This week i kinda got talked into racing a 1994 mark 8 at a 1/8mile dragstrip on friday. His car has never been to the track but he does have 3.73 gears, intake, and full exhaust. this race is for 50 dollars so im not sure if i should back out or what. I am not sure how good or not so good these cars run with these mods, so any insight will be helpful.
Racing a Mark 8 on Fri
- Thread starter loud00ls
- Start date
bufordtpisser
Dedicated LVC Member
He would more than likely beat you without the mods.
02LSE96LSC91SE84TC
Dedicated LVC Member
1/8th mile you have a good chance. The Mark is stronger for the longer race. Your posted 9.37 time is good and without his 3.73s you'd likely win. It will be close IMO.
My LS kills my MarkVIII in the short game.
My LS kills my MarkVIII in the short game.
ILLS
Dedicated LVC Member
You guys didn't address the biggest factor in determining who will likely win this race....Driver experience..
If he has never had his car at the track then I say your driving experience + mods wins over his mods alone. Has he himself ever been to the track and raced any other vehicle??? If not then it is a guarantee that you will win. He will likely overpower it and spin the tires on the launch which will kill his 60' time and not give him a good start to a solid 1/8th run. Once he learns how to properly launch it then it will be a little different of a story. Should make for a good race.
If he has never had his car at the track then I say your driving experience + mods wins over his mods alone. Has he himself ever been to the track and raced any other vehicle??? If not then it is a guarantee that you will win. He will likely overpower it and spin the tires on the launch which will kill his 60' time and not give him a good start to a solid 1/8th run. Once he learns how to properly launch it then it will be a little different of a story. Should make for a good race.
Interesting. I would have thought the Mark would have a better hole shot with the gears. My bet would have been on the LS over a longer distance...
my last time was a 9.37 but i have done a few things since then so i should be a tenth or so quicker. he also doesn't have alot of seat time in this car , but he does join me when i go to the track each weekend for test a tune, so he is famalier with a dragstrip. and he is on stock wheels and tires so im sure traction may be an issue.
02LSE96LSC91SE84TC
Dedicated LVC Member
3.73 vs. 3.58 not a big difference.
5speed auto vs. 4speed auto bigger difference. The LS has the the advantage with gearing.
MERIJONS97LSC
Dedicated LVC Member
Being a Mark VIII owner my self, I'll go with the Mark,
Not because I know he will win. Remember when you race, The LS is the younger little brother, so if you see your self getting ahead, :shifty: Back off ,out of respect and let him win! Whats $50.00 among family!!:shifty: 
Not because I know he will win. Remember when you race, The LS is the younger little brother, so if you see your self getting ahead, :shifty: Back off ,out of respect and let him win! Whats $50.00 among family!!:shifty: 
ToddG
Dedicated LVC Member
My money's on the Mark. 
NYC LS8
Dedicated LVC Member
Yup. I say the Mark as well.
pwr2killayak
Well-Known LVC Member
^ ya, but go ls!
let us know what happens...
let us know what happens...
Hey pwr2killayak
wanted to get a better look at your car
here's a link to some free software that cleans up pics that are too dark
http://www.photo-freeware.net/free-digital-camera-enhancer.php
This is what it looks like after
wanted to get a better look at your car
here's a link to some free software that cleans up pics that are too dark
http://www.photo-freeware.net/free-digital-camera-enhancer.php
This is what it looks like after
Im now getting kinda worried about losing my 50 dollars. i may end up getting alittle more aggressive with my tune, and find some racn gas :shifty: . does anyone else have any past experiences with the marks.??
NYC LS8
Dedicated LVC Member
I owned a '95. They're gutless down low (which the gears he put in would help some....a higher stall converter would help much more) and pull like a freight train up top. It might actually be closer since it's only an 1/8th mile track and come down to the drivers.
02LSE96LSC91SE84TC
Dedicated LVC Member
I have both.
