Wondering if anyone can give me advice on my traction problems? Car is a '69 Nova. Front suspension is stock with gas shocks and rear is stock multi-leaf with SSM liftbars and CE adjustable drag shocks set at 50/50. The car just doesn't seem to be putting any weight on the back tires. If I light the tires up on the street, I just leave very faint marks. At the strip I run 275/50/15 BFG drag radials. I've experimented with tire pressures from 20 to 14 pounds. I've tried heating them up real good in the burnout box, and I've tried just hazing them. Nothing works - I'm still having tire spin. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Chris

what weight are the front springs? Have you considered Koni SPA1 shocks (adjustable).

Are you dead set on keeping the radials or are would you consider a Hoosier Quick time (street/strip) or hoosier QT pro (strip only) and use the BFG's for the street only.

Fugi, I agree with CnC on using the Hoosiers and leave the radials for the street. One suggestion I have for your burn-out is:
1. Roll thru the water box and stop
2. Smoke the tires a little. Enough to see the smoke.
3. Spin the tires a short distace toward the starting line and stop.
4. Spin the tires again and stage the car.
I always did this at the track and the slicks hooked just fine. Let us know how this works out.
:D

I like the Mickey Thompson ET streets....when they warm up they stick very well.

I agre with everybody's suggestions.

Are the tires overcooked? Meaning, the softness of the tread is gone? Once a tire is overheated, the rubber becomes very hard and loses its ability to grip. You might swap sides of rear tires. We do this to slicks every month, run one weekend w/slicks swapped. Keeps rubber pliable.

Another is to add flat washers, the AN/NAS type, in the upper control arm bolt, the one on each end of the shaft. The idea is to remove the clamping effect of the end bolt onto the bushing. This frees up the movement of the front suspension, yet, the washers aid in still tightening the bolts.

Replace the front gas shocks with Summit's adjustable shock, set for 90/10.

Later in the car's life, you might want to consider replacing the rubber body bushings with alum bushings and weld-in frame connectors. These help alot.

With your current tires IMO tire pressure is on the low side. I ran those same BFGs and found I ran best with 26-28 psi in them. You can tell by looking at the tread after a burnout. If they show signs of more heat at the edges of the tires pressure is too low. If the tire never getrs hot at the edgs pressure is too high.

IMO the BFGs are only good for low 13's / high 12 sec passes. much faster than that and they don't seems to hook well --- side walls are too stiff. I really like the Hoosier Quick Time Pros personally. The side wall is more flexible and they like less pressure than the BFG's.

definately look at 90/10 shocks in the front, will help a bunch. Also, relocating the battery to the trunk will help A LOT with weight transfer --- you need a safety shutoff to be legal though if you do this.