Go Karting, Wheel Spin & Tire Pressure Survey

[GoDadGo]

Hey Gang,


What pressure have you all found to be the best for getting the car to hook because tire spin is very easy to come by at only 1/3 to 1/2 throttle?
I'm into some Extensive Go Kart Testing and am running 21 pounds of pressure on all four corners.
Tires are NITTO 555's with 245/45-17's up front with 285/40-17's out back and have the 3 links set up and standard Red Koni's from Factory Five.
I'm running a Mighty Mouse 383 SBC with 3.73's out back and am likely making in the 440-460 HP with torque numbers in the same range.

Steve

NOTE: My engine specs are very similar to the Edelbrock Signature 383 with a little bigger head, a little more compression, a better breathing single plane intake, similar cam specs and the exact same carb.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/46213/10002/-1

https://youtu.be/aYq4PubfeMU

[Gordon Levy]

22-23 psi all the way around

[GoDadGo]

Thanks Gordon!

With over 195 builds under your belt, I'll take that answer as being straight from Gospel!

Steve

[MPTech]

General rule is 1psi / 100lbs.

[Big Blocker]

What Gordon said . . . If your Bow Tie engine is cast iron, you might want to go up a pound or two in front. I wouldn't pass 24-25 in front with 245's.

FWIW, my MKII with 302 (425#) runs 275's front @ 22, 315's rear @ 24 when there is two people in the car for a cruise. Normally 2 PSI less when I'm a single. Nitto 555's

Same 3-Link setup, same gearing.

Doc

[GoDadGo]

Thanks Gentlemen!

[Jeff Kleiner]

I run 22 on the street when I start fresh and 19 to 22 on track depending on temperature and surface. Actually though since I'm lazy much of the time I run on the street with whatever I left the track with and don't air back up till I get one of those round tuits---which generally don't show up all that often! At 21ish PSI you're in the ballpark and the lack of "hook" is probably rooted more in tire selection than pressure.

You will plant better if you install the control arms using the lower set of holes in the axle brackets. Where do you have yours?

Jeff

[CraigS]

20 front and 22 rear. The front is low because I like the heavier steering feel and run 275s on the street w/ a ton of autocross camber.

[rich grsc]

The above pressure suggestions are right in the ball park. Excessive tire spin could be directly related to your rear gear ratio, with that engine in such a light car, I would be running 3:27, maybe as high as 3:55

[GoDadGo]

I run 22 on the street when I start fresh and 19 to 22 on track depending on temperature and surface. Actually though since I'm lazy much of the time I run on the street with whatever I left the track with and don't air back up till I get one of those round tuits---which generally don't show up all that often! At 21ish PSI you're in the ballpark and the lack of "hook" is probably rooted more in tire selection than pressure.

You will plant better if you install the control arms using the lower set of holes in the axle brackets. Where do you have yours?

Jeff

Jeff,

I've got the lowers installed in the lowest holes in the brackets.
I'm getting ZERO tire shake, and boy does she scoot, but I'm pedaling it and even got wheel spin in 2nd gear but I chickened out since I'm sitting on boat cushions with no seats or even seat belt.
Also, when we installed a similar engine, which wasn't as potent, in my pals 1981 Z/28 we were able to pedal that car to 12.10's and 12.20's with 3.42 R/P on regular BFG 275/50-15' tires.
Yes, I'm working on installing the seats and belts today because I know it isn't a motorcycle and this car has more power than I had expected it to have.
I've got the same tire on my C-4 and it does just fine, but is about 1,250-1,350 pounds heavier with 3.55's in the pumpkin, but only does low 13's in the 1,320'.
Just thought it would hook better because I'm 50/50 front to rear and nearly the same side to side.

Steve

PS: I thought the 383 SBC would have been a nice compromise between what I see installed in most of these cars with push rod V/8's. (Compromise = 302, 331, 347, 363 & 427 SBF Engines)

[GoDadGo]

The above pressure suggestions are right in the ball park. Excessive tire spin could be directly related to your rear gear ratio, with that engine in such a light car, I would be running 3:27, maybe as high as 3:55

Lower gears were not an options since I want to be at 6,000 RPM's at the end of the quarter mile, which will be around 125 MPH in 4th gear.
Also, since I'm running a ZF-Gear Box (5th gear is a .75 O/D & 6th being .50 O/D) so that will put the engine at 1,750 RPM at or around 75 MPH.
Operation range is 2,300-6,500 for the head, cam and intake combo, but the engine does run well at 1,750 RPM, but is happiest at 2,000 RPM.
Thanks for your comment and I think a pair of M/T Drag Radials will be on the car when it makes it's Maiden Voyage to Gulfport Dragway.

[Dave Howard]

Hey Gang,


What pressure have you all found to be the best for getting the car to hook because tire spin is very easy to come by at only 1/3 to 1/2 throttle?
I'm into some Extensive Go Kart Testing and am running 21 pounds of pressure on all four corners.
Tires are NITTO 555's with 245/45-17's up front with 285/40-17's out back and have the 3 links set up and standard Red Koni's from Factory Five.
I'm running a Mighty Mouse 383 SBC with 3.73's out back and am likely making in the 440-460 HP with torque numbers in the same range.

Steve

NOTE: My engine specs are very similar to the Edelbrock Signature 383 with a little bigger head, a little more compression, a better breathing single plane intake, similar cam specs and the exact same carb.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/46213/10002/-1

https://youtu.be/aYq4PubfeMU
i
Like others, I'm running about 1lb /100 weight of car. If you want the car to "hook up" like a drag race hook up, lower your pressure to 10 for the strip then back up for the ride home. The car will still break loose at mid track with an agressiveright foot. Scary

[Boydster]

I'd think a more serious tire would do you better. NT05's, 01's or even a drag radial. You're geared for the strip, use strip equipment.

