Hey PowerLabs
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
I will probably be trying out another one in the near future.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,159
Likes: 247
From: LAS VEGAS NV
St. Jude Donor '08
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
Here it is. On the first clip you can hear me on the Lingenfelter 2-Step Launch Control, set for 2300RM. The second clip was actually shot first when I had LC set for 2500RPM and that resulted in a lot more wheelspin. The other clips are from the autox.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
Again, the clutch drives stock, the pedal feels stock, it doesn't chatter, and it didn't slip on the street.
But it is not quite enough clutch for a 600WHP launch at a drag strip
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,159
Likes: 247
From: LAS VEGAS NV
St. Jude Donor '08
im looking in to RPS twin..im making around 650rwhp..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
Making my car feel like a dump truck in stop and go traffic just so I can go fast on the drag strip is not an acceptable compromise for me.
I heard good things about RPS clutches. Then again I heard bad things too. That is what sucks so bad about aftermarket clutches for the Corvette; you can't name a single one that I can't pull up at least a few negative reviews, and if you can, then it is because it just got to the market and not too many people are running it
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,159
Likes: 247
From: LAS VEGAS NV
St. Jude Donor '08
Well, "Street Manners" becomes a very subjective term when you start shooting for the highest possible HP rating on a clutch... There is no way around the physics that to hold more torque your clutch will need more clamping force (I.E. a stiffer pedal) and a higher coefficient of friction material (I.E. it will grab more harshly). Since I daily drive this car in stop and go traffic to the tune of 80 miles a day, every day, with occasional 1500+ mile weeked trips like this one, a race car clutch is absolutely, completely, positively out of consideration. If it chatters, rattles, has a 200lbs pedal or acts like an ON/OFF switch I will remove it. And if I can't find a clutch that feels stock and can hold power on the drag strip, I will simply not drag the car.
Making my car feel like a dump truck in stop and go traffic just so I can go fast on the drag strip is not an acceptable compromise for me.
I heard good things about RPS clutches. Then again I heard bad things too. That is what sucks so bad about aftermarket clutches for the Corvette; you can't name a single one that I can't pull up at least a few negative reviews, and if you can, then it is because it just got to the market and not too many people are running it
Making my car feel like a dump truck in stop and go traffic just so I can go fast on the drag strip is not an acceptable compromise for me.
I heard good things about RPS clutches. Then again I heard bad things too. That is what sucks so bad about aftermarket clutches for the Corvette; you can't name a single one that I can't pull up at least a few negative reviews, and if you can, then it is because it just got to the market and not too many people are running it
i wish the zr1 clutch fit our cars... would be perfect
Pro
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 636
Likes: 2
From: Lumberton TX
Pwrlabs, that sure was a lot of spinning off the line. What tires were you using at the strip?
I'm using a Spec 3+, just got the 500 mile break in on it. It handles the power no problem. I'm expecting the clutch to keep getting better as I use it too seing that it still has low miles on it.
I'm using a Spec 3+, just got the 500 mile break in on it. It handles the power no problem. I'm expecting the clutch to keep getting better as I use it too seing that it still has low miles on it.
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 317
Likes: 3
From: Indianapolis IN
Pwrlabs, that sure was a lot of spinning off the line. What tires were you using at the strip?
I'm using a Spec 3+, just got the 500 mile break in on it. It handles the power no problem. I'm expecting the clutch to keep getting better as I use it too seing that it still has low miles on it.
I'm using a Spec 3+, just got the 500 mile break in on it. It handles the power no problem. I'm expecting the clutch to keep getting better as I use it too seing that it still has low miles on it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,007
Likes: 1
From: Eastern PA:ECS Paxton Novi 1500(676rwhp,585tq on stock engine),LG headers, 410's, Corsa Sports, ECS Alky Kit
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Were you using the widened wheels and the new R compound tires? I thought that they were holding traction really well for you? I'm just curious as to why so much wheel spin with a 2300rpm launch. Was the track really slick?
Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 623
Likes: 57
From: Indianapolis Indiana
Hey Sam, Nice meeting you and thanks for the ride on the autocross course
I was riding shotgun on Sams first run of the autocross (nice pics 10ring
) I was very impressed. Sam can certainly drive and those R compund tires have an amazing amount of grip. I thought the car might be a handful with so much rwhp but it seemed to be very neutral even when pushed.
I am reporting that Sam let a girl drive his car
....I should have got a pic of that.... Seriously though, I'd let her drive my car too. She was a National Champion SCCA driver/instructor and Sam wanted her feedback on the cars handling. She was real nice, and eager to drive Sams vette. I wondered if Sam told her how much power was on tap. Anyway, she did a great job driving and wasn't shy about hammering the gas either. After that run she looked like she needed a cigarette
She said the car felt great and very well balanced. BTW, Sam beat her time by about 2 seconds
Unfortunatly the clutch didn't like the drag strip. It was really a shame because it took Sams car out of trophy contention. I really hope he gets his clutch situation sorted out, and soon!
