the race, I swapped pistons out a couple weekends before the race from 14:1 to 10.5:1. I only have two passes on the 14:1 pistons and on motor it went a 10.49 and 10.55 with no tuning both at 131mph. When I went to 10.5:1 I only had about 6 passes, the best being an 11.19 at 124mph I think it still might run in the tens, but that was all the time I had before going to PGD. To let you know a little bit about some of the rules at PGD they give you 10 gallons of 93 octane Rockett brand fuel. You must complete a 30 mile drive from Comp Cams to Memphis Motorsports park run a maximum of two qualifying passes, then go two rounds before they give you any more fuel. In my mad thrash to make the event, I still needed to finish my NHRA license passes. My first two passes or qualifying passes at PGD went towards my final two that I needed for my license so I needed to make two good passes in the 9’s. On Friday night I was testing and hoping to get my license with no luck. I had the NOS fogger set at 300hp and the controller set at 40% start with all 300 in 3 seconds, and it just killed the tires. I learned a little from that and came up with leaving at 10% just to get 4100lbs moving.

First qualifying pass it went 9.59 @143mph with a 1.50 sixty foot, 6.12 @112 at the 1/8th . I had a blubber up top in 3rd gear, so instead of changing jets, I just added a 1/2lb of fuel pressure on the nitrous side fuel regulator. 2Nd pass it picked up going a 9.57 @136, I let out early because of the blubber still being there, added another 1/2lb for the next pass. I had my license signed off on by the track manager and a couple fellow racers. Now it was first round, I had the 2nd kit ready to go just in case someone was in front of me; I had the NOS Big Shot plate set at 225hp. I ended up qualifying 13th, again I was more concerned keeping the car hooked and finishing the license passes. I apologize for not knowing who I had in the first round, but I never had to go to the 2nd kit and by ½ track realized he was far enough back to let out and save fuel and NOS, coasting to a 10.0 @ 116mph . Sixty foot picked up with a 1.45 cars best to date. Rain came in and hail/tornado warnings before 2nd round said they would continue the race today Sunday May 11th A.K.A Mothers day. After a couple hours of debate with my buddies I decided it would be best to call it a day and head home. This is my wife’s first mother’s day, and my personal opinion of myself if I had stayed and raced would be a dead beat husband, I know not everyone’s opinion, but just what I thought was right.

I planned on being at Year One next weekend to meet a lot of people from the boards, but with work I have to fly out on Sunday, so it just made sense to do the event in my backyard. This coming weekend I’ll be at Gateway for the World Street Challenge running True street, it’s a 30 mile cruise with 3 back to back passes, I’ll let you know how it goes, hopefully Kevin or I can get some video up of the car making it’s passes there.

Later,
Brett

[72blackbird]

Brett,
I want to congratulate you on the fanastic job you did on Project Splitter- it's an inspiration and great example of a car that can excel on both the road course and drag strip, as well as your excellent craftsmanship. As a Pontiac Firebird owner, I'm also very happy you also kept it pure Pontiac and didn't stick a Chevy motor in it, as alot of uninformed Firebird owners would do. You've shown what most hardcore Pontiac fans already know- Pontiac V-8s can make serious power, more than enough to take the win.

The stance , wheel fitment, and ride height of your Firebird came out perfect- any advice and/ or refernces of how to duplicate that on my 'Bird? Your wheel/tire sizes are what I would like to fit those size tires on my car, but I'm not exactly sure where to start.

What are your plans in regard to road racing the car? Have you ever considered a time trial event like the Silver State classic in Nevada? Maybe that would make for some great episodes on V8-TV.

Geno

[2ndgenracer]

Geno,

Thanks for the kind words!

About fitting your car with what I did. The fronts are very simple 18X9.5 w/5.25 backspacing. Clears the fender, and clears the front factory placement anti-sway bar. Nothing in the front was moved or changed, Global west tubular control arms. I also run the Toyo RA1 275/35/18's.

The rear is really going to be custom. I decided what wheel/tire combo I wanted and made measurements from there. The car is mini tubbed, Kevin has a video at the V8TV site that talks about it, and I run a 18x12 with 4" backspacing and the Toyo RA1's 335/30/18's. The cool thing about your car is if you wanted to keep the factory rear end and not cut on it, you could mini tub, call up CCW or anyone else that makes a custom wheel that can get you the right backspacing to run an 18x12 with the 335's. I say custom since backspacing on most wheels would never be right, I'm guessing you would have a backspacing of almost 8". It doesn't have to be a 3 piece design; I've run Bogarts in the past on other cars with 7.25" backspacing on a 10" rim.

As far as road racing, I will be at the run through the hills event, and I'm trying to find a few other events/classes to run in. I followed the rules setting up the car for NASA, so I will make one of those events this year. I have thought about the Silver State, and hope to be able to afford to go. The car has a 3.50 gear currently, and with the Gear Vendor unit that number goes to 2.73, I haven't done any math on it yet, but I will probably need to change that for the event.

