Help Me Trash My '92
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,965
Likes: 2
From: North side of Houston Texas
Help Me Trash My '92
Drag race guys, I need a little help. My first C4, an '84, really reacted well to the Hypertech chip I put in it (I know...I've seen the other posts that say otherwise). After I put it in, a friend told me how to launch my auto trannied car. Push the brakes just hard enough to keep the car still while I apply the gas to the point I could feel the lock up torque converter start to lock up, then dump the brakes and mash the gas. It really worked too, as even my ex wife could get tire smokin' burn outs out of an otherwise stock car. Of course when up against competition at a light, I had to temper that, but my point is that the car would really launch well.
Fast forward to my current ride, a totally stock '92 vert with an auto. I tried that same launch method, but it really doesn't work so far. It seems to just hunker down and won't spin the rear wheels at all while the brakes are applied. I'm not trying to smoke the tires, but I don't seem to have control over the car.
My Q is...what's the best way to launch this beatch? Or is this a moot point since this car will easily spin the tires from a stop, while the '84 struggled more with it. I realize there is a HP difference, so maybe I shouldn't be so concerned about it?? I'm starting to think out loud....
Cheers and Merry Christmas!
W
Fast forward to my current ride, a totally stock '92 vert with an auto. I tried that same launch method, but it really doesn't work so far. It seems to just hunker down and won't spin the rear wheels at all while the brakes are applied. I'm not trying to smoke the tires, but I don't seem to have control over the car.
My Q is...what's the best way to launch this beatch? Or is this a moot point since this car will easily spin the tires from a stop, while the '84 struggled more with it. I realize there is a HP difference, so maybe I shouldn't be so concerned about it?? I'm starting to think out loud....
Cheers and Merry Christmas!
W
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 3
From: Huntsville AL
Not familiar with automatics, but you may have the real tall rear end gearing, like 2. something. That would explain why you can't light the tires.
In my 94 (with a 6-spd), I can break 'em loose with a quick half-throttle stab in first gear. Guys with the 3.08 rear-end in the autos don't have a problem either.
In my 94 (with a 6-spd), I can break 'em loose with a quick half-throttle stab in first gear. Guys with the 3.08 rear-end in the autos don't have a problem either.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 286
Likes: 2
From: Suffolk VA
Question: do you have the ASR on or off while doing this? Also I could be wrong here but I think the breaks on the '92 might be a bit better than those on the '84 making power break burn outs more difficult..
I usually get a good launch in my 92 by doing a quick tire spin in front of the box (to simply clean not to heat) and then pull up and stage. Street tires seem to hook better with less heat than drag slicks.. I'll launch around 2500-2700 RPM but I also have the 6 speed so I just use the power and slip the clutch a bit until it's time for full power ...That's also why I like manual trans better..you need no break to elevate the RPM for launch.
Race On!
I usually get a good launch in my 92 by doing a quick tire spin in front of the box (to simply clean not to heat) and then pull up and stage. Street tires seem to hook better with less heat than drag slicks.. I'll launch around 2500-2700 RPM but I also have the 6 speed so I just use the power and slip the clutch a bit until it's time for full power ...That's also why I like manual trans better..you need no break to elevate the RPM for launch.
Race On!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 13,793
Likes: 0
From: St. Peters MO Sometimes you have to prove yourself by doing alot of killing or alot of dying...
Originally Posted by KyRP2NITe Corvette
Question: do you have the ASR on or off while doing this?
My point is... if your gearing is set more towards economy and highway and less on the acceleration and performance aspect... it may be considerably harder to get the results you are trying to get.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,956
Likes: 681
From: Marlboro country MA
I drive a 92 auto. My launch technique is just as described: jam on the brakes and apply enough gas so the car can barely stand still. At the third yellow, release the brakes and floor the gas. This only works if the track is well prepared; on ordinary pavement, this will result in excessive tire spin. With a stock engine and 2.59 gears, the best 60 foot time I could get was about 2.08 and a quarter mile time of 13.84. This car could always light 'em up just by releasing the brakes and hitting the gas; perhaps the 94 A4 that kwik_ta tried out was a lemon.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,699
Likes: 2
From: The Black Hole LA
It probably has the 2.59 gear ratio in it, or the 2.73. Most of the autos had that because most people buying these cars new don't think about that sort of thing, more worried about what color it was and the comfort features it had. Just my thinking anyway.
If you don't feel like pulling the tranny to change the torque convertor too just get a set of gears. If that is the only mod you do it won't be that bad on the wallet. And in my opinion for 'off the line' performance it the best bang for the buck. I believe the 3.54 ratio is the one of choice for most people, someone will correct me if I'm wrong though I'm sure
If you don't feel like pulling the tranny to change the torque convertor too just get a set of gears. If that is the only mod you do it won't be that bad on the wallet. And in my opinion for 'off the line' performance it the best bang for the buck. I believe the 3.54 ratio is the one of choice for most people, someone will correct me if I'm wrong though I'm sure
