My best time so far bone stock with Flowmaster Axle Backs was 14.02 at 103mph. I can't launch this thing at all. I get sideways off the start if I push it past 1800rpm. I pretty much baby it off the line and punch it.

TAKE TCS OFF!!!

If you hit hard into second, you'll easily trip the TCS and you will shut down and ruin your run. I always turn it off at the track. Do not go through the water pits. If you are running street tires, just spin 'em once or twice around. Just to clean them off. You won't get them sticky enough to matter.

I have a manual and I finish off in 3rd or sometimes at 4th right at the end, based on my initial launch. Good luck man. Here in CA, you need a helmet if your running 13.99 or faster. Still not there yet, but that's just a good launch away.

 

Wth you snuck that in there! I even relooked, lol. Thanks don.

dekulala, yeah too bad, its just the oppsite for me. Route66 track is about 20 min away from me, that wisconson track is wayyy to far. See you next month tho at hooters!

 

Sorry don,
I wasn't trying to directly relate the two types (stick/auto) together, they really are different animals. I used to race a '69 with an auto and it was a breeze compared to the stick (at least to me). I started out the post just wanting to comment about tire pressure and the difference it made on my car and got carried away You can still get hop with an auto though. It's not often and it just depends on the conditions. And it's good that auto will never let you get to the limiter, it's kind of embarrasing when you do. Still, as you know, launch technique is different for every car, combo of mods, and driver. So trying it different ways and practicing what seems to work best is key to your best times. I was just trying to relate my experiences so Dan can go out and have a good time.


On my runs so far, I have been going through the traps still in 3rd, right at 5700-5900 rpm. It's almost like it seems to be running out of power on top end and it's really bugging me.

jeff

 

Wow... what a difference rear gears make. I am topping out 3rd gear in the 1/8-mile (at 6400rpm) with my 4.10s.

 

Well was a fun night overall. I didn't do anything special to help like take out spare and jack or subs etc, just turned of TC like everyone said. Other than that just wanted to see what I could do for a first time out.
I was in the 13.8...'s all night ran 6 times and my best time was my very first run 13.860 at 100.44mph my best speed was a run about the same 13.870 at 101.24, never went under 100mph or over 13.89, so I was fairly consistant. I definatly need to work alot on my reaction time and my launch though. I pretty much sucked in those 2 aspects. I was the only 05 mustang there, had alot of people asking me questions and many compliments especially when they found out I was very close to stock and had an auto. Overall very fun, although I will have to get a helmet if I decide to keep going back, had to borrow my friends. When I got my first slip they wrote "need helmet" on it since I didn't wear one on the first run.
Here is a photo of me and an 04 GT. I think he had a supercharger but can't be sure. I heard a wine when he started it up later in the parking lot. He got me by .6 seconds.

 

Hey, that's pretty good for the first time out!! Congrats!! Just keep working on the RTs... practice, practice, practice...

 

Thanks for the replies on the gear thru the traps. With stock gearing, mild to no mods, top of third looks about right based on trap speeds between 100 - 105. The 4.10 gears will bring you easily into forth and quicker time because thru the whole quarter you will produce higher wheer torque which equates to thrust.

I have taken some of the posted dyno runs and created a family of wheel torque curves vs gear vs speed. What I was interested in was determining best shift point (which is where any two gear curves crossover). Much to my surprise what I discoverd is with the gear spread on this trans, taking it to redline is about as good as it will ever get. There is a fairly large wheel torque drop off at each shift point. There is no overlap between 1st thru 3rd. 4th comes the closest to 5th, but I don't think that will be a problem for anyone in a qtr mile ... 5th is not geared for performance ... only cruise. If redline is extended beyond 6000, some of curves move closer to converging, but won't get there because of the gear spread. Ideally the gear curves should converge, at that shift point there is not a sudden wheel torque drop off.

A credit to this engine is its broad torque curve and ability to get the car into the 13's literally with a 3 speed.

I did look at the 6 speed close ratio offering gearing as well. It does a fair little better but the space out of gear ratios tends to be high (say compared to a close ratio top loader) to get the best transition between shifts.

 

Those are great runs Dan Glad you had fun. I hope I can get mine that quick with more practice. What were your 60 foot times?

Wow don, 6400 @ the 1/8? That's a huge difference! I'm shifting into 3rd @ 5800-5900 just before the 1/8, around 70mph. My 1/8 times are around 9.4 @ 76mph. Looks like 3.90 or 4.10's could move up on my mod list.
jeff

 

I used the Predator to reset the WOT shift points on my auto trans to 6200rpm (that is the max it will allow you to set). If I just put it in Drive, the car actually shifts into 4th gear right before the 1/8-mi mark (maybe 60 feet before). So, I have been experimenting with leaving the starting line in Drive and when it shifts into 3rd, I slide the shifter back to 3rd to keep it from shifting into 4th. That's when I will see it bump about 6400rpm at the end. I have the rev limiter set to 6600rpm (just in case). FWIW, my 1/8-mi times are generally 8.80s or 8.90s (depending on weather).

 

Here's all the info off the timeslip including my horrible reaction time, LOL, according to the slip it says perfect reaction is now .000, so I'm guessing someplaces its not?

R/T - .571
60 - 2.141
300 - 5.925
1/8 - 8.993
MPH - 80.56
1000 - 11.628
1/4 - 13.860
MPH - 100.44

This was my very first track race ever and it wound up being my best of 6 for the night, I would have hoped I improved, but I think I just got more nervous as the night went on when they kept yelling at me to close my windows because I was forgetting and then having to put the helmet on, maybe thats it the helmet added weight, hehe.

 

It varies by track... some use a 0.000 tree, others use a 0.500 tree. There is also a 0.400 "Pro" tree (all three ambers flash simultaneously, followed by the green 0.400 seconds later). The 0.000 system is relatively new... the 0.500/0.400 trees have been around forever. NHRA switched to the 0.000 tree just a few years ago.

To cut a good RT, mash the loudpedal when you see the 3rd amber bulb. If you see green first... you are late.

BTW, that isn't bad for a first run. It's better than my first run down the quarter in this car 2 months ago.