Many of you have heard me comment lately that the new 97 we got a few months ago is notably faster than the 93 we've had for 12 years. Well, I got a chance to test this theory thanks to an adventurous wife. This evening, both 80s ended up at a friend's house and we came home talking on the cell phones when I decided to settle this question once and for all. She agreed to drag race me.
After a couple false starts before we realized that when I said "go", it took at least a full second for my voice to travel through the cell system tower and back to her car next to mine, we got it right. We did 2 runs of 50-80mph, and 2 runs from 0-50mph. Both cars were equally laden as best I could figure, regarding fuel level even. No A/C, and everything else was equal. The 93 might have a very slight disadvantage due to new tires - I'll measure them at some point.
The 97 has freshly repacked birfs and rear wheel bearings, and the 93 has freshly repacked rear wheel bearings. Tire pressures up and even. Both in excellent tune, and the 93 has about 10,000 more miles on it, both had Shell mid grade fuel, recent air filters, and both fully warmed up. Even had the antennas up on both trucks, so as closely as possible these trucks were matched.
On the 50-80 run the 97 was a half car length faster. Repeated with same result. So I was feeling good that my well tuned butt was correct that the 97 was stronger as it just feels that way around town.
Then, from 0-50 the 93 trounced the 97 by a half car length. We repeated this for the same result and I was crestfallen - the butt's out of tune!!
Personally, I'm surprised because it was the around town use (where the 0-50 comes in) that showed me I was wrong. Interesting that perception can be so off, eh?
So there you have it - the first semi official match race of the girlie tranny models vs the manly tranny!
DougM
After a couple false starts before we realized that when I said "go", it took at least a full second for my voice to travel through the cell system tower and back to her car next to mine, we got it right. We did 2 runs of 50-80mph, and 2 runs from 0-50mph. Both cars were equally laden as best I could figure, regarding fuel level even. No A/C, and everything else was equal. The 93 might have a very slight disadvantage due to new tires - I'll measure them at some point.
The 97 has freshly repacked birfs and rear wheel bearings, and the 93 has freshly repacked rear wheel bearings. Tire pressures up and even. Both in excellent tune, and the 93 has about 10,000 more miles on it, both had Shell mid grade fuel, recent air filters, and both fully warmed up. Even had the antennas up on both trucks, so as closely as possible these trucks were matched.
On the 50-80 run the 97 was a half car length faster. Repeated with same result. So I was feeling good that my well tuned butt was correct that the 97 was stronger as it just feels that way around town.
Then, from 0-50 the 93 trounced the 97 by a half car length. We repeated this for the same result and I was crestfallen - the butt's out of tune!!
Personally, I'm surprised because it was the around town use (where the 0-50 comes in) that showed me I was wrong. Interesting that perception can be so off, eh?
So there you have it - the first semi official match race of the girlie tranny models vs the manly tranny!
DougM