I think people are not taking the fact that we are talking just a 1/8th mile sprint here. The 2 cars with the same 1/4 mile time would likely have the LS out in front at the 1/8th mile mark.
How about this...Your 9.37 time would be a solid 14.4 1/4 mile time for your LS. I've ran my LS 130-150(never counted) times down the 1/4 to know this accurately. I've ran 9.3s several times in the 1/8 and all ended with 14.4 1/4s. Your 60' could easily be improved to hit the top of a 9.2 1/8th and maybe a 14.3 1/4. My best times are done with low 2.1 60's.
A MarkVIII with said mods runs similar from what I've seen in the 1/4, but I bet with not as good a 1/8th mile time.
Skip the race gas. Loose the trunk weight, 1/4 tank of 93, cool the car, and practice your launch.
This race will be one with the best 60' IMO.
02LSE96LSC91SE84TC
Dedicated LVC Member
ILLS
Dedicated LVC Member
It sounds like this guy will not know how to drive his car at the strip. Observing other people racing at the strip and actually doing it are two totally different things. I still think you will likely take him due to your mods making the cars themselves pretty even; and more importantly your seat time. Just make sure you run him on his first one or two run at the track that night.
Do not be worried about allot of these other people posting here saying the Mark will win as they likely do not have much drag racing experience. It is not a guarantee you will win but based upon how you describe the guy I see a pretty high likelihood of it. I have many years experience with this stuff and know that the driver counts for one heck of allot in a race. I have seen MUCH faster cars get beat by a better driver in a slower car. The driver mod is HUGE when at the strip. That is what I believe will secure you your win.
BTW running racegas on your car would be worthless. Stick to 93 pump...
I more or less restated allot of what Jason said but truth is truth...
NYC LS8
Dedicated LVC Member
No 1320 experience here.
:lol:
:lol:
well i actually have a custom tune for a 107 octane rating made by torrie, so i will see a gain by using racn gas, and i also have the adjustability for my timing so i can advance it a degree or 2. i have allready done as much weight reduction as possible. i have no liner in my trunk, no spare, no front sway bar. I also just installed a 3000 cfm electric fan , bypassing the whole hydraulic fan unit, losing the pump and lines entirely. so cooling down isn't an issue. i also just installed some nitto drag radials. but i haven't gone to the track since these mods, so i am unsure to how it will effect my times.
ILLS
Dedicated LVC Member
There is a point of diminishing return while running higher octane fuel in an N/A vehicle. I am sorry but I highly doubt running racegas while still N/A with your LS will help with anything even if you are tuned for it. I am a custom tuner among other things so I do know what I am talking about with the racegas thing. Do not even bother wasting your money on racegas with your setup. I guess it could lighten your wallet quite a bit so there is some more weight reduction there. Hehe
02LSE96LSC91SE84TC
Dedicated LVC Member
A few LS guys have some track time, but in general the LS hasn't been really track tested by many on here. Thats why some peoples times are a surprize.
I've ran 9.3 11 times, curiosity got the best of me so I counted. 5 were 14.4s and the rest 14.5s. I'm still on 3.31 gearing...for now. Hes got 3.58s and more weight loss and nearly wide open exhaust. (sway bar removed in a LS...got to be a first). A 9.2 1/8th potential. To assume a MarkVIII with above mentioned mods would beat that is a poor assumption.
Still this is close enough to be a drivers race.
How many times have you hit 9.3? Can you do it in this race is the real question.
ILLS
Dedicated LVC Member
+1. People who think that a stock Gen1 LS8 is only good for mid-15's and that the stocker Gen 2 LS8 is only good for low 15's in the 1/4 mile are sorely mistaken. I have seen quite a few Lincoln owners underestimate their own vehicle due to the fact of them not having enough seat time to drive the car to its real potential.
i have run 9.3's maybe 4 times the rest where somewhere in the 9.4's, and there where a couple higher (bad driving). my 9.37 was my best time to date. but i've only takn the ls down the track maybe 13 times total.