1/4 Times For My 400E! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

90free400e · #1 02-08-2004, 04:46 PM

took my first trip to the drag strip yesterday. Not only was I impressed with the times, I am now addicted to *track* racing. First off, let me say that Motor Trend managed a 15.4 1/4 mile on a stock 1993 400E. Yesterday, my best time was a 14.857 with a .730 reaction time. I can't tell you how happy I was with these times. That means that my homemade intake, y-pipe, and muffler took dramatic time off of my time. I can't tell you how happy I was. Im going next weekend too with the seats and the spare tire out, and hopefully I can run in the 14.7's. When I get the 2.82 differential, I will have a great comparison as too how much time it actually takes off. Anyways, just wanted to share the times

pentoman · #2 02-08-2004, 06:18 PM

14.7 is the usual 'test' time found for the 500E, no?

Nice!

Rusty

90free400e · #3 02-08-2004, 06:27 PM

thanks. Hopefully next week i will be in the 14.7's. I am taking the back seats out and the spare out. I am also gonna try icing the intake before i run, and do better burnouts. Hopefully this will yield faster times

. I really want to know what other 400E owners are running.

amg280 · #4 02-09-2004, 03:17 AM

I ran a 14.7 with my 400E. Approx 65 Degree ambient temp. 2.82 diff. stock exhaust, stock intake, Performance Chip. Felt I could of done better. Limited slip rear end would definetely help these times. Them one wheel peels are not only a pain, but embarassing.

Good luck and let me know what the weight loss does to it. And oh, you need to put a 2.82 in that baby

-Andy

90free400e · #5 02-09-2004, 05:53 PM

damnit my last post didnt go in. Anyways, This car has alot more potential. My best 60' was a 2.3, and my best R/T was a .730. Intake and exaust really helped the car. AMG280, do you have any idea how much time the 2.82 diff took off the 1/4 time? I think I could run 14.3's with the 2.82, if not better. Im aiming for 14.6's this weekend with seats out, spare tire out, and race fuel ( which hopefully should help especially with the knock sensor and the variable valve timing) With new tires I could probably run even better. about the LSD -- SO THATS WHY MY BACK RIGHT TIRE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT SPINS!!! But yea, it really amazed me at how good these times were, especially with my homeade intake and custom exaust. Im hoping to fab a full catback with 3 inch pipe, and maybe even some headers. My ultimate goal is to dip into the 13's

. But anyways id love to hear what the 2.82 did for your car. Also, what chip do you have, and does it make a difference? 1/4 Mile = 14.85 Trap Speed 93.87 R/T = .730 60' = 2.309

amg280 · #6 02-09-2004, 06:38 PM

Hey,

I found a run I did last summer. IT goes as follows:

Temp: 70
R/T .669
60' : 2.344
1/8: 9.647@74.85
1/4: 14.838 @ 95.70

When comparing these numbers to yours, it seems that my car picks up more steam as it goes along. It would seem like a contradiction to the laws of going with a higher rear end ration. I think this is because this engine has soo much torque, that even with the taller gearing of the 2.24 diff, it manages to match the times of a car with higher gearing with torque as opposed to using the horsepower of the motor. Any thoughts?

I forgot what brand chip I have, it was pretty pricey. It promised 286hp to 289 give or take a few and 295 torque to around 317. The car does feel like it has more torque. I dont know if it was worth the heafty price tag though.

I feel that Mercedes should of fitted this model (not to mention the 500E)with a Limited Slip rear diff. To me, it seems like a no brainer. especially since the 400E didnt come stock with ASR traction.

Let me know how your custom exhast goes. Maybe you should make a duplicate for me haha. I just dont want it to be too loud.

Your engine also has higher HP due to 11.1 compression as opposed to my 10.1 compression. Mercedes only did this for 92. I have no idea why. Does anyone know how or why mercedes boosted the compression on the 93 and later models?

Let me know what you find out.

-Andy

90free400e · #7 02-09-2004, 08:33 PM

so the 14.838 was with or without the new 2.82 differential? How much did you pay for the chip. Also, didnt the 92 400E have 270 hp? Anyways, this car should be able to run 14.7's easy, and hopefully in the 14.6's without the new differential.

amg280 · #8 02-09-2004, 09:29 PM

Those times were with the 2.82 swap and the chip. The chip was around 400.

90free400e · #9 02-09-2004, 10:08 PM

damn i guess that just shows what the intake and exaust did for my car

. There is no way i cant run low 14's high 13's with that diff and a few other things. Is the chip made by Superchips? 400 doesnt seem that bad to me.

DuncanM · #10 02-09-2004, 10:18 PM

Getting a Drag Radial tire will help quite a bit. I know Nitto sells them. You really need to heat them up to get best results.

90free400e · #11 02-10-2004, 05:26 PM

how much time do you think the 2.82 differential would take off my 1/4 mile time?

Michael · #12 02-10-2004, 11:04 PM

I'd think the rear end swap would get you .2-.3 in the quarter mile, at most. As to performance chips, FWIW I've had 4 or 5 chips in my car, and none really have much of an effect (I believe a RennTech one is in there now, and it runs the best of all, incl. stock)

To get in the 13s, you'll need nitrous or to gut your car & drill LOTS of holes....gonna need to shed 500lbs or more.

Don't mean to burst anyone's bubble, but a 400E in the 13s is sorta unrealistic - it's simply too heavy a car.

But keep plugging!

Flash Gordon · #13 02-11-2004, 04:30 PM

Good run

If you could reduce the reaction time, you will see mid 14's. By the way, what tires and pressures did you run?

90free400e · #14 02-11-2004, 06:10 PM

first off, the tires i were using were the stock, michelin all weather tires. I lowered them to about 24 psi. Second, I really dont think that the 400e in the 13's is out of the question, and i think it can easily be done without nitrous. I will keep u guys updated, and let you know what the difference is with the seats, spare, and anything else that makes a difference out of the car. Ive been thinking about taking the head to a machinest and getting a valve/polish job. I could always bore and stroke to 5.0 liters and have a 500e engine

. I think the differential would do more than .2-.3 10's off of the 1/4. In fact, Carl from Bergwerks has told me that the average difference, FROM 0-60, is .5-.7 seconds. I also ran my best time with about 4 gallons of gas in the car. 2 gallons of race fuel should do at least 1/10'th, and im planning on icing the intake box and doing longer burnouts, and ill def lower the tire pressure to 20 psi. Anyways ill keep you guys updated. Oh yes, and the one car that beat me twice was a 4 door, automatic, pontiac grand am with stock mufflers. He ran a 13.4. I can only guess what he had done to that thing.

Michael · #15 02-12-2004, 07:26 AM

Flash,

FWIW R/T has no bearing whatsoever on your time; an improved R/T is only good for beating the other guy out of the hole!

Also, race fuel will not likely do a thing for you unless you dial another several degrees of timing into the car in order to take advantage of its increased knock resistance (which as I understand from a Chrysler fuel systems engineer is the only relevant improvement).

I've been down each of these roads, and found that there are few if any free ponies to be had in theese cars. Focus on getting weight out: it'll net you the biggest & cheapest improvements