Launching a T56

[woody80z28]

How do you do it?

I swapped one in my 80 and I have a tough time launching it at the strip with 275/60/15 MT Drag Radials. I have to pussyfoot the clutch or it blows the tires away. SPEC 3+ clutch w/ 2.0-2.1 60's.

Any tips? I've heard that wrinkle walls would be better for a manual trans than the drag radials.

[Fastbird]

Each car is different. Lots o practice and trying different techniques. Don't be afraid to launch high rpm and do a lot of slipping of the cluth.

[96LT1355Z28]

It can be done with drag radials but not without a decent amount of money spent on shocks and suspension components that work together and are setup for your cars weight. It's much more common to use a set of bias ply rear tires in a stick car. This is because we shock the driveline very hard on the launch unlike an auto that has a converter to manipulate engine torque and even with a transbrake doesn't hit the tires near as hard. The soft sidewall in a bias ply softens the hit and is much more forgiving than a radial, if you spin a radial it's nearly impossible to get it to recover without removing all your power and starting over. Depending on your setup either tire can work it just boils down to how much $ and seat time you want to invest! Also a 2 step helps tremendously with consistency.

Try adjusting tire psi, a radial probably won't want less than 15 psi. Adjust in 1 pound or even 1/2 pound increments and try to launch at the same rpm each time. Change only one thing at a time and keep a log of each pass. Try and stay in the same lane at the track, lanes vary and data collected is not useful without consistency. You'll probably have to launch from idle or just above it till you can get the car to bog by adjusting the tires, then start upping launch rpm. When you let off the clutch bring your left foot straight back, don't "side step it" that will only make your spin worse. Seat time and data collection will tell you what works best for your car.

BTW a run down of your cars setup would help, power level, suspension components, etc!

[popo8]

+1 on a LOT of clutch slipping......

[BLK95-Z]

+2. Launch at a high rpm and controll the power with the clutch. Kyle and Tanner might have a few secrets to share....

[popo8]

More importantly... Is that 1980 an LT1 car??? If so, I wanna know MORE!!!

[97firehawk]

I can not hook either I smoke myn all the way thru the 60 feathering it I'm goin full slicks .I've played with different launch tricks nothin is working for me .

[woody80z28]

Thanks for the replies.

More seat time would be the best, definitely. The tracks around here are always packed and I'm lucky to get 3-4 runs in a whole day...I think that's what makes it hardest.

I've played with tire psi from 15-20 and it's best at 15. I did dead hook it once on a 4500rpm dump, but it put the pinion through the back seat and snapped the driveshaft off. I think if the rear held it would have had some nasty tire shake. That was my first time at that particular track...and they prep much more than my usual. Now I have a welded, Moser-equipped 8.5" 10-bolt.

The 355 is a 10.55:1 SBC with Vortec heads and an old Comp 280H ft cam with an RPM Airgap intake and 750 carb. The springs (coil front, leaf rear) are Hotchkis corner carver stuff, not drag springs and the shocks are regular KYBs. I thought about a shock swap for track days. I do have adjustable CE Slide-A-Link traction bars that preload the suspension and eliminate wheel hop.

The tires seem to be the biggest problem though. What do you bias-ply guys use? I hear good things about the M/T ET Drags, and in my size there is a "stiff sidewall" option that some NastyZ guys run - but they are auto cars. I'd assume I'd want the softer ones.

[Formula383]

As far as bias ply tires are concerned, cars equipped with manual transmissions or cars with heavier race weights will want to use a stiff sidewall slick. The idea is to allow the suspension to absorb the shock instead of the tires and creates less tire distortion. I have yet to cut a 1.3x 60', but I have been in the 1.4x-1.5x range fairly consistently over the last few months. If you want to launch on DR's, you will have to get the suspension stuff right. Autocross or road race suspension won't cut it. Adjustable shocks and correct springs in the front help tremendously and are almost a necessity to get any car to launch correctly, especially 6-speeds.

