Man, I am depressed after looking at the “fastest truck list”! Any ideas why my truck is so slow? Here are the specs again.

2001 2500HD
6.0L/auto/4.10
Powerdyne SC 7.5 lbs boost, Spearco Water Injection
Transgo shift kit, Flowmaster exhaust
Weight at track = 6,570 lbs.
Best run = 15.3 sec @ 89 mph

I really did not think I did too bad. Other trucks like mine stock were running 17.5-18.0 second ¼ miles at the same track. Any suggestions?

 

I think you are doing just fine. If those other trucks added 1500 or 2000 pounds into the bed of their trucks (to match your weight), it would slow them down alot too.

Didn't you have quite a bit of tire spin when you made your passes?

About the only things I'd do to improve track times is get a set of headers and a programmer to adjust your shift points & rev limiter. I would say add more boost or get a torque convertor, but that would probably do more harm than good in your situation (towing travel trailers).

 

Yup, I weighed my truck with half tank of gas and my stereo system but with no tailgate or spare and I came up with 4800lbs.

 

Thanks Neil6.0, I did have plenty of wheelspin on most of my runs. On the last few I deflated the rear tires to 50 psi for more traction. It seemed to give me more off-line traction but made the truck feel like it "bogged-down" for the first 20-30 ft off the line. I will make another post with questions about headers considering price and quality.

Thanks!

 

Why are you running around with more than 50 psi on a regular basis anyway. That's waaay too much. The maximum psi of 65 on those tires is just that. A maximum. Drop that down to 38 or so and watch your ride get much better, you'll have less wheelspin, tires will last longer, and it will handle better in the rain. Just bump the rear tires up to 40-45 when you tow. 50 is waay too much to be dropping down to.

 

He's got a 2500HD, the tires are E-rated and can be inflated to 80psi if he wants. I've got the same tires on my truck and messed around with tire pressures the last time I was at the track and didn't have good results. I usually run 50psi front & rear, so I dropped just the rear to 35 or so. After doing that the truck was getting unstable at the top end of the track, it felt like the rear end was dancing around a little from about half-track on. Slowing down to get on the return road was tricky also, too much sidewall flex I guess.

 

I second Neil6.0L's comment on tire pressure. I am running 245/75/R16 E tires (Liberators) and normally have to run 75 psi in the front at 70 when unloaded (handles best). When towing I bump the rear tires up to a full 80 psi. I just recently switch my 5th wheel from 15" tires to 16" load range E's, levelled the trailer and made it easier to tow (tires are not flat anymore!). At the track about 60 psi seems to be best, very little wheel spin without getting that bogging feeling.

 

I didn't realize you were running 245s. I guess those narrow tires make a difference. It seems like those load Es would be less squirrely than my Ds