Big Setup Changes Did Not Produce The Results We Expected

This was my fourth race in the new Street Stock and I made more changes to the setup. In this episode I am using the Load Stick to change out the Right Front Spring Rate but maintain the exact same tire load at full compression. I also changed the Left side percentage and the left rear bite. We took both the street stock and leaf spring camaro factory stock to the track that night. Overall not our best night though with lots of trouble with setup, track conditions, getting run over, and overheating.
Dirt Race Life is all about grass roots Dirt Track Racing both the technical how to and the at track action with us focusing on Street Stock Racing like CRUSA SS, Factory Stock, Pure Street, Stock, Etc.
You can join this channel and become a Dirt Race Life Sponsor@ / @dirtracelife
Find us on FaceBook @ DirtRaceLife
And check out our website@ www.dirtracelife.com

[@BradK74]

Also think of this. Same pricipal, different format. When a nascar pitstop is made, notice all the on track adjustment is made on the right rear. On our car one round on right rear can equal up to 15-20 lbs bite and smaller adjustments are made on left rear. Like 5 lbs. After you get your scale numbers, play around one round at a time so you know exactly where your car will be when making on track adjustments. When your done, adjust back to your original starting point.

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

Spot On Brad, I'm still learning bud but I know you are right about this

[@rollrateguy6109]

Something to think about: if you increase the rf spring rate, you will travel the rr less(all else being equal). The car is accelerating to the left some amount, causing roll. If the rf spring is a solid rod, the chassis is placed in torsion and the rr travel as a result of the roll will be exactly zero inches if the chassis is perfectly rigid. Let me know if this doesn’t make sense. This is analogy is how I explain roll rate distribution. (Which is the basis of my username ha)

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

I know you are right in what you are saying, getting it all sorted out on the car is tricky for sure and I definitely went the wrong way with the changes

[@michaelatkins9780]

You need to put a hard charger in that thing to wring out for a few hard laps. Ragged edge is where you want to tune for, you are tuning at 7/8 speed and getting 7/8 feedback. You remind me of Larry Macreynolds.

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

Great feedback

[@Hernandez_racing57]

Tight on entry, usually either go down 25 pounds on the RR spring or take a turn out of the RF and add 2 to the LR and usually does the trick.

[@rollrateguy6109]

Users of the these adjustments should assume off gas condition on entry. Just throwing that out there. Should work if that’s the case

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

I purchased a RR with 25# less but have not tried it yet.

[@whitneypalm2438]

I think you're original setup, the second time you were out was great, in my experience racing, we have to actually spend some time on the setup, racing without making constant changes, because there can be no real determination, without the driver getting used to the setup.. your car was working great, spend some time with your setup. You're going too fast on changes, without feeling and getting to know a baseline. Just my opinion sir. I love what you're doing, and applaud everything you have going on. Respectfully Whitt

[@whitneypalm2438]

You're overthinking it

[@whitneypalm2438]

Stick with a bass line for a few weeks, we cannot make positive changes without knowing our baseline. Keep up the good work

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

I agree Whitney, we weren't far off and I think I dialed us out instead of in.

[@hoochgiese4735]

Awe bud, i knew when you said rounds out lr before feature it wasn't going to work. Lol oops. I had the lr screw Jack loosen cause no jam nut, n i went from leading the feature to tenth n a few laps. Race and learn, each race is a test run!

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

Well, going the wrong way is definitely a good way to learn what not to do

[@ontheberm]

Keep digging brother!! You’re gonna sneak up on that perfect setup soon!! Great to see the car working good!! Outerwear mud screen is a super nice piece. Always ran their products on my late model. Good luck bud!

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

I'll look into that Chris, Thank you

[@WindRider1]

Race and learn. If it was easy everyone would be an expert. Keep at it Jason. Enjoying your journey.

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

Its a journey for sure right now. . . . maybe struggle is a better word LOL

[@BradK74]

Can you share how much heat and air pressure buildup youre gaining? How much fuel your burning? These things are a pretty good indicator of what the car is needing adjustment wise. Some things to keep in mind is a lot of the "new" things are backwards thinking from old mentality. Remember the theory if the tires too hot after a run, youre spinning that corner. "Fuel to the fire" is a good thing to remember, if you catch my drift. The biggest thing you can do is A: did i load it one piece? B: Did i have fun? And C: Did i learn something new even though i didnt get the results i expected? Keep diggin. I think the car reacted better with the first set up, but id make the right rear spring change like noted. 140 lbs bite.