[wareaglescott]

My car weighed in at 2467 lbs. I am running 24 psi on my 18s. Hooks up nicely.
In fact I read so much prior to driving my car about crazy wheel spin that it had me over concerned about it. I can get on the throttle pretty hard with the coyote without it breaking loose. I still respect it of course but driving it is way tamer in terms of controllability than I was led to expect from reading stories on the forum. Some of the stuff I read beforehand had me thinking anymore than 1/2 throttle and Id be spinning out of control into a ditch! lol

[Jeff Kleiner]

...I think a pair of M/T Drag Radials will be on the car when it makes it's Maiden Voyage to Gulfport Dragway.

Yep, right now you're using a street tire (and not an especially sticky one at that).

Jeff

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Have 22/23PSI in 17" NITTO 555R 245/40 & 315/35 tread wear 100 with 3:55 rear. Car hooks up very well. Have to get off the throttle for the 1/2 shift or traction goes away & the rear wants to ship out to the side. Have been using the BOSS intake to pull some power out of the bottom end car is very strong over 3000RPM to 7000RPM shift.

[GoDadGo]

Just got back from 10-15 miles of back road Go-Karting session and the more I drive it, the more I love it.
Also, from my perspective, the motor simply makes more power than the standard Nitto 555's can handle in 1st or 2nd gear once I get into the engine's sweet spot.
While the Nitto's will work for regular daily driving, I know now that I'll need a much stickier tire if I'm going to get this car down the track at Gulfport Dragway.
Thank you all for the feedback for it is appreciated.

[wareaglescott]

Just got back from 10-15 miles of back road Go-Karting session and the more I drive it, the more I love it.
Also, from my perspective, the motor simply makes more power than the standard Nitto 555's can handle in 1st or 2nd gear once I get into the engine's sweet spot.
While the Nitto's will work for regular daily driving, I know now that I'll need a much stickier tire if I'm going to get this car down the track at Gulfport Dragway.
Thank you all for the feedback for it is appreciated.

The beauty of living in Louisiana. The go cart is a normal looking vehicle in that part of the world. You could probably roll right past the police without them thinking anything of it! haha

[GoDadGo]

The beauty of living in Louisiana. The go cart is a normal looking vehicle in that part of the world. You could probably roll right past the police without them thinking anything of it! haha

Boy Do You Know Louisiana Well!

So far I've waived at by a couple of Sheriff Deputies and even had the honor of taking a State Trooper for a ride this morning.

Love living in the land of the Go-Cup, Where The Bars Never Close & Where You Can Pick Up A Daquerie At The Drive Through!

No Seats, No Seat Belts, No Body, No Problem!

[GoDadGo]

Did a total of 25 Go-Kart miles today in between painting my seat brackets.
Tomorrow we hope to have real seats and real seat belts.
The power is absolutely over the top insane.
It makes my daily feel like a Yugo.

Daily Driver:
https://youtu.be/svZX2BMSDEs

[Itchief]

I am running about 22 psi front and rear with Nitto 275 front 315 rear, with about 500 ft lb at the crank I can't hardly get the tires to stick. You don't have to dump the clutch, all you have to do in 1st is press down on the gas and it jumps from 1k to 5k in a couple of seconds and the rev limiter kicks in.

How are things in the Big easy these days I was at Bell Chase for a couple of weeks after Katrina with the National Guard and it was hard to see all of the destruction it cause.

Rick

[Bobby Doug]

Did a total of 25 Go-Kart miles today in between painting my seat brackets.
Tomorrow we hope to have real seats and real seat belts.
The power is absolutely over the top insane.
It makes my daily feel like a Yugo.

Daily Driver:
https://youtu.be/svZX2BMSDEs

Don't bolt your seats in till you place the body on the frame. The body can affect the seat placement if your are trying to get maximum leg room.

[GoDadGo]

How are things in the Big easy these days I was at Bell Chase for a couple of weeks after Katrina with the National Guard and it was hard to see all of the destruction it cause.

Rick

Rick,

N.O.L.A. is back; however, the city still has a lot of issues as it always has.
The Central Business District Demographics have shifted quite a bit since a lot of the older buildings have converted/turned into residential condo units and boutique hotels, my old office included.
While I will always love this place, the culture, the muisc, the food, the wide variety of people, I'll never move across the pond (Lake Pontchartrain) because of questionable politics and crime.
Consider coming down fo Cruising the Coast (Mississippi Gulf Coast) which is the 1st week of October and maybe spend a little time eating in N.O.L.A.

Steve

https://cruisinthecoast.com/

[GoDadGo]

Don't bolt your seats in till you place the body on the frame. The body can affect the seat placement if your are trying to get maximum leg room.

Thanks Doug,

That's why I have the doors in place so I can see where the body is sort of located.
I've got the Breeze Automotive brackets which really give a nice slant to improve comfort.
I'll be okay because I test fit them with the body on, hence the reason for Go-Karting with the doors in place.

Thanks!

Steve

[bobl]

Once you complete the car it will gain a couple of hundred pounds, which is a 10% weight increase. So, I wouldn't rush to judgement on tires and traction until that point.

[MPTech]

Can you run a wider tire? (currently running 285?) also, are you running a full tank of gas? (additional weight in the rearend)

Also, just a caution about go-karting, has it been licensed? insured? (if not, you are running a serious risk of liability and forfeiture) Just be careful!