BlueCalais79

I'll be attending the 2024 Old Nationals later this month and I'll be entering my bone stock 97,xxx miles 3.4L 1994 Cutlass Supreme in the Drag Races being held at Ozark. Needless to say I entered my car in the slowest category (13 second and slower).

Any takers out there on estimating what my quarter mile time might be? The car is running great, the only thing I plan on doing is running the highest Octane Ethanol Free gas I can find and maybe slip in some Octane Booster. Air Conditioning will be off so that will help.

I'm thinking 15:25 to 15:75, and I'd better make the first run good, as I will probably be eliminated in the 1st pass.

joe_padavano

Contemporary road tests ran 16.7 in the quarter with 3.4 and AT.

69CSHC

Going with the 16.7 Joe P mentions.

In a perfect world it's a 16.2 when new. Everything ideal, theoretically via Automobile Catalog. Test weight 3663 LBS. Their perfect scenario is hard to duplicate though. And many a same model end up running about a 1/2 second slower in the real world.

How is your track experience ? Been there done that or first time ever in any car ?

bccan

I’m at 17.5, hopefully I’ll turn out to just be Debbie Downer!

DON’T RUN HIGH OCTANE GAS, anything more than 93, even 91 for that matter, will likely slow you down. Ethanol free is a good thing.

Drive around the water unless you’re gonna heat the tires with a smokey burnout. Leave on the last yellow, don’t wait for the green.

Good luck & have fun!

​​​​​​….

1970cs

I own it's cousin. Lumina Z34. MotorTrend tv said that a Z with a 5sp would run a 16.1. So auto, I am with Joe P. should run a mid 16.

Pat

fleming442

I'll say 17.25. As long as you can repeat it and cut a light, you can go rounds in a bracket race.

BlueCalais79

Yep, I knew I was overly optimistic there with running in the 15's, but I will do my best. No burn out box for me, and hopefully no burnout at all, need those tires for the 900 mile trip back home. Its Ethanol Free gas all the way for me, whatever the octane. This car hasn't had ethanol gas in it since 2022 when I got it here in SC from CT. Mid 16's would be fine, I'll take off on the bottom yellow like I'm leaving your everyday traffic light.

Their plan is to judge the cars (with the exception of the race car class which will be judged at the track) that are participating in race day first so they can leave for the track, but it's going to take me a good while to re-install everything I have to take off that car to get it judged, mainly the custom seat covers which are a true headache. No matter, I'll get there when I get there. I think there will be plenty of time to dial in.

Olds64

Let us know what she runs.

BlueCalais79

Will do, hopefully no rain.

69CSHC

Optimal conditions she can do it. The biggest issues are the track is almost a 1/4 mile above sea level. And you are making the pass in the heart of summer.

At night, tire pressure correct all around, making sure you go in drive/3rd vs overdrive... maybe ...

BlueCalais79

That's a plan, I'll be hitting O/D alot on the highway, but on the track, not so much. I'd like to keep it in 3rd gear till the tach says its time to shift and by then the qtr should be all but over. One thing great about these 3.4's they rev out/breathe really nicely. They really are great motors when they are on. As an aside, it would have been great to see Olds hang in there and eventually place in a V8 in the Cutlass Supreme. But 1998 and then 2004 killed all of that. Imagine, a baby 32 valve northstar in the CS, one can dream I guess.

69CSHC

Perfect. It made a big difference on my 87 442, its been about 15 years but I picked up 4/10s IIRC. By going in drive vs overdrive. The 87 is high strung so it would shift into 4th just before the 1/4 mile marker and stunt final forward progress.

Your baby is equally high strung but with a higher redline. Our gearing coupled to actual gear is very close. Should work out great.

I'm psyched for you! Going to crunch numbers (my favorite pastime) and post again later. And definitely going to touch on the second half of your post. Regarding what could of been.

69CSHC

Gearing Comparison

----87 442-------1994 Cutlass Supreme
1st)2.74 (10.22)----2.921 (10.02)
2nd)1.57 (5.86)-----1.568 (5.38)
3rd)1 (3.73)---------1 (3.43)
4th)0.667 (2.49)----0.705 (2.42)

If you hit 100 MPH in the 1/4 you will still have plenty of breathing room. That's 4550 RPM with factory height tires vs the LQ1s 7000 RPM redline.

Theoretically the 87 442 peaks at 91 in 3rd. The 94 C/S, 162 MPH.

"One thing great about these 3.4's they rev out/breathe really nicely." Very much so, a little more power and it would of been lights out.

Just for reference, the 1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S hit 162 MPH with 247 HP while weighing 3300 LBS ... And all these years later the 2023 Honda Civic Type R S hit 169 MPH with 315 HP, front wheel drive ... Read between the lines and its easy to see Olds could of still been playing the game. (Both the Porsche and Honda are record breakers.)

P.S. you could actually go in 2nd gear due to your redline... Theoretically, Automobile Catalog says 103 MPH is possible in 2nd. That would likely erase the elevation, heat, and humidities impact on the time slip. But I wouldn't try that.

BillK

That could actually make it run slower if the engine is designed for 87 octane. Ethanol free wont make any difference.

BlueCalais79

Our corner station sells Ethanol Free gas at 90 Octane, I think that would be sufficient. We have alot of boaters in this area so I benefit from that since there's a market for Ethanol Free gas.

BillK

Like I said..... if the engine is designed to run on 87 anything more is a waste and can/will hurt performance unless you change the tune for it.

69CSHC

I understand what BillK is saying. But I believe you will be great with the ethanol free 90.

The 1994 Cutlass Supreme Owners Manual states. 87 minimum and up, while also saying a max of 10% ethanol is ok. I read that as over and under works best. You are within reason. Especially when you consider that the LQ1 is a detuned high performance engine...