How do you launch your truck? You may be SHOCKED (pun intended)!
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From: Mobile, AL, USA
How do you launch your truck? You may be SHOCKED (pun intended)!
Lauching your truck by brake torquing is only decreasing your ability to run full your best times. Here's the proven theory first, and then I'll show some times afterwards.
(quotes below taken from here: https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...ighlight=flash )
...now that we understand how a tq converter works, on to the other part of the theory:
First, though, I want to remind each and everyone of you trackwhores, like myself, that you may be disappointed if you go to your track and try this and spin. Remember, if your track isn't prepped well you prolly will. If you have lower pulleys and chips you may just exacerbate this even more. BUT, if your track is prepped correctly you will get some amazing 60's and times!
Some of you will actually be shocked to know that you can drive your truck even faster than what it's gone already. Some of you will come back telling you spun and slowed down. All in all this IS the correct way to launch these trucks, even on factory radials. Find a good track to test this at if you do not do it already.
BTW, stock tires even at 16k miles on my '01 (yes, they were needing replaced soon) netted me my BEST 60's to date, EVEN w/ a 5# Lower Pulley and Chip! How does a 1.84 sound? I friend was there w/ his '99 on STOCK bald *** tires running 1.87s w/ this method (and we all know how bad the compound was on the '99/'00 tires!). FYI, I was running 28#'s of pressure.
Alright, so since you now see a clear understanding as to why lauching off an idle should net you your best times let's get on to the times of my old '01 w/ using this method.
Modified w/ 5# Lower and Pulley: 7.81 @ 80.7 w/ a 1.84, 60' ft. (keep in mind this is a '600 ft. track I'm at so add 2 tenths to get a true 1/8) Track Conditions: Great starting line! Well prepped. Weather: Absolutely horrible! 90+ degrees and ultra high humidity. This truck should have ran some 7.6's on a good night there (proofed by usahooters running some 7.7's to my 7.8's, when he had ran some 7.5's on a good night).
Bone Stock in the true 1/8: 8.486 @ 82.235 w/ a 1.879 60' ft.
Track Conditions: Excellent, well prepped! Weather: Great! Mid 60's to Low 70's I believe. These old times equated into approx. a 13.28 @ 105.26 in the 1/4.
I should have some times of my '02 here next week. I'll definitely keep you all posted as to what it does stock vs. modded.
All replies to this thread are welcomed and encouraged! Let's hear what you have to say, please.
Take care,
(quotes below taken from here: https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...ighlight=flash )
A torque converter transfers torque from the crank to the tranny via Fluid coupling. The Crank Turns the Impeller, the Impeller throws oil at the turbine which causes the turbine to spin, the turbine is connected to the tranny (A crude explanation on how it works). Then comes "Flash Speed" or "Lockup Speed". Flash speed is the speed the Impeller/crank can turn without spinning the turbine/tranny. If you start from an Idle and Gun the throttle, it will cause the Flash Speed to be momentarily higher than if you slowly bring the engine up to speed and hold it with the brake. This should cause more torque multiplication, and will get the engine up into it's power band sooner.
When you get up on the converter at the starting line it preloads everything and the truck doesn't have time to pitch rotate or weight transfer, its as stiff as a board and will spin the tires. When you stand on the gas pedal from an idle and if you have enough traction, the truck will weight transfer better.
Some of you will actually be shocked to know that you can drive your truck even faster than what it's gone already. Some of you will come back telling you spun and slowed down. All in all this IS the correct way to launch these trucks, even on factory radials. Find a good track to test this at if you do not do it already.
BTW, stock tires even at 16k miles on my '01 (yes, they were needing replaced soon) netted me my BEST 60's to date, EVEN w/ a 5# Lower Pulley and Chip! How does a 1.84 sound? I friend was there w/ his '99 on STOCK bald *** tires running 1.87s w/ this method (and we all know how bad the compound was on the '99/'00 tires!). FYI, I was running 28#'s of pressure.
Alright, so since you now see a clear understanding as to why lauching off an idle should net you your best times let's get on to the times of my old '01 w/ using this method.
Modified w/ 5# Lower and Pulley: 7.81 @ 80.7 w/ a 1.84, 60' ft. (keep in mind this is a '600 ft. track I'm at so add 2 tenths to get a true 1/8) Track Conditions: Great starting line! Well prepped. Weather: Absolutely horrible! 90+ degrees and ultra high humidity. This truck should have ran some 7.6's on a good night there (proofed by usahooters running some 7.7's to my 7.8's, when he had ran some 7.5's on a good night).
