drag race C1500

[drag race chevy]

hey everyone i have a 1996 chevy C1500 5.0 305 V8 RWD and i plan on wanting to drag race it her are some mods i already plan on putting on it
350 Ram Jet engine
Upgraded racing transmission with hursh shifter and trans lock
and an upgraded rear axle system

is there anything else that you guys think would help to make it faster
also is there anything i can do to the rear suspension to get better traction off the line seeing how its RWD i had on friend sat to reverse the leaf springs is that even possable
anything that you guys can come up with will help
thanks

[Mr Brown]

What kind of racing will you be doing? Bracket or heads up?

[V3NOM GTO]

Forget the ramjet, do an LS swap. Or BBC, but ls will be cheaper / faster / lighter. BBC = cooler though, lol.

[Jmac72]

Traction bars,or ladder bars,or maybe a 4 link(probable 1of the first 2)You said trans lock,are you meaning a trans brake?If so a 2 step will help a bunch with consistent launchs.It will let you dail in your launch rpm.

[97gmcextcab]

Here are some pictures for motivation of my truck from last year. No where near as nice as some 88-98 rcsb I have seen drag racing. 454 bored and stroked to 489, th400. The truck has changed a bit since these pictures. Its another 2" lower, electric water pump. Still has a stock 10 bolt with locker and 3:42 gears. It has a long way to go yet though, including a better rear suspension. I just use it for 1/8 mile bracket racing and weekend outtings as I have kept it street legal for now. Hvac, radio, power steering ect have been removed.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i90/tylergg/382832_10150493799231488_508236487_11076460_163765 0252_n.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i90/tylergg/381732_10150493798751488_508236487_11076458_329787 949_n.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i90/tylergg/381555_10150493797691488_508236487_11076453_805635 36_n.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i90/tylergg/380891_10150493797931488_508236487_11076454_134086 0068_n.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i90/tylergg/380393_10150493798666488_508236487_11076457_814195 247_n.jpg
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i90/tylergg/166970_10150493799376488_508236487_11076461_213463 971_n.jpg

[Chriscon7]

sleeper ftw! ^^^^^^

[XLR8N]

I would look into narrowing the axle and tubbing the bed so you can get some wide slicks under it. Also look at some Cal tracs.

[Jmac72]

Looks like you have a great start.

[cancritter]

where ya racein at ?

[minorobsession]

you could potentially gain quite a bit in changing to a diff rear gear, 4:10 or something.

[silverado_lover]

I wouldn't get a Gen I engine

[97gmcextcab]

where ya racein at ?

I do our local 1/8th mile bracket race at our airport, havn't got it to the 1/4 yet.

[custm2500]

I would look into narrowing the axle and tubbing the bed so you can get some wide slicks under it. Also look at some Cal tracs.

This is a waist of time. You should be able to fit plenty large of tire to make that truck run 9s. Caltracs or some other traction aid will be needed but no tubbing required.

[mc1984ss]

Hey 97 gmextcab I love the red truck in the above pics! It definitely holds a sweet spot in my heart because I have been contemplating doing a similar swap into my 95. I was wondering what headers did you use? Your big block swap looks really clean I have seen some not so nice jobs but yours looks great! Also id you completely abandon the stock fuel system and wireing? I see the Holley pump in the back so I would have to assume so. How much is your truck lowered in those pics? I know you said it is 2" lower now but I was just curious how low it is in those pics? Thanks in advance I would really appreciate any info, keep up the nice work. Also cal tracs are definitely the way to go as far as traction on a leaf sprung vehicle

[97gmcextcab]

Thanks for the comments. I really need to get some new pictures as these pictures are already pretty out dated for what I have done and am doing. The headers are hedman and designed for this body style. Hooker also offers headers for this but were quiet abit more and I was able to find these hedman's at a swap meet new for a very good price. In the pictures the truck is lowered 2/4, it is now 4/6. It was hard doing what I did to this truck as I got it from California rust free, it was a fully loaded for its time 350/5 speed. I even had the original window sticker. The transmission is a th400 that I built and dyno'd myself while in my final year of my 4 year apprenticeship. I have been slacking on the rear end as I would like to go with a 4-linked 9", but until then the rear end will stay mainly stock minus the locker. I have been doing research on these trucks in a drag truck form and can say I probably have 100+ pictures on 88-98 rcsb drag trucks only lol.

*Edit, as for wiring. I removed the factory harness and disected it leaving only wiring for lights, radio(although it is removed right now) and HVAC(also removed right now). Most factory connections are all still in there....somewhere.