Here's a few vids from a weekends ago. I'm leaving at 6,400 RPM off the 2-step. I'm not side-stepping it but I'm not feathering the pedal either. I just release the pedal as if I was driving it down the track. It's good for 6-speed cars to have a small amount of controlled tire-spin when launching. Slicks are MT 28x10.5 ET Drag S (stiff sidewall) at 11.5 PSI.

1.45 60' on the 2nd pass
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEFaS3jPrbk

1.52 and 1.54 60'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2K8v21Nqxk&feature=relmfu

Same as the first run in the video above. Different angle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIXPTVZc2WA&list=FLfBlOk6rdoqS0ndP3zglWNw&index=1&feature=plpp_video

[CALL911]

Kyle, do you rub at all with a 28 inch tire?

[Formula383]

Yeah, a little on the rear bumper cover where it wraps into the fender well. I had to use a BFH on the inside of the fender wells too.

[proace4]

Ben, I've been running 28 in tires for years. and until I went a little wider, I hadn't rolled or bfh'd my fenders at all. With the new hoosiers, I decided to go on the edge of caution and rolled them this time.

[woody80z28]

As far as bias ply tires are concerned, cars equipped with manual transmissions or cars with heavier race weights will want to use a stiff sidewall slick. The idea is to allow the suspension to absorb the shock instead of the tires and creates less tire distortion. I have yet to cut a 1.3x 60', but I have been in the 1.4x-1.5x range fairly consistently over the last few months. If you want to launch on DR's, you will have to get the suspension stuff right. Autocross or road race suspension won't cut it. Adjustable shocks and correct springs in the front help tremendously and are almost a necessity to get any car to launch correctly, especially 6-speeds.

Here's a few vids from a weekends ago. I'm leaving at 6,400 RPM off the 2-step. I'm not side-stepping it but I'm not feathering the pedal either. I just release the pedal as if I was driving it down the track. It's good for 6-speed cars to have a small amount of controlled tire-spin when launching. Slicks are MT 28x10.5 ET Drag S (stiff sidewall) at 11.5 PSI.

1.45 60' on the 2nd pass
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEFaS3jPrbk

1.52 and 1.54 60'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2K8v21Nqxk&feature=relmfu

Same as the first run in the video above. Different angle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIXPTVZc2WA&list=FLfBlOk6rdoqS0ndP3zglWNw&index=1&feature=plpp_video

Wow that thing is nasty! That's exactly the size slick I've been looking at too. It's about the same size as my 275/60/15 DRs, and even a little smaller than my 295/45/18 street tires, so fitment shouldn't be a problem.

Here are some pics of the car if anyone is interested.

http://www.motortopia.com/files/cars/album_suspensionchassis/4aa2736c8f8eb/IMG_1313JPG_Thumbnail1.jpg
http://www.motortopia.com/files/cars/album_currentpics/4e714b73278ef/IMG_6701JPG_Thumbnail1.jpg
http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/album_currentpics/4e8079116714a/IMG_6195.jpg
http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/album_current_pics/4855aaede5eba/IMG_0433.jpg
http://www.motortopia.com/files/141/album_current_pics/4855aafd019a7/IMG_0436.jpg

Apparently I don't have any current engine pics up. This one is before I put in a -6 fuel system.

[95mysticta]

Man i love your car Kyle... I eventually want to be at the stage your at with your car. Never made it to the track last year when i put the new motor in but this car its high on my list of to do's. Hoping to break in the the 11s with my 8.8 getting made this spring to take the 5K+ hit! Time to start practicing launching techniques.

[96lt1m6]

According to M/T most will have problems with the Dragradial with a manual car since that tire was not designed for clutch cars. However, 18-22 psi may be the sweet spot for.the tire, do you have caltrac traction bars on your sweet looking Z? If not I would invest in some along with aluminum spring eye bushings.... weld your axle tubes to the pumpkin if you haven't yet and give that a shot.......Leafspring cars can be tricky to paycheck cause the moment the TQ runs out after the paycheck the rear suspension decides to unload in stock form.....Since you are a Z28 you will have to remove the rear swaybar to use the caltrac bars

[woody80z28]

Man i love your car Kyle... I eventually want to be at the stage your at with your car. Never made it to the track last year when i put the new motor in but this car its high on my list of to do's. Hoping to break in the the 11s with my 8.8 getting made this spring to take the 5K+ hit! Time to start practicing launching techniques.

