New drag car

Same car. My friend told me to leave the converter in it and just run it with a little bigger chip. Should have left it alone. He said he wouldn't be afraid of 7000 in the 1/4 with a well built 440. Whats your thoughts? He was runner up last year at MoKan Mopar weekend with a white small block duster. I will be there with him. He also has a green duster he runs sometimes there. It runs in the 9.70's