This is my 1986 IROC-Z. I bought it from my brother in April of 1998. Most of the time spent on the car has been fixing its little problems. Things like a new heater core, tune up, rebuilt front end, shocks/struts, restored interior...etc. Now its time to finally start building the engine and suspension. On this page Ill log the mods that are done to the car along with the performance increase that come with the mods.

Be sure to drop by often as I update my adventures.


Getting a good jump on an 80's Mustang



  • 7-6-2002 Long time with no update!! In Feb 2001 I took the IROC to the track for its first few runs with the 383/T56 combo. its ran a best of 12.7 and also a 12.99 in my only 2 runs. Ill post the details once I dig up the timeslips. That was a full second off my previous best of 13.7. In the past year Ive been battling thru a few issues trying to get it running perfect. Recently put in new 24# injectors and many problems were solved. I had 2 leaking injectors and one was actually dripping!!!

  • 1-3-2001 Update!!!!!! The 383 and T56 are installed. I'm busy with tuning and breaking it in. I have scanned in some pictures of the motor build-up and there are more to come. Check them out here

  • 10-30-2000 Update!!!!!! I have yanked the 350/700R4 and am currently rebuilding the motor. It will be stroked to a 383 and will keep the TFS 23* heads since recent CHP articles are showing 400+ hp on a 383 with these heads. Along with the 383, a T56 transmission is sitting on the floor ready to be installed. The car should be rolling again in a few weeks but the track will most likely be closed by the time its broke in and ready for some racing. Most likely no new times till Feb 2001!

    Current best time is highlighted in gray.

    •   

    Friday, Febuary 26, 1999. Temperature: 35° F. at Rockingham Dragway
    Modifications:
    • The car was a 305 and has been transplanted with a 350 GM crate engine. Unfortunately, I dont have the specs on it.
    • Accel Coil, Taylor Wires, Dynomax Cat-Back exhaust with gutted cat
    • Crane AFPR, ported plenum, MAF screens removed, K&N air filters, airfoil
    • 160° thermostat and Hayden fan switch
    • freshly rebuilt 700R4 with Corvette upgrades, 3.73 gears

     
      Run #1 Run #2 ** Run #3 **
    R/T .000 1.320 .982
    60' 4.448 2.278 2.655
    330' 8.748 6.815 6.977
    1/8 @ mph 12.410 @ 68.17 10.543 @ 64.79 10.594 @ 69.73
    1000' 15.593 13.731 13.709
    1/4 @ mph 18.263 @ 84.66 16.409 @ 84.34 16.320 @ 86.53
    Comments My first drag ever. I did everything wrong from red light to flooring it and spinning like mad and missing shifts... Much better take off but again shifted bad. I thought I would be able to stay in 3rd with my 700R4 but with 3.73 gears, I cant. Ruined the take off and this run would have finally got me in the the 15's. Had a much better R/T on this one.
     
    Notes I must say I was very disappointed in my cars performance. I thought I would be in the 15's and hopefully the upper 14's. Take away all the driver errors and I would easily be in the upper 15's but that seems slow for the mods that have been done on the car. I need more upper rpm power. I had bad traction problems but the cheap rear tires are a major part of that. They will be replaced within a week.

    I forgot to remove my 70 pound sub box... DOH!
     
    Mod Plans Undecided. I think I have some major tuning problems.

    UPDATE: Looks like the bulb was removed from my "check engine light". The computer is flashing a few codes... looks like they get fixed and it should be a huge improvement in performance.


    Friday, March 13, 1999. Temperature: 35° F. at Rockingham Dragway
    Mods/fixes since last run:
    • Mass Airflow Sensor
    • Oxygen Sensor
    • Bosch Platinum Plugs / Accel Wires
    • Falken Tires - 245/50 R16
    • IROC Rims (I thought they would be good for .5 seconds! hehe)

     
      Run #1 Run #2 Run #3 Run #4
    R/T .899 1.055 1.115 .621
    60' 2.395 2.734 2.418 2.454
    330' 6.647 6.982 6.514 6.631
    1/8 @ mph 10.177 @ 69.92 10.480 @ 70.44 10.005 @ 69.12 10.131 @ 70.48
    1000' 13.208 13.490 N/A N/A
    1/4 @ mph 15.760 @ 88.36 16.025 @ 88.91 15.525 @ 89.35 15.670 @ 89.10
    Comments My first run in the 15's. Much more upper rpm power now. 2nd now shifts way late and I made a slight TV cable adjustment after this run. Raced a VW Rabbit who got a huge jump on me. I was shocked and ruined my take off by spinning too much. I did pull ahead after 1/8 mile on him. My best run yet. This one felt good the whole way and almost got into 9 second 1/8 mile. Good R/T but another mid 15 run shows I still have some problems.
     