That's how I've been. I never have the time to hit the strip. Never took the Camaro last year and this year is already running out!



According to M/T most will have problems with the Dragradial with a manual car since that tire was not designed for clutch cars. However, 18-22 psi may be the sweet spot for.the tire, do you have caltrac traction bars on your sweet looking Z? If not I would invest in some along with aluminum spring eye bushings.... weld your axle tubes to the pumpkin if you haven't yet and give that a shot.......Leafspring cars can be tricky to paycheck cause the moment the TQ runs out after the paycheck the rear suspension decides to unload in stock form.....Since you are a Z28 you will have to remove the rear swaybar to use the caltrac bars

I have Slide-A-Links that are just like Caltracs but with a poly bushing on the tube to keep everything loaded during shifts, they came with alum eye bushings for the front. And I learned the hard way about welding axle tubes when I killed a rear end. New one is welded and stuffed with Moser parts!

[EvilOpti94]

Kyle, what clutch are you running? And are you hitting the 200 out of the hole?

[93M6Formula]

I have a question or two on launching a 6-speed. I've had 4 years of practice at the track and have had some decent 60fts but i'm wondering if I can get more from the car. I lauch at about 3200 RPM and it usually goes pretty good. I've always wanted to launch it higher but was afraid of shattering the 10 bolt. Well now I have a Strange S60 on the way so it will take more abuse.

So i'm wondering if it's beneficial to launch at like 5K or so? Or is it better to keep launching at the start of my powerband? 3K or so.

[96lt1m6]

Like Shon Hereon said, "you have to get the rpm up there so the car can move "....... try it at different RPMs to see what your tire, suspension and track are willing to hold. I had good luck at 4500 in my bolt on car less would bogg down more would spin.

Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk 2

[ZOHAN]

I've got a m6 and I'm running m/t et streets. A few weeks ago I was playing with things and got up to launching off the 2 step at 4500 at either 11 or 11.5 psi tire pressure. That's a damn good looking 80' woody... And damn, launching at 6400!? I shift before that!!! Lol

[Formula383]

Kyle, what clutch are you running? And are you hitting the 200 out of the hole?

McLeod LS1 Street Twin. I've got a hybrid setup. Part LT1, part LS1. Yeah, 200 right out of the hole.

[popo8]

McLeod LS1 Street Twin. I've got a hybrid setup. Part LT1, part LS1. Yeah, 200 right out of the hole.

Who is this^^^^ guy?

Must be a Newb?



Damn Kyle.... come visit once in a while... lol

[Formula383]

Who is this^^^^ guy?

Must be a Newb?



Damn Kyle.... come visit once in a while... lol

LOL. Learning my new job has consumed a lot of time. Haven't had much free time for the car or hobbies. Trying to ease myself back into the swing of things. Everyone be nice to the newb. :D

[popo8]

LOL. Learning my new job has consumed a lot of time. Haven't had much free time for the car or hobbies. Trying to ease myself back into the swing of things. Everyone be nice to the newb. :D

Fair enough... We will accept your excuse.... Im assuming that means you still have the bird?

[Formula383]

Fair enough... We will accept your excuse.... Im assuming that means you still have the bird?

Yep still have her.

[popo8]

Im glad.... Shootout this year?


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

[MEAN LT1]

Im glad.... Shootout this year?


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

Thats a negative as we have seen the for sale section. He's gone to the dark side!...sort of. LOL

[popo8]

Thats a negative as we have seen the for sale section. He's gone to the dark side!...sort of. LOL

Yeah... At least he will still come with Tony.


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com