I'm going to the local 1/8th mile tonight, I just wanted to see what options can be floated my way when it comes to getting this daily driver to the other end a tenth or two faster. Don't hold back, I know a few common tips, but I want to hear those and anything else you may have, no matter how crazy(just because you say it doesn't mean I'll try it)! I wish they would let me go with the t-tops out, that would save 10-15 pounds !

I think your aerodynamics are better with the tops in, even with the extra weight. If it's a clean track with no dust blowing around, you might get away with replacing your K&N with a simple screen. My dad ran his 455 Olds jet boat without much air filtration all the time. (But you don't have much sand and dirt out on the water. )

Pump the front tires up to maximum (less rolling resistance) I don't go any lower than 28 lbs in the rear with street rubber. And make sure you have at least a half a tank of gas (fuel pressure drops when tank is under 1/4 full.
Good Luck

I took my filter all the way off once. LT1's can pull the belt off to,can an LS1 do that? It's good for .3-.4 sec.

I was gonna suggest pulling the filter all together, but I noticed BBJ has the air lid. I hate running June bugs and unsuspecting birds through a perfectly good engine...

As long as the MAF screen is still intact you can run without the filter. Just don't forget to put it back in.

Tyler, I don't think the water pump is driven the same as an LT1. But we can lose the A/C belt.

I ran it in street trim, no mods at the strip at all. I only got one run in, but next time if given the chance, I will try some of these things. How about icing the intake, anybody ever done that? I also have a manual fan control switch, just not installed yet. That brings me to another question. Do LS1s have 180 degree thermostat? Also, what temperature are the fans set to come on at from the factory? If my thermostat opens at 180, but the fans don't come on until 200+, I can get my motor to stay near that 180 mark if I install my switch and operate it as soon as the temp. reaches the mark, right?

No real need that I've noticed to ice down the composite intakes on the LS1 cars, if it was an aluminum intake it would help, but the composite doesn't conduct heat like aluminum. You can run a manual fan switch, I forgot exactly how it goes, but you can go to LS1.com & look at the free mods & it should show you how to do the manual fan switch. The manual switch works good for cooling between rounds also.

I was acutally talkin to my gfs dad about that in my car. he did that in his 87 350ci he had and said it was a waste of time and the fans came on whenever they wanted anyway. Hes been a mechanic for like 30-35 years and has almost if not every single cetification that there is.

Next time you go to the track, take a timing light, and a flat tip screw driver and wrench to make adjustments to the carb. You would be surprised what a little tuning on the carb and minor timing adjustments will do.
Oh, wait a minute, disregard that. You will need a laptop to do those changes.
When I have taken my 90 Formula out, I usually take my fuel pressure gauge and the socket to adjust it. That and a timing light, but I still have a distributor to play with.

Wow, me and the 'bird have come a long way since this post originally started. Here's some updates:

The manual fan control is installed(no big trouble, just time) with desired results. I never have changed the thermostat, but with the fan control I can keep the temp right there without waiting for the fans to automatically kick on 20+ degrees later. It still allows for the fans to operate normally during daily driving, so I see no disadvantages to it.


I've never run it without the filter at our dirty country boy dragstrip(actually the track is quite well cleaned and prepped, but surrounding areas are rough), but for whatever it is worth, on the dyno my car picked up over 10 hp & tq when I removed the filter.


Time learning my car and several more passes down the strip have taught me the most important factor in getting the most out of my car at the drags are good launches. As for the "electronic" tuning, I've got plans for the Tech 2 scan tool and LS1 edit the next time I go, probably sooner rather than later. Just need to knock out some scheduled fluid changes before then to make sure everything is in tip-top shape. You know, take care of your 'bird and she'll take care of you sort of things...


I'll let you guys know how it goes.