Bone Stock in the true 1/8: 8.486 @ 82.235 w/ a 1.879 60' ft.
Track Conditions: Excellent, well prepped! Weather: Great! Mid 60's to Low 70's I believe. These old times equated into approx. a 13.28 @ 105.26 in the 1/4.
I should have some times of my '02 here next week. I'll definitely keep you all posted as to what it does stock vs. modded.
All replies to this thread are welcomed and encouraged! Let's hear what you have to say, please.
Take care,
Last edited by BfB; Jul 12, 2002 at 01:24 PM.
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From: Elkton, MD
I have a 2600 stall convertor, JLP traction bars, and Hoosier slicks.
After a good 'ol smokey burnout, I launch by holding the rpm's at 1500, releasing the brake, and flooring it. My 60' times were 1.61, 1.62, and 1.64 respectively.
After a good 'ol smokey burnout, I launch by holding the rpm's at 1500, releasing the brake, and flooring it. My 60' times were 1.61, 1.62, and 1.64 respectively.
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From: Great Lake State
When my 00 had a stock convertor,no pullies and et streets,my best 60 was high 1.7's launching from just off idle or around 700 rpm.
This resulted in a 12.79 run on 93 amaco at a great hooking track.
I never did better than launching from off idle then,but when you start adding pullies and other mods...there is no clear cut way to launch without some trial and error at any given track.
This resulted in a 12.79 run on 93 amaco at a great hooking track.
I never did better than launching from off idle then,but when you start adding pullies and other mods...there is no clear cut way to launch without some trial and error at any given track.
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From: Bay Area, California
Originally posted by 99svtlightning
Sorry, best way to launch a stock convertor truck is from idle. This isn't from my experience, but from a buddy of mine who runs 12.1's on stock F1's with a stock convertor.
Sorry, best way to launch a stock convertor truck is from idle. This isn't from my experience, but from a buddy of mine who runs 12.1's on stock F1's with a stock convertor.
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From: Mobile, AL, USA
Originally posted by Lightning Boy
We generally launch at about 1000RPM (just over idle)... Useing M/T ET Streets and launching off the nitrous we get low 1.8 60's; and high 1.6's on the nitrous.
We generally launch at about 1000RPM (just over idle)... Useing M/T ET Streets and launching off the nitrous we get low 1.8 60's; and high 1.6's on the nitrous.
Anyhoo, not bad buddy!
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From: SOUTHERN MARYLAND
He may be talking about me, I think at least (99svtlightning) I launch off dead idle with my current mods(all mods are listed in my sig) With my 4lb pulley I was launching at 900rpm and getting 1.77 60fts all day.
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From: Olive Branch, MS, Memphis Burb
I have tried to flash my convertor several times on two different sets of F1's with absolutely no success. Can you say smokeshow.
The only times I have tried this was when the track was sticking like glue. I could torque it up to 1400 rpm and slam it to the floor without so much as a sqeak that netted my best 60' of 1.82.
I use to launch at 1000 rpm after the 4# pulley and before the traction bars. My best 60' was 1.89. So 1400 netted better 60' times than 1000 for me.
The problem around here is the track usually is not sticking like glue and that term is relative to your track. Apparently glue is stickier at some tracks compared to others. It would be nice if they prep our track better.
I could see where flashing the convertor could really snap you out of the hole but it ain't going to happen at my track on F1's. Other people have tried it here with the same result I got.
P.S. People have trouble getting ET Streets to hook around here most of the time.
Consider yourself lucky if flashing works with F1's at your track.
The only times I have tried this was when the track was sticking like glue. I could torque it up to 1400 rpm and slam it to the floor without so much as a sqeak that netted my best 60' of 1.82.
I use to launch at 1000 rpm after the 4# pulley and before the traction bars. My best 60' was 1.89. So 1400 netted better 60' times than 1000 for me.
The problem around here is the track usually is not sticking like glue and that term is relative to your track. Apparently glue is stickier at some tracks compared to others. It would be nice if they prep our track better.
I could see where flashing the convertor could really snap you out of the hole but it ain't going to happen at my track on F1's. Other people have tried it here with the same result I got.
P.S. People have trouble getting ET Streets to hook around here most of the time.
Consider yourself lucky if flashing works with F1's at your track.
Last edited by LTNBOLT; Jul 12, 2002 at 02:04 PM.