    Notes Im very happy with the .8 second improvment. Fixing the MAF and oxygen sensor and getting the computer thinking every thing is fine made a noticable difference in upper RPM power. Next I have a low fuel presse at WOT that needs to be fixed. I think this will get me into the 14's where this car belongs.
     
    Mod Plans Fix low fuel pressure problem.


    Friday, June 4, 1999. Temperature: 85° F. (humid) at Rockingham Dragway
    Mods/fixes since last run:
    • Walbro 255l fuel pump
    • Edelbrock TES Headers
    • Crane 1.6 Roller Rockers
    • downgrade - replaced gutted cat with good one

     
      Run #2 Run #3 Run #4 Run #5
    R/T .690 .748 .489 .688
    60' 2.113 2.275 2.285 2.229
    330' 6.351 6.449 6.406 6.371
    1/8 @ mph 9.881 @ 70.15 9.918 @ 71.20 9.896 @ 70.72 9.869 @ 70.74
    1000' 12.891 N/A 12.883 12.856
    1/4 @ mph 15.417 @ 91.25 15.389 @ 92.22 15.392 @ 90.05 15.364 @ 91.86
    Comments First run with the new upgrades. A very noticable difference in the top end now. My current fastest run. This run put me in the finals of the GM Shootout by hitting my 15.36 dial in almost on the nose!
     
    Notes I was disappointed with only a .2 gain with these 3 mods. With a 50 degree jump in temperature since my last runs Im not really getting a good comparison. I talked with other guys at the track and they were .2-.3 tenths off thier normal times. This was due to the heat and very high humidity.
     
    Mod Plans Bottom line... I have to put a POSI unit in. My 60' times are killing my performance since I have to feather the gas off the line. POSI it is unless of course I run across a good deal that I cant pass up on other performance parts.


    Friday, July 23, 1999. Temperature: 90° F. (humid. ugggg!) at Rockingham Dragway
    Mods/fixes since last run:
    • Accel/Lingenfelter TPI intake manifold
    • Flow matched 22# Rochester fuel injectors

     
      Run #1 Run #4 Run #5 ** Run #6 **
    R/T .728 .686 .627 .604
    60' 2.555 2.386 2.504 2.303
    330' 6.787 6.737 6.689 6.376
    1/8 @ mph 10.232 @ 71.82 10.161 @ 72.40 10.118 @ 72.51 9.732 @ 73.69
    1000' N/A N/A N/A N/A
    1/4 @ mph 15.652 @ 90.81 15.502 @ 92.46 15.465 @ 92.21 15.015 @ 93.38
    Comments First run with the new upgrades. Track felt like ice. I actually had to let up and then get back into it. Can you say ice! Sure is damn hot to have ice on the track. This run was semi-finals of the GM shootout. I had the same dial in as my opponent and new I was going to break out. I did but since I finally had a decent hook up off the line I stayed in it.
     
    Notes I picked up .35 tenths and bumped my mph up 1-2 with the new manifold and injectors. Im very surprised I got such a gain from these mods. Even with the track conditions being worse(hotter and the track was so slick). I had all intentions of getting a posi but I got a good deal on the injectors and manifold so the posi was bumped. If I take away the awful 60' times due to no traction, Im easily in the 14's now.
     