I was riding shotgun on Sams first run of the autocross (nice pics 10ring
) I was very impressed. Sam can certainly drive and those R compund tires have an amazing amount of grip. I thought the car might be a handful with so much rwhp but it seemed to be very neutral even when pushed.I am reporting that Sam let a girl drive his car
....I should have got a pic of that.... Seriously though, I'd let her drive my car too. She was a National Champion SCCA driver/instructor and Sam wanted her feedback on the cars handling. She was real nice, and eager to drive Sams vette. I wondered if Sam told her how much power was on tap. Anyway, she did a great job driving and wasn't shy about hammering the gas either. After that run she looked like she needed a cigarette She said the car felt great and very well balanced. BTW, Sam beat her time by about 2 secondsUnfortunatly the clutch didn't like the drag strip. It was really a shame because it took Sams car out of trophy contention. I really hope he gets his clutch situation sorted out, and soon!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
In other words: My car launching at 2500RPMs, is making more torque than a stock LS2 / LS3 Corvette makes launching at ANY RPM
That's why there is so much wheelspin in the second clip. The first one wasn't too bad and netted a 1.9 60 foot. Remember this is my second time ever on a drag strip, and first time ever driving this setup, so there is definitely some room for improvement.
Next time I go out I am going to drop the LC RPM to 2200 and try to put more heat on the tires too. They really do grip well on the street, but launching these cars is always difficult...
Also I don't think the track was prepped.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
Hey Sam, Nice meeting you and thanks for the ride on the autocross course
I was riding shotgun on Sams first run of the autocross (nice pics 10ring) I was very impressed. Sam can certainly drive and those R compund tires have an amazing amount of grip. I thought the car might be a handful with so much rwhp but it seemed to be very neutral even when pushed.
I am reporting that Sam let a girl drive his car....I should have got a pic of that.... Seriously though, I'd let her drive my car too. She was a National Champion SCCA driver/instructor and Sam wanted her feedback on the cars handling. She was real nice, and eager to drive Sams vette. I wondered if Sam told her how much power was on tap. Anyway, she did a great job driving and wasn't shy about hammering the gas either. After that run she looked like she needed a cigarette She said the car felt great and very well balanced. BTW, Sam beat her time by about 2 seconds
Unfortunatly the clutch didn't like the drag strip. It was really a shame because it took Sams car out of trophy contention. I really hope he gets his clutch situation sorted out, and soon!
I was riding shotgun on Sams first run of the autocross (nice pics 10ring
) I was very impressed. Sam can certainly drive and those R compund tires have an amazing amount of grip. I thought the car might be a handful with so much rwhp but it seemed to be very neutral even when pushed.I am reporting that Sam let a girl drive his car
....I should have got a pic of that.... Seriously though, I'd let her drive my car too. She was a National Champion SCCA driver/instructor and Sam wanted her feedback on the cars handling. She was real nice, and eager to drive Sams vette. I wondered if Sam told her how much power was on tap. Anyway, she did a great job driving and wasn't shy about hammering the gas either. After that run she looked like she needed a cigarette She said the car felt great and very well balanced. BTW, Sam beat her time by about 2 secondsUnfortunatly the clutch didn't like the drag strip. It was really a shame because it took Sams car out of trophy contention. I really hope he gets his clutch situation sorted out, and soon!
I am sorry I couldn't give you a better ride later on after the show, but I'm sure we'll meet again at another one of these events. Hopefully you'll be driving next year too? If your car performs halfway as good as it looks you'll take home the trophy!
Glad you liked my car; it felt even better in the later runs once the tires started getting warmer
Riding along with the SCCA champ driving my car was awesome! I did beat her time, but in all fairness she took the car out on the first run when the tires were cold. When she hit the gas on the first straight she was like: "Oh my god!!!". I didn't stop laughing untill the finish line
. She could DRIVE though! A couple of times I thought we were going to lose it and she just twitched the wheel and brought the car right back in line. Afterwards I told her this was the first time I took the car out with this setup and I was looking for feedback to make it handle better. She said the balance was perfect, and that I should keep it as-is and just practice driving it. I plan on doing just that
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '08
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I have never used the "Monster clutch", but I would tend to bet that you were spinning the whole time with those tires, and not slipping the clutch. Street tires are worse on the track IMO then on the street.
I commend you for posting times like that, most people would keep them to themselves.
I commend you for posting times like that, most people would keep them to themselves.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,399
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
I have never used the "Monster clutch", but I would tend to bet that you were spinning the whole time with those tires, and not slipping the clutch. Street tires are worse on the track IMO then on the street.
I commend you for posting times like that, most people would keep them to themselves.
I commend you for posting times like that, most people would keep them to themselves.
I didn't post any times. For the record the car was running in the 11s every time with the clutch lingering on the floor for a moment on every shift. Then on the last run it just stayed on the floor. Neve seen tire spin do that?
There are 305/35R18 Nitto NT555R2s btw. Not drag radials, but not exactly a street tire either...
Last edited by PowerLabs; May 13, 2009 at 10:45 AM.