Thanks again,
Brett

[72blackbird]

Brett,
I was wondering why you running such a shallow backspacing for such a deep rim, but then I remembered you're also running drag rims and race slicks- smart design on the rear suspension. I do alot more road racing/autocross/ canyon running than drag racing, so I'll probably set my rear track width a bit wider. I haven't decided which type of rear suspension configuration I'm going to go with yet- any suggestions? I originally wanted to go with coilovers, a four-link, and panhard bar, but need more info if it will work better than the stock set up. Did you design the rear suspsension on your car? It seems very well thought out- I really like that Watts linkage for axle location.

I also considered going with an aftermarket front subframe, but after seeing your video on the front suspension buildup I think I will follow your example and run the parts you did. I need to dissassemble my front end and drop the factory subframe to check it for straightness, since I've been beating on my 'Bird for the last 20 years, but if it all checks out I'll clean it up and get back together. You used a preassembled Baer brake spindle/hub/rotor package- what rotor/ caliper size (p/n) did you use? Did you keep the factory 1 1/4" sway bar?

I like those CCWs you chose- how do they compare to the Forgelines in terms of weight and construction? I'm still undecided on rim choice, but I'm partial to the more modern five-spoke rims.

BTW, good choice on packing in on the racing to be home for Mother's Day- the last thing you need is to be in the dog house for missing something as important as your wife's first Mother's Day (congrats on the new baby as well).

Thanks for all the information and advice- please keep us updated on Splitter's performance and upgrades.

Geno

[2ndgenracer]

Geno,

With the right wheel/tire off set you can run a deep or shallow wheel shouldn't make a difference. Well you could argue that a wider rear end with shocks angled in the barrel of the wheel gives better handling. I have my shocks mounted out as far as I can get them. In the past on my builds I always run a shallow wheel with a ton of bkspce, just wanted to run a deeper wheel on this car.

As far as the front and rear suspension goes, again the old saying how fast can you afford to go comes to mind. Obviously there is way better than what I chose to do. There are a ton of great light weight aftermarket front stubs for 2nd gens, and the rear suspension is unlimited. I chose to run what I did due to some of the drag classes requiring stock suspension. I did design the rear, and I started putting Affco sliders in cars years ago, saw them in a dirt bowl magazine, and thought those might work. As far as the watts linkage in theory I didn't really design it per say, I looked at what was available on the market, copied from a couple vendors and put something together. It actually happened because I'm so tight with my money that I felt that for what was in these kits, I could do it my self. I'm glad I did, everything fits perfect, it's a real tight fit back there with the 3-1/2 inch tail pipes.

I run the Baer Track series in the front. It's a 13" rotor part# 4301041. Obviously the 18's clear these, but with the skinny 15's I ran a 1/4 inch spacer to clear. These come with the factory spindle, I did not run the drop spindle. In the rear I ran the Baer Sport series with a 12" rotor part# 4302066 for Big Ford ends, the part# for 10/12 bolt is 4302004. Again I would have put bigger brakes on it, but the limited tire selection for drag radials was the limiting factor. For the sway bar I have an Addco solid 1-1/4" sway bar.

In regards to the CCW's, I can only say very positive things about these wheels, they look killer for the price. As far as function, weight and the details, I could never afford Forgelines, so I never really investigated them. Last I checked CCW's were half the price. So can't really help you out there, and wheel choice is usually the toughest thing to decide on, it'll make or break a car.

Good Luck,
Brett

[72blackbird]

Brett,
The part choices you made for your 'Bird seemed right on target- more focus on go than show. I've had trick paint jobs, shiny rims and all the chrome on my 'Bird before, but ultimately it still has to back up the looks with power and performance. I don't have the budget for a 850 hp race-gas 541, but I think I can build a 600 hp pump-gas 462 that will do the job and not get me kicked out of the house.

The Forgelines are realistically out of my price range as well, considering I need to upgrade my drivetrain as well- they make the CCW's seem like a deal by comparison. They are also only available in 19" and 20", too big IMO for a second gen Firebird. I ran 15" rims up untill now (just put road race slicks on when I wanted to go racing ), so I think 18's will do the job- those wheels are big enough for me.

There are so many choices when it comes to the front subframe, to be honest it's difficult to say which is best. But I think if I stick with the stock subframe I won't be excluded from running from most club racing/ autocross groups. I may have to have a 'stock appearing' rear suspension as well (no coilovers ), so I may have try those sliders out as well. But I may get away with the 4-link and Watts linkage- got to check the SCCA rule book on that.

Is V8 TV going to do any more episodes on the Splitter?

Geno

[2ndgenracer]

We should have some track footage coming up soon.