you guys race in overdrive or not? Also, how do you guys take off best in the L do you hammer it all the way or only go about half to 3/4 throttle at first ? thanx

 

I turn the overdrive off. Roll into the throttle fast. Don't hammer it or you'll be sideways in no time.

 

could that make a difference on your run if you leave your overdrive on or off?...i realize you can't hammer it or you will be spinning like crazy...i tried just easing into for about a second or too and then lay into it the rest of the way

 

It comes down to how much power your making and how sticky the track is.

The typical bolt on guy at a typical track (moderately prepped) with F1s will power brake up to 800rpms. Then roll into it as quickly as possible WITHOUT spinning. If your track is sticky you'll be able to nail it. If not?... well then you need some seat time to learn what it'll take.

You should NEVER be blowing through the traps in OD. That's very hard on the tranny and it slows you down. If you get that quick.. then step up the tire diameter or change the rear gears.

Rich

 

thanks guys any more advice would be greatly appreciated...i have been practicing runs in Over drive i just never really thought about putting overdrive off which i guess would give you more low rpm power wouldn't it since your like in a pulling mode as if you were hauling somthing....also that power brake thing as you called it i was wondering if that was a good way to start off or just let off the brake and nail it from there but i think i had it more than 800 rpms thought when i tried power braking...more like 1500 or so maybe even more....i dont want to sound dumb about this stuff but i like to be sure on the best way to do this since i am kind of a new one with racing and im getting more into everyday....ford always has been my favorite(specially when it has SVT on it!! the L kicks ***!
thanx again and if you have any more advice please post!
Ty

 

thanks guys any more advice would be greatly appreciated...i have been practicing runs in Over drive i just never really thought about putting overdrive off which i guess would make sense, because it would give you more low end power wouldn't it since your like in a pulling mode as if you were hauling somthing....also that power brake thing as you called it i was wondering if that was a good way to start off or just let off the brake and nail it from there but i think i had it more than 800 rpms thought when i tried power braking...more like 1500 or so maybe even more(my L idles at about 800 rpms)....i dont want to sound dumb about this stuff but i like to be sure on the best way to do this since i am kind of a new one with racing and im getting more into everyday....ford always has been my favorite(specially when it has SVT on it!! the L kicks ***!
thanx again and if you have any more advice please post!
Ty

 

svt88, I think your misunderstanding a little.

OD is a 4th gear. When you get up to a speed that allows for it to go into 4th the tranny spins the driveshaft faster than the engine is spinning. (The crank shaft spins one time and the tranny "overdrives" the driveshaft by about 30%) In other words it's spinning about 1.3 times faster than the engine is spinning. That's great for gas milage but it's not good for dragracing. Not good at all because of the mechanical leverage losses.

The truck does'nt perform any different when racing with the OD button off/on **untill** it goes into 4th (should the OD be turned on). If it's on? then you loose a good amount of torque propelling you fwd and the tranny is being worked very hard.

The reason you race with it off is to prevent it from ever going into 4th aka "OD".


Ok now onto launching.

Power braking is holding the brake with your left foot and gassng it with the right **w/o moving the truck**.

The best way to launch a stock to mostly stock lightning is to "power brake" up to about 800 rpms and on the last yellow release the brake and quickly roll into the throttle. **IF** you had a sticky track.. you might get away with power braking to a higher rpm and stabbing the throttle quicker.

Make sence?

btw: Why do I feel like I'm talking to my son?

Rich

 

thanks for the information Rich i appreciate it i love learning somthing new everyday hehe thanks again

 

No problem.

I've been racing street type of cars for a long time. And the toughest thing for me to overcome with this lightning was getting a good launch. It took me quite a while to get the feel of launching it. And actually I've only cut high 1.9s on street tires. I still have a ways to go to see those 1.8s

Go spend some time at your local track and get-er done.

Rich

 

Dunno. Why do I feel like I'm in a time warp, seeing the same questions over and over and over again . . . .?

 

You too were once a newbie... Have a little heart thar Tim.

Besides.. if we don't teach? Were not doing our part.

Rich

 

I understand, Rich. You have certainly taught me plenty. You are the source of water pump info, as well as a great engineer counterbalance to some of the yahoo bench racers like me. I still jump in on suspension and brake stuff (out of a sense of duty as keeper of the info) and some other things (for fun), but that's about it any more.

I used to try to teach people the most important thing of all -- how to search. "Give a man a fish, and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he eats every day."

But I gave up. Too many losers who are too lazy to learn and just want to keep coming back every day to be spoon fed a single fish (not you, svt88). And too many champions of the losers. The monkeys are running the zoo.

 

I think I know , but just want an experts opinion. I'm going to the dyno tomorrow for the 1st time. Do you treat the pull like going down the track and have the OD off?

Thanks for any info on that!!

 

jboss10, please tell me that your attempting to be "humorous"?

Rich

 

Are you laughing!!! That's all I wanted No but seriuosly what should I expect on the dyno with a 4# lower and a tune #2 pulley tune. yeah I know....I had a request in for a new tune with James for two weeks. I know he has the flu and I understand that but the page says it will be up "by then end of day on Friday FEB 25th" If I don't have it will it even be worth going?

thanks Rich for any input