Want to put down times with my daily driver, what to do for strip prep?

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l30 bandit

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I have a 1996 ecsb with a l30 vortec in it. 2wd and auto trans. I want to take it down the quarter for some fun this summer and I want to know opinions on cheap additions to the power train and traction departments to make it enjoyable. Is there a nitrous system that works well on these engines? What tires will work well? It has 3.52 gears I think and I was also wondering if the b&m shift improver switch is worth some time off the ET or if it just ups line pressure for feel. I was also thinking of doing a carburetor conversion to get rid of that bottleneck as well. Thoughts?

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RichLo

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nitrous is the cheapest and esiest HP you can buy, just know your limit and dont get pill happy.

Otherwise, strip as much out/off as possible for weight savings and that shift improver kit is worth it but just a heads up if you order some 10watt 10ohm resistors off ebay you can get the same effect as the B&M for less than $2.
 

Justin S

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I'd run it as is and have fun. Start getting into more power and traction, the more things you'll need to upgrade to not blow it up or break
 

slowburb

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A carb swap on a '96+ truck isn't a walk in the park in the same way that it is on an older GMT400 because the computer that controls fuel also controls the transmission, not to mention all of the emissions equipment and other complicated systems. It can be done, but not just by swapping intakes and bolting on a carburetor. Any shorter tire will effectively change your drive ratio to a more respectable 1320 oriented gearing. Less rolling resistance in the front would also help...think skinnies here.
 

df2x4

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I'd run it as is and have fun. Start getting into more power and traction, the more things you'll need to upgrade to not blow it up or break

This, for sure. Unless you're going to build a dedicated drag truck then I wouldn't mess with it. There's a few people who have gone this route with a GMT400. @polar comes to mind, his build is pretty badass. Unless you're trying to do something like that then don't ruin a good daily driver.

Side note, The B&M switch is a waste of money IMO. Like @RichLo said, it's just some resistors. If anything it'll probably make you slower down the track due to traction loss between gears.
 

michael hurd

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It's hardly worth spending tons of money to go slow.

FWIW, unless you have an abundance of cash, I would just run it as is to get a baseline and call it a day, or have fun with it as is.

Is it a peg leg, or a governor lock?


Be realistic, it's a 20 year old truck that can be embarrassed by most of today's vehicles.

Things you can do for cheap: ensure the tires are properly inflated, the brakes aren't dragging ( return springs stretched or fatigued in the drum brake system ) or the brake calipers dragging.

Removing the front sway bar links will give you some weight transfer to the rear on launch, as will removing the bolt for the rebound clamps on the front half of your leaf springs.

Ensure the suspension is not binding, and the ball joints move freely. ( IE lubricated )

Shorter tires will help the effective gearing, but limit the length of the contact patch of the tire. Moving to a wider tire will help, or a slick.

You aren't going to be able to run very fast on the stock rear axle, as it has C-clips to retain the axle shafts.

Before going to the track, you also need to make sure you have no fluid leaks that will prevent you from passing tech.

The stock driveshaft, if aluminum will not take much abuse if it is corroded. ( likely in a salt belt vehicle of that vintage )

Otherwise, with half decent traction you will end up like this:



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l30 bandit

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I'm pretty sure it's a steel driveshaft. Thanks for the input guys, imo spending a ton to go fast would be dumb indeed, but a few hundred bucks to make my daily fun might be my summer project
 

dannymcd

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The best bang for your buck is to buy an old CBR600 for under $2k and put it in the bed of the truck. I used to take my G8 GT to test and tune night down at dragway42, pulling high 12's put me inline with LS1 camaros with intake and headers. There's always the racer dad with his kid in a 80's or 90's chevy truck with a cammed SBC that would pull down mid 14's, not fast but still fun, and with cutouts they sound legit. Just build the engine up a little bit and change the rear end to get it to launch hard and it will be alot of fun. I took my stock burban down the track and it pulled an 17.8 1/4mi, wheel spin was never an issue with 3tons of truck resting on the wheels.

I'm a big fan of all motor builds, that doesn't mean that Nitrous is bad or cheating I've been tempted several times to add it to my everyday driver ('15 rogue) just to surprise some kid in an eclipse or civic SI, but the thought of blowing up a DI motor or CVT transmission in a newer car keeps me grounded, but a SBC long block is under $2k so go for it.
 
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