My Car launches
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: Perth WA
My Car launches
I just bought my Vette, 89 model. I have no idea of the background of the car and have never driven one before so I do not know how the normally travel. When I plant my foot, everytime the car changes gear(auto) it launches really hard. Is this normal for a standard car? or has the transmission been modified? I am trying to locate the previous owner to get more info but i bought the car from a yard and only dealt with a rep. :eek:
I live in Australia, so there are not many Vette owners around to compare notes with.
Timbo
I live in Australia, so there are not many Vette owners around to compare notes with.
Timbo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,086
Likes: 0
From: Northern tip of Virginia
Re: My Car launches (timallard)
do you mean the actual shift is "hard"?
The stock shift is nornaly set to take place over a 3/4 second time period.
An aftermarket shift kit can change that to a faster shift.
Im not familiar with the 89s, but maybe the TV cable adjustment has something to do with it :confused:
The stock shift is nornaly set to take place over a 3/4 second time period.
An aftermarket shift kit can change that to a faster shift.
Im not familiar with the 89s, but maybe the TV cable adjustment has something to do with it :confused:
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: Perth WA
Re: My Car launches (Phil-tha-Rush)
Yeah, it really bangs into gear and throws you into the seat. I think it's kinda cool but wanna know if it is OK, something wrong or been modified. I wan't to check the car over 1/4 mile but won't be able to til after Xmas and after I get it on a Dyno :confused:
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: My Car launches (timallard)
If it chirps the tires hard on a WOT 1-2 shift there's a good chance it has a shift kit in the tranny. In that case the shift should also feel instentaneous, not slow and soft.
To check for a higher stall TC than stock, plant your left foot had on the brakes and slowly bring up the RPMs. If the rear tires break traction near 1,400RPM it has a stock TC; if near 2,000RPM or higher it has an after market TC.
Also some engine mods helps to bring up the torque and plant you into the seat back too.
When you get the dyno pull you'll have a better idea of what's up and if it's stock.
BTW, what kind of car did you drive before the Vette?
To check for a higher stall TC than stock, plant your left foot had on the brakes and slowly bring up the RPMs. If the rear tires break traction near 1,400RPM it has a stock TC; if near 2,000RPM or higher it has an after market TC.
Also some engine mods helps to bring up the torque and plant you into the seat back too.
When you get the dyno pull you'll have a better idea of what's up and if it's stock.
BTW, what kind of car did you drive before the Vette?
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: Perth WA
Re: My Car launches (65Z01)
When you get the dyno pull you'll have a better idea of what's up and if it's stock.
BTW, what kind of car did you drive before the Vette?
I used to drive a WB Holden Statesman. I still have it.
You have probably never heard of it. Statesman is the Flagship of the Holden fleet. This one is 20 years old. It has a 308 V8 and Trimatic Auto. It is all stock so doesn't do anything special when you put your foot down(126Kw):sleep:. I used to have a Panel Van with a worked motor but that was a manual. I have never had a car with a worked auto trannie before, that's why I am not sure what the story is.I have also never owned a car with a 350 in it, only driven freinds ones that have been fruited up, but that was so long ago it is just a fleeting memory of my young and foolish days.:reddevil
I will post some pictures of all my "TOYS" later today
Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 715
Likes: 0
From: Warner Robins GA
Re: My Car launches (timallard)
How many miles does the car have on it? When I bought my 88, it had about 104 thousand miles on it. I had a similar experience. It would shift pretty hard.. not so much that I thought my transmission was going out, but enough that I knew it may not be quite right.
I put test pipes in the place of my two precats and my main cat, and got a new catback system. One precat was clogged, one had gutted itself, and my main cat was clogged.
I didn't really expect it to make a difference in the shifting, but it definitely did. I no longer have a "hard" shift, but the "firm" shift that I'm used to and had expected. It's still enough to bark the tires and I know it's working as it should.
By chance does it seem to hold a near constant RPM for a second or two before you get one of these hard shifts? Mine did, and that's what got me thinking about the cats.
Anyway, it may just be a shift kit. But if not, I hope this helps.
I put test pipes in the place of my two precats and my main cat, and got a new catback system. One precat was clogged, one had gutted itself, and my main cat was clogged.
I didn't really expect it to make a difference in the shifting, but it definitely did. I no longer have a "hard" shift, but the "firm" shift that I'm used to and had expected. It's still enough to bark the tires and I know it's working as it should.
By chance does it seem to hold a near constant RPM for a second or two before you get one of these hard shifts? Mine did, and that's what got me thinking about the cats.
Anyway, it may just be a shift kit. But if not, I hope this helps.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,870
Likes: 25
From: Long Island, NY
Re: My Car launches (Tourney3p0)
The TPI's torque is very deceptive. Your car will feel much faster than it really is.
For example, my brother has a LS1 TransAm, both our cars are about equal in the 1/4 mile. But he thinks my car is much faster than his when he drives my car.
Vic
For example, my brother has a LS1 TransAm, both our cars are about equal in the 1/4 mile. But he thinks my car is much faster than his when he drives my car.
Vic
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: Perth WA
Re: My Car launches (Tourney3p0)
I don't think there is anything wrong with the trannie and the car has only done 59000 miles. Not bad for a 13 year old car. The car just throws you back into the seat when it changes. Not having driven a car like this before I just wanted to know if that was normal for a stock transmission. :confused:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,460
Likes: 5
From: Burnet, TX
Re: My Car launches (timallard)
I don't think there is anything wrong with the trannie and the car has only done 59000 miles. Not bad for a 13 year old car. The car just throws you back into the seat when it changes. Not having driven a car like this before I just wanted to know if that was normal for a stock transmission. :confused: