Launch RPM

[Insane Malice]

I am planning to go to us 41 dragstrip in a few days and i am kinda curious. About what RPM's should i launch my car its a 96 stock 3.6 with the manual five speed. Im thinking ima pull out my subs and everything in the back out to lighten up the car. I am gonna race my friends buick gn that should pull 11's. Ive been messing with the launches lately and anytthing over two grand i smoke the tires on take off.

[Only4U]

first of all, you have a 3.8 liter engine, not a 3.6. secondly, about the highest stall you can get on a stock torque converter is 1800...anymore and you'll probably peel a lot.

[OnixV6]

it will depend on the track conditions and your suspension and drivetrain setup. different cars, different tracks, different launch RPM's. you'll have to find out for yourself where the limit is before your tire spins.

@ Englishtown, i usually launch @ 2K but last Saturday track prep was better and i was launching @ 3K. @ Cecil, i was launching between 4K and 4.5K.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Only4U:
secondly, about the highest stall you can get on a stock torque converter is 1800...anymore and you'll probably peel a lot.<hr></blockquote>

re-read his post. he mentioned manual five speed so no TC.

[Ttop34]

With all of this talk about torque converters and differnt stalls it's only time before some body buys one and takes it to a shop to be installed on his car with a 5spd.
Usually because I have LSD I can do a 3,000rpm slow clutch drop and it will get off the line pretty well. If I spin a little then it gets the rpms up to my power band and I take off faster. There have been once or twice where I do just sit there and spin for a while, I'm running on bald Eagle GA's right now though.

Just try to be as consistant as possible and experiment to find your best launch. On residential streets where I practice(at night) I can usually feather the clutch at 2,500rpms and get a good strong launch, haven't timed it yet though. My best has been spinning through 1st actually.

[pgriffith]

Mine is a 5 speed and I like to launch at 3,000RPM, Auto's are much different im sure.

[jonny985]

I've been lauching from about 1500 to 2000 and I still can't hook up very good, I'm hoping to have more luck with new tires. I usually end up spinnning for a second and hooking after that. You just have to get the feel of the clutch and the track conditions. For starters I would start out trying to launch about 1500 and if you bog, then push it more the next run. On my first run ever, I launched at about 2500 and didn't get any traction what-so-ever, but seeing as my tires blow right now, that is understanable.

[MustangEater8251]

pfft. I rev it nearly 4.5k, feather clutch out slithgly, then pop it and get pretty good launches.

just to set things straight, thre is no talk of a torque cnverter here, thats something only for automatics, nothing to do with this guy he ahs a 5-speed.

Best way to find it is practice. lots of it. You need to find the sweet spot, threshold of wheel spin, but not boggin the car down, form launching too hard too low in the RPMs. With a 5-sopeed do not dump the clutch, I feather it, then move yto a dump. I start this process as soon as i see the 3rd yellow, to help keep my R/ts down.

As a tip as you pull up to the line i would ride your clutch a little, sometimes when its cold and there was a wreck at the track, so I sti for hour, hour and a half, my clutch will slip in the 1-2 shift and 2-3 shift, if i do not warm it up jsut a tid bit.

Focus on 60's, then 1/8th mile then 1/4 thats how you get your times.

My goal is a sub 2.00 60', sub 10.00 1/8th, and I'll worry about the rest of the 1/4 later.

good luck.

[ July 19, 2002: Message edited by: MustangEater8251 ]</p>

[Insane Malice]

Thanks for all the information ill be leavin in about five hours for the track so ill see what i do. i jus hope i dont break the mofo

[Insane Malice]

well i didnt break i am thinking i ran fairly descent as i said i messed up its a 3.8 sorry and its bone stock. my best et for the day was a 16.099. i need to work on reaction but i was pleased considering my car isnt in the greatest shape bad o2 senser and a semi clogged cat.