12 second 1/4's? Did you buy it heavily modded? It takes some work to get those things that fast. Not that they can't... There's one around my neck of the woods running 12.40's, but he's spent a shload of money on it to do it. Stock, aren't they low-15-high-14 second cars? I've got a long mod list, and I haven't scratched 12's quite yet... I dream about it a lot, though.

As for that dowel pin... a little play on the linkage = a lot of play on the stick. There's supposed to be a C-clip that goes around the linkage, holding the pin in place. Make sure that's there. If you don't have one on it, a hose clamp will work to hold it in.