Launch Recommendations?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 114
Likes: 18
From: McKinney TX
Launch Recommendations?
I have a 355 small block that I expect will run in the low 13's. The rear end is a 3.36 and the transmission is a wide ratio four speed (2.56:1). Tires are 235/55-15 (street tires)
With this combination, how do you recommend I launch at a 'normal' quarter mile track? (Texas Motorplex - Ennis TX)
I'm interested in any experience you all may have had with a similar setup. What RPM do you recommend? With the recommended RPM, how aggressively do you recommend dropping the clutch? Any unique or special approach to dealing with tire spin?
If it's important to you, the flywheel is a little light. I think it was 25 pounds. Billet steel. Definitely not the normal 30 pound version.
With this combination, how do you recommend I launch at a 'normal' quarter mile track? (Texas Motorplex - Ennis TX)
I'm interested in any experience you all may have had with a similar setup. What RPM do you recommend? With the recommended RPM, how aggressively do you recommend dropping the clutch? Any unique or special approach to dealing with tire spin?
If it's important to you, the flywheel is a little light. I think it was 25 pounds. Billet steel. Definitely not the normal 30 pound version.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 845
Likes: 54
From: Bangor, Northern Ireland
Hi there, i run a race series with our English Corvette club (CCCUK), there are 3 or 4 c3's in it and the rest are c4's and c5's, the c3's seem to launch the best, i guess the later cars have stiffer frames and harder shocks which limits weight transfer.
My '71 set up is similar to yours, 355, Edelbrock RPM kit, ali flywheel, 3.55 diff, but i have a 5-speed 2.87 first gear and 255/50/17 tires, so a bit more acceleration and a bit more tire, i also have VBP everything and stiff spax shocks which i thought would hurt the launch but it just grips and goes, only run the car a couple of times due to problems but it was getting 2 second 60ft times all the time and running level with my mates 530hp c4 zr1 for the first few hundred ft, from memory i think i was launching around 3500-4000revs and slipping the clutch for the first 10ft or so (easier said than done in the heat of the moment!), the biggest change i've made is defo the tires, so much grip now
The other c3 guys have standard tires and don't seem to have too many problems (both running 13 dead), any help?
thanks, Aaron.
My '71 set up is similar to yours, 355, Edelbrock RPM kit, ali flywheel, 3.55 diff, but i have a 5-speed 2.87 first gear and 255/50/17 tires, so a bit more acceleration and a bit more tire, i also have VBP everything and stiff spax shocks which i thought would hurt the launch but it just grips and goes, only run the car a couple of times due to problems but it was getting 2 second 60ft times all the time and running level with my mates 530hp c4 zr1 for the first few hundred ft, from memory i think i was launching around 3500-4000revs and slipping the clutch for the first 10ft or so (easier said than done in the heat of the moment!), the biggest change i've made is defo the tires, so much grip now
The other c3 guys have standard tires and don't seem to have too many problems (both running 13 dead), any help?
thanks, Aaron.
