Need tips for launching.

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Trevor B

Trevor B

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Hi All,

After putting in a lot of work getting my 1973 Duster nice and solid (and safe), I'm getting ready to take her to the track and see what kind of time she can post for the 1/4 mile. Only problem is, I cannot seem to get this car moving without spinning the back wheels! Got fairly new BFGs - I cannot afford slicks so that is out. I am practicing on a stretch of highway. (I have never drag raced anything on a track before.)

318 w/ stock heads
Edelbrock 4bbl
340 exhaust manifolds and dual exhaust
Stock 904 transmission
TA Radials: P225/60R15

Any tips? There is only one night I can go and don't want to waste runs skidding around.

Thanks!
 
The track has glue on the starting line. With that combe drive around the water box and go to the line.
Get to the track early and walk up to the atarting line area. Ask what they recomed and what the procedure is. Tell them its your first time. Ask where the turn offs are and what the proper educate is. Ask the tech guy to mark your car as a single (you can remove it later) this will help keep your nerves down and others safe.
now if you still spin after you have mad a pass or two you can try a small burn out after rolling THROUGH the water box. Radials dont need a big burnout.
Do all the above on a test and tune day
 
Don't expect much out of radials... Even with just a 318, probably still going to be doing some spinning out of the hole. Dry burnout just to clean the tires off is all you will need.
 
Those hockey pucks are gonna kill your times. The only good thing about them is tread-wear doing burnouts and their ability to break loose when the wind blows and music plays. You can drop a brick on your accelerator and come back after a long lunch and they will still be there holding the fort down.

Eat some ramen for a week and buy some cheater slicks or something.. This hobby isn't free so if you want to get anywhere your gonna have to pay to play.
 
I'd bypass the water all together, gets in the tread and runs out sitting at line. Maybe do a couple turns on the tires to clean as stated. As stated talk to track officials to learn the courtesies and track some. If it spins try rolling some before leaning into the throttle off the line. Yes the 60's times will be a little higher but it will help give you a feel for things. Don't set expectations too high for yourself or car first time out But enjoy it so you have something you can just do to enjoy the time. Biggest thing is to get comfortable with your ride and what it will do under different situations.
 
You don't mention sure-grip, if you don't have a sure-grip,, and are using those hockey pucks,, leave at idle and feed it the gas, just maintaining traction till you're rolling...

Put a heavy toolbox/2 fat friends/engine block in the trunk.. Right side.. lol
 
If you are going to run what you have, go to your test area and take a big piece of chaulk and run it across the tire tread. Do a burnout and look at the chaulk mark. If only the center is gone you have to much pressure. Outside gone, to little. Repeat till you get it right. You'll probably be in the 16 to 18 psi range.
 
Another idea is first to find out where your converter tends to stall. Use the least amount of throttle to achieve that rpm in gear and let it leave at that throttle setting slowly mashing the pedal further down till you get max.
 
With those tires forget it , I have 245 60 14" BFG and if I hit it @ 30 mph I'll fishtail through 2 gears , at he track smoking for 300 feet before they grab . No matter how I launch it will end up spinning .
You need to get cheater slicks .
 
When the light turns green stand on it.
 
When the last yellow lights up, stand on it... If you're lucky, with those BFG's, you'll start rolling when it turns green.
 
ragtopfury said:
When the last yellow lights up, stand on it... If you're lucky, with those BFG's, you'll start rolling when it turns green.
Click to expand...

But there's only one yellow on traffic lights. lol
 
Said above but nothing is getting them BFG's to hook.

Start looking at other cars at the track with the same size tire or close and don't be afraid to talk to guys and ask if they have any old slicks lying around... Most guys have too many old slicks... most still probably have enough life for you to get some runs out of. If you explain your trying to get into the sport more someone might help you out.... I would.

I have a burnt out old set of MT drag radials you can have... 275/60/15... Just outside Toronto Canada...
 
You guys are great! As usual, lots of good stuff here. Thanks much! Slicks may very well be in the future for me and this car. Guess I'll have to find some more rims somewhere...

It's very exciting to even be thinking about this: we've spent the last 11 months scavenging a few hours on as many weekends as possible here and there to transform this old, dead piece of junk into a running car that has too much horsepower for its own tires!

(Dart Sport 360 - thanks for the offer. If I was still living in Buffalo, I'd be up there in a flash!)
 
lower the tire pressure to about 18-16 pounds drive around the water box put the rpms to about 1500 and let it go at green don't poor the power on too fast until you know you are hooked......I have BF's too and the same problem as you, this was the best way I could get it to not spin all over the place...have fun!! your first time is awesome but don't expect great time slips until you get some sort of slick!!
 
I just recently ran my Dart and I also have BFG T/A's on it. (275-60-15) As stated above there was NO traction at all. The best I was able to coax out of it was with the pressure lowered down to 19 lbs.
Go and have some fun. Let us know how well you do.

Ted
 
1965 Dart with 225, 4 speed, 3.5 rear gears with limited slip and p235/60x15 tires at 34 psi.

1) Proceed to dry pavement
2) Set the line lock
3) Pop clutch at 3000 rpms
4) Let up at 5000 rpms
5) Release line lock
6) Stage
7) Launch at 3000 rpms

With too much track bite, the car may bog. If I don't do this the car will go sideways at anything over 2500 rpms.
 
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