Went out to Houston Raceway Park to run in this season's first bracket racing event.

Details:
2002 GMC X-cab, Sport Side, 2WD, 5.3L, 3.42 gears
Raceweight = 4,868 lbs (including driver)
Weather = 61-64F, 80% humidity, 29.90 baro
1/2 tank of gas, absolutely nothing changed from showroom stock.
600 miles on odometer

On the very first run of the evening, I got to smack down a ricer. He was driving a Nissan Maxima with drag tires up front, a ton of stickers on the windows, and the required FART-pipe. He ran 16.2 and I ran 15.78 haha

Here are my runs for the night:

15.738 @ 86.79 (2.34 60') - Tailgate up
15.739 @ 86.67 (2.34 60') - Tailgate down
15.740 @ 86.92 (2.34 60') - Tailgate up
15.738 @ 86.93 (2.33 60') - Tailgate down
15.718 @ 87.02 (2.32 60') - Tailgate up

I would have won the bracket event, but I redlighted on the last run with a 0.498 R/T <img src="gr_sad.gif" border="0"> , and I was in the final four <img src="gr_sad.gif" border="0"> <img src="gr_sad.gif" border="0">

The truck was much different than my car as far as R/T was concerned, I was literally stomping the pedal as soon as the 2nd amber light went off, and that would get me 0.550-0.610 reaction times. On the last pass, I stomped it just a bit early, or I must have shallow staged. Doh! The truck ran very consistently, I was always within 0.004 seconds of my dial-in <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0">

The truck had no tire spin at all. Stock General tires with 35 psi in them (told you it was showroom stock!). I'd just brake stall up as high as I could go (about 1200 rpm?) and floor it when ready. No spin!

As you can see, I experimented with the tailgate up and down, and there was no noticeable difference with my truck. Either its too slow to make a difference, or the shape of this truck makes the wind blow past the gate altogether. I liked racing with the gate up, so everyone could see my new vehicle temporary paper plate <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0">

I'd like to get this truck to run 14.99 with no weight removed. I'm guessing an HPP3 and a K&N intake might get me there. This is because I lost to a V6 Camaro that ran 15.10 haha. Funny though, my trap speed was higher than his!

Tony

 

Damn that's consistent. You're gonna be winning some bracket races! Just don't red light. <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0"> Doh!
It's crazy how much the little things like a HPP3 and K&N will cut off your ET in those trucks.
I'll be there next Wedneday for a few more stock internal passes before the mysterious lope appears. <img src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" border="0">

 

[quote]Originally posted by Nine Ball:
<strong>On the last pass, I stomped it just a bit early, or I must have shallow staged. Doh!Tony</strong><hr></blockquote>

Don't ya mean deep instead of shallow? <img src="gr_tounge.gif" border="0">
Those are some nice passes for the low miles and showroom stock. I really need to run my truck sometime. There's no doubt that you've gotta leave EARLY on the tree compared to what you're used to! My '01 Lightning was the same way. It would cut consistent 2.0 60' times, but the lag in throttle response was incredible! I would leave BEFORE the 2nd light went off to net RT's in the .520 range. Ya really have to think which vehicle you're in so you don't get them mixed up on the tree. LOL
Next time you take it out, try manually shifting it. I know that Jason picked up a few tenths from this, and the raised shift points is where the HPP3 is really shining on the trucks.

 

Thanks for the correction Trevor, you know what I mean ya jackass! haha.

Where is the factory rpm limiter at on these trucks? I might try manually shifting it next time.

Tony

 

Manual shifting didn't help mine at all. The HPPIII should help the shifting alot. My 2002 had 2500 miles on it when it ran the time in the sig. All it had done was a replacement K&N panel filter and the Hotchkis 2/4 lowering kit (which doesn't help traction at all). Mine weighed in at 4860 with driver and 3/8 tank of gas. So either the 3.73's make a huge difference or the extra 2000 miles make it broke in a lot more.

 

Sounds good tony. The Hpp3 should decrease the times by about .4 It did on mine. I set the shift points at +5, and +12, and rev limiter at 6200. I tried manually shifting mine, and i ALWAYS got better times just letting the truck do it. The stock shift point is around 5600, and i believe the stock rev limiter is 57. Somebody correct me if im wrong. I had good luck bracket racing the truck too, it was very consistent. I cant win **** with the vette so far, but its much faster and much more fun to drive <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">

Daren

[ March 07, 2002: Message edited by: LovintheC5 ]</p>

 

I know not to mess with any 5.3s now. My 6.0 ran a 16.21 @ 85.68 mph. Not near as good as your new truck. Way to go Tony!

Was the track crowded?

 

Y2K, your trap speed was only .7 more than mine, maybe from the K&N. Your 60' time was a tenth better than mine though, most likely from the 3.73 gears. I'd say the gears have a greater impact on the ET, these trucks are heavy and need all the help they can get to start moving.

Larry, your truck is just heavy, that mph you have means we would be a good freeway race though <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0">

Tony

 

Oh yeah, the track was not crowded at all. <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0">

 

Tony, looks like you're havin' fun - I bet that GMC beats the hell outta the old Amigo. <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0"> I liked the look of the 22" Fiske FM5's you had on the truck (thanks to photoshop). You might want to add a new graemlin for all the truck folks in here. Maybe something like a GMC flyin' past a flipped over Explorer. <img src="graemlins/gr_jest.gif" border="0" alt="[jester]" />