I think what you're going to run into is the lighter you make the car the more you're going to have wheel spin, especially with stock suspension. Also, unless you upgrade the front suspension, like adding a LSD, and other components, at some point that front end is going to give out. This car just isn't built for abuse like an SRT-4 is. Those things are built for the track from the factory.
Also, HP really doesn't matter unless there's before and after numbers. Numbers you did months ago don't translate because there are so many variables from ambient temps, humidity, car temps, different gas even if from the same station, the list goes on. 215HP one day and 230HP a month later may be the same thing depending on the conditions.
If you're running 1/8 mile I would put small wheels, maybe 17 or 16's with meaty slicks. Roll out a few feet and punch it. Don't worry about your reaction times unless your racing someone.
Car is not going to get much lighter at this point. Not going extreme on weight loss to run the times. Also the weight is coming off rear of car for the most part. I mean at 2860 lbs race weight I have 1900 lbs over the front tires.....
The issues I've had spinning was due to severial things: Track conditions being bad, oem tires suck, weight shifting off front tires, wheel hop from engine/trans movement, and surge of power in oem tune.
One I hit the track with current mods and a decent tune I'll see what I need to tweak next. At some point I fully expect to need more suspension mods and an LSD. But I want to see at what point they'll be needed first.
Re SRT-4 being made for track(dragstrip), I don't think so myself. I driven them, tuned them, modded them, and have friends that have done the same. They can make good power but will not hook up. And when they do the axles snap. Takes 100 whp more to run same times as my auto VT.....
Speaking of power, I have dyno numbers with mods I ran times with and the density altitude listed during the passes. Since dyno is corrected to 0' density altitude and all my passes were made at a higher DA, means I made less power than on dyno when passes were made.
I already have 16" wheels that weigh 13 lbs on car and slicks on light wheels as well. I'm not worried about spinning at all with slicks on oem motor and turbo. And I'm not rolling out and punching it either. Boost launch only for me..... ;-)
I know what it takes to make a good pass. The only VT that may have made a quicker pass is one with slicks that dyno 126 whp more than mine and only .2-.3 seconds quicker in the 1/4. And still have not seen a slip yet.....
That should say something.....