    Mod Plans Im back to the POSI... unless some other good deal comes along... anyone have good runners???? heh


    Friday, November 12, 1999. Temperature: 45° F. at Rockingham Dragway
    Mods/fixes since last run:
    • None

     
      Run #2 Run #7 Run #11 ** Run #13 **
    R/T .907 .811 .357 .447
    60' 2.304 2.361 2.417 2.411
    330' 6.401 6.493 6.494 6.435
    1/8 @ mph 9.736 @ 74.20 9.821 @ 74.35 9.796 @ 74.86 9.717 @ 75.35
    1000' 12.589 12.656 12.617 12.525
    1/4 @ mph 15.009 @ 92.87 15.052 @ 93.98 15.001 @ 94.63 14.896 @ 96.06
    Comments I really thought this was my first run in the 14's... man I was mad. Track is cooling down! FINALLY I hit the 14's. Car was very cold from sitting over an hour.
     
    Notes Well I finally hit the 14's. Its so hard to be consistant with a 3.73 peg-legged rear end but I knew the motor had the power.
     
    Mod Plans Auburn Pro POSI is installed and ready for the next trip. I should be able to cut my 60' times to around 2.0 so I'm hoping to pick up a few tenths. I can't wait.(Track is now closed till Feb.)


    Sunday, Febuary 6, 2000. Temperature: 45° F. at Rockingham Dragway
    Mods/fixes since last run:
    • Auburn Pro POSI

     
      Run #2 Run #3 Run #4 Run #5
    R/T .453 .629 .703 .702
    60' 2.102 2.179 2.167 2.179
    330' 6.043 6.129 6.174 6.120
    1/8 @ mph 9.301 @ 75.70 9.476 @ 73.69 9.454 @ 75.40 9.451 @ 74.30
    1000' 12.098 12.325 12.258 12.286
    1/4 @ mph 14.478 @ 93.90 14.721 @ 93.94 14.711 @ 91.18 14.683 @ 93.66
    Comments The effects of the POSI are clear here!
     
    Notes With the POSI installed I picked up over 4 tenths! I was quite pleased with that gain.
     
    Mod Plans Current plans are to tear into the engine and install Trick Flow 23 degree heads and a Crane Compucam 2040. This should push me into the 13's where I can then once agin complain about traction!


    Wednesday, May 31, 2000. Temperature: 80° F. Humidity 65%(ouch) at Rockingham Dragway
    Mods/fixes since last run:
    • Trick Flow 23* heads
    • Crane Compucam 2050
    • Summit Double Roller timing chain
    • Accel SuperRam
    • Relocated MAT sensor

     
      Run #1 ** Run #2 ** Run #3 Run #5
    R/T .714 .565 .597 .355
    60' 1.887 1.883 2.038 2.087
    330' 5.691 5.668 5.852 5.848
    1/8 @ mph 8.846 @ 76.43 8.833 @ 76.34 9.011 @ 79.75 9.035 @ 76.56
    1000' N/A N/A N/A N/A
    1/4 @ mph 13.802 @ 99.44 13.791 @ 99.41 13.988 @ 99.27 13.987 @ 99.34
    Comments WOW! The difference from previous runs was amazing. The car jsut kept pulling thru the traps. A new best. I ran this one right after my first run. I was very surprised at the 1.8 60's. The track seemed prepped very well. 60' times creeping up.
     
    Notes Well I had made a few runs without the SuperRam. None of the times broke my previous best. It was clear that the heads/cam just werent able to breathe. The SuperRam really woke the engine up. If you consider that my previous best of 14.47 was a fluke since I could never muster up another run within 2 tenths, then I shaved around 8-9 tenths off which Im quite pleased with. Not breaking 100 mph is a concern though. On the slower 2 runs where I have a longer 60', my speed should have increased and broke 100 mph. A burnt plug wire and low fuel pressure may have been the problem.
     
    Mod Plans The car had a noticable miss. I did find a burnt plug wire which is probably the cause. Im hoping that with some additional tuning and fixing the miss, I should be able to get another tenth or two off my times. I will be installing Spohn subframe connectors. Additional mods are undecided right now.


    Wednesday, Feb xx, 2001. Temperature: ° F. Humidity % at Rockingham Dragway
    Mods/fixes since last run:
    • 383 rebuild

     
      Run #1 ** Run #2 **
    R/T ... ...
    60' ... ...
    330' ... ...
    1/8 @ mph ... ...
    1000' ...
    1/4 @ mph 12.999 @ 12.7 @
    Comments ... ...
     
    Notes Details coming.
     
    Mod Plans ...