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

Agree with everything you are saying. Haven't even caught my breath yet to check tires but NEED TO. I agree with you last part. It was better right out the gate but maybe just less RR spring

[@michaelcrouch1779]

Didn’t you say at the beginning that the car was tight on entry? If so, in my opinion, you should’ve went down in spring rate, not up. Also, taking that left side weight up but putting the bite back into also should’ve caused the car not to turn in as well too

[@rollrateguy6109]

If Jason was tight on entry on gas I agree with your spring rate statement. The weight statement is interesting. I’m always on the fence about this and I don’t know of anyone who has ever tested it. I look at weight from an inertial standpoint and my standpoint coincides with your statement. However, he lowered the center of mass by some amount when he did this. This causes less weight transfer. He decreased the mass as well. This causes less transfer. So which is greater? The inertial mass effect of having to accelerate a greater portion of the mass to make the corner? Or did the lowering/removing mass cause less weight transfer and keep more bite in the car as a result? My guess is: Unless you’re moving 100+ lbs on a stock car, it’ll be difficult to observe a balance difference.

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

At this point I am not sure what it has done to the car. I think just too many changes and I need to start over.

[@michaelcrouch1779]

@@rollrateguy6109 agreed about the 100+lbs to actually notice a difference for sure

[@michaelcrouch1779]

@@DIRTRACELIFE I don’t think the car seemed to far off on the 3rd race. I think it may be worth getting your LS weight back to where it was (or maybe a tick higher), lower the RF spring rate 100lbs lower than it was that 3rd race, get your RF ride height back to where it was and see what she does

[@dcooper91g]

Rooting for ya Jason, but y’all gonna have to go somewhere besides Clayhill to make much sense outta setup! That crap dirt just ain’t for racing. We won’t be back till that’s changed! That dirt is JUNK! I love that the folks running it are trying and really appreciate them trying but they know that dirt sucks, they just gonna have to pony up and put something worth racing on!! We will be back if they will put something decent to race on

[@dcooper91g]

Try Benton, Mo. looks like gumbo and they don’t water much so it gets dry

[@dcooper91g]

You got the car for sure. Get stuff dialed in and it’ll be a rocket. Hope to get mine out soon! Gonna have the best car I’ve had once I do but also know ima have to learn what’s changed since I have raced last. I ain’t sold on all the “new tech” folks are doing

[@dcooper91g]

Talked to Wyatt other day and he said the track was better but still crap. Man don’t change the car much from what you saw on that track as it’s just not worth a flip at the moment.

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

It dang sure not ideal David.

[@EdTilson]

You will be in victory lane soon. The car looks responsive and you will get it dialed in. Happy Fourth!🇺🇸

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

Thank you Ed

[@ScottWilson-uk1yv]

We all have bad weeks you’ll bounce back buddy

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

A couple of them, but we'll get it sorted out

[@travispatterson8463]

I would take some turns out of that right rear and see what happens rather than always turning the lr. Not sure changing the rr spring

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

Probably correct there Travis, Still learning this darn car and not making the right adjustments

[@darrennorman8451]

I seen you were taking rounds out of LR and I cringed. I put 2-3 rounds in LR for the feature.

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

Well, I would have agreed until the next run I made. . . . That dang sure didn't work either :(

[@darrennorman8451]

@@DIRTRACELIFE I’m going to have to just bring mine up there and see what’s going on with the track. It’s been years since I ran Clayhill. I was going to wait on new dirt but I’ll be waiting a long time if I do that.

[@mikeduncan2287]

Try and put a screen from the bottom of the bumper to the bottom of the radiator as well that will stop the debris a lot

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

I installed a fine mesh that extends down past the radiator

[@user-hw1cw8vm9t]

Put a shaker screen in front of radiator put a spring on all four corners of the screen

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

I set up a traditional screen installation

[@snappmotorsports2115]

Never know if you don’t try! I am running my third race on Saturday night, and it’s my first time really making any changes. Just some simple stuff to start, but hoping for good things!

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

Hope it's going well with figuring it out and thank you for watching sir.

[@snappmotorsports2115]

@@DIRTRACELIFE It ended with a DNF due to overheating, but all in all, it was a successful night. Learned a lot, got more comfortable, and loaded it up in one piece. It’s a 73-77 frame, so your videos have been invaluable.

[@davidfrancis3400]

Dont over analyse it to much. You will never have a "perfect" setup, Its easy to go down the rabbit hole with all this new technical stuff, But ya got to still set the car up "by the seat of your pants" feel aswell. All your numbers might look good on a chalkboard in the shop, but if it feels like shit on the track, your not going to run at 100% Keep up the good content👍

[@DIRTRACELIFE]

100% agree