Connectors will likely help the car a lot with planting the tire. Wheelsup mentioned they were down 4 mph, so if you were down 2-4, that's puts you in the mid 100's at this point and that's good for a 12.40 or better getting it to hook well. Good tune it may be in the 110 range.
I would not raise the front end, if anything, I'd lower it.
This is a pretty decent calculator.
http://www.wallaceracing.com/etcalc.php
Punch in one time from a slip and it give a reasonable estimate on what the rest of slip should look like. If you have a really efficient car, great 60's, it's not going to give you a reasonable estimate.