First runs with new car!
 

Finally got a sunny day to make my first runs in the new dragster. A couple of small problems but, all in all, things went well. Meaning nothing blew up! I was concerned as I didn't know much about the car.


http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...0Tune/runs.jpg

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...9-06-19008.jpg

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...9-06-19003.jpg

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...9-06-19013.jpg

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...9-06-19014.jpg

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...9-06-19016.jpg[/img]

good job ...


hmm sure dont look like a 7.70 car ... :roll:

Thanks David.

I hope I can get it there though. The previous guy was running at near sea level and I'm at nearly 3000'. I did re-jet and will probably have to make some more changes there. I was dropping the tire pressure by 1/2 pound each run and the last one was at 6.5 pounds. If it doesn't make 7.70 this season, I can see some major engine mods this winter.

I just wish the instructions for the Mega 450 were easier to understand. They get into great detail about the finer details of using the box but barely touch on the basics.

I have another test and tune this Friday so I will work on it some more.

I'll help ya ... 5 to 5.5 on tire pressure, you'll see 8.0's

what issues you having with the box, its actually very simple to use, just dont make it harder then it should be

Thanks,
I'll drop the tire pressure to 5.5 on the next run. I'm posting some launch pics and you'll see a bit of tire spin in them. (just downloading them to PhotoBucket now.

The instructions mention S.F.O's, Tap up and downs, P.B. Mode, P.T.S.O, etc. It gets a bit confusing to say the least.
All I want to understand right now is how to set the transbrake delay and shift point inPro mode. I will tackle the Bracket Mode after I get the car running the best it can.

A couple of launch vids

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...h_09061910.jpg

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...h_09061909.jpg

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...h_09061911.jpg

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...h_09061912.jpg

When in doubt just his bracket on the buttons it will take you to delay settings (make them the same) and dial-ins when in tt make them the same 8.10 and 8.10 during elminations it says your dial and their dial, do just that and let go on the top bulb on his side of the tree (unless cross talk is used then hit yourside on the top) Just clear everything else if you dont want to use the sfo's and tap up and bump down stuff. Its very easy to get to pro-mod the mega 450 instructions are very easy to use.

For right now, I just want to be able to set the delay time between releasing the transbrake button and launch, and the shist point on the Powerglide. I think that will allow me to monitor and change the tuning, tires, etc and set the car up for the lowest ET. Am I thinking along the right lines?

Well to change that just go the bracket screen
say you are .030 on the tree and have 1150 in the box, to be perfect .000 you should go to 1120 in the box.

This shift screen is very easy to use, just go to the screen where you change you shift point and adjust it there, but you wont monitor much unless you have the replay hooked up on the tach side.

and you right it does have some good tire spin

Do all the settings in the bracket mode apply in the pro mode?

I cant be certain never seen a reason to not run bracket mode so I havent been on pro mode.

Hey Reagan, I met you at the CDRA meeting a couple weeks ago, your rail looks great. I use a Mega 450 as well, if you have any questions about it call me I'll try to walk you through it. It really is simple when just doing what you want it for. The bracket mode is probly all you will ever use here, a little playing with delay once you figure out your rollout and car reaction and you are good to go. I shift mine on time rather than rpm because of NHRA rules and that is a set and forget deal as well.
Rod 403 823 1987

not to steal the thread,but i don't like the rpm in the mega450 at all,i tried the rpm in the 450 this weekend and was not happy,,,i had the rpm on 6600 shift and before it shift it was hitting the 7000 overall chip,then when i got back to pit and read it,it said it only hit 6800 rpm,,something not right,i think the rpm in the mega 450 is a little off and behind the actual rpm tach,,i moved it around and never felt good about it,,it just don't seem like it shifts right using the 450 box,,i rather have my rpm act.switch back LOL,,,steve

Thanks Rod.
I'll give you call one evening this week. Maybe I could come over and you could run through things, if you have time. I think I will take David's and your advice and set the box up in Bracket Mode and run from there. I just assumed that Pro Mode would be less fiddling around, as I wasn't worried at all about the lights. That doesn't seem to be the case.

The box was initially set to shift on RPM but after the first run I changed it to shift on time (1.7 seconds for run #2 and 1.85 seconds for run #3). I will leave it that way and check the tach to adjust it further, if neccessary.

I'd bet its shifting correct just not reading correct in the mega 450 box.

I'll bet you end up atleast at 2.00 seconds also at shift time

i can't see how you can shift on time and be accurate,i mean you first got to find out were abouts 6600 is right,if thats were your going to shift,why not just shift at 6600 and take out the guessing work?,,steve

Read the rule book!! rpm based automatic shifters are PROHIBITED.

Its actually prob more consistent on time, think about it this way bad track and the car is spinning and rpms are higher or lower depending on how bad it spins its shifting at a different time because of the spin, not much different but when your talking .001's all it takes it that one time. I've shifted mine both ways and had no issue either way but with tracks getting worse I may go back to it.

maybe out of a delay box but thats it ...

I'm heading out for a test and tune again this Friday. I will set the shift point to 2.0 seconds and see how things go. Thanks.

Is your replay tach hooked up ?

hit setup untill you get to a screen with juse a tach and a 00.00 on it for digits below the tach, there will be nothing on the bottom of this screen and will look empty compared to other screens. Push the up arrow, watch it untill you see what rpm it shifted at @ 1.75 seconds I'll bet 6600ish

then i guess you can't shift off a rpm act.switch either right,,,,,steve

Yes the replay tach function is hooked up. I reviewed last Friday to see when the shift was being made. I will check it after every run next time out.

Just wanted to thank you all for your help. I set the box to bracket mode this weekend and have so far figured out the delay (most of my lights were 0.0?? and even had a 0.003) and shift point portion. I'm taking baby steps and will post here for more help as I get into the finer points of the Mega 450. Thanks again!

I think I made another error with the delay box last weekend. I turned off the SLE function. I wasn't launching as hard as I thought I should and was wondering why. Was I not getting up on the two step without the SLE turned on? When I was on the trans brake the car would only rev to about 2300 RPM and never seemed to come up to 6800 RPM before launch. Any input would be appreciated.