I recieved some information from a few helpful guys on here, and the info said to preload the clutch before launching. So I figured I would try a few times at the shop, and I am pretty sure all I was doing was chewing up the clutch. I could smell it EXTREMELY strongly... What am I doing wrong?

I get to a stop, hold the ebrake up, let the clutch out to the point right where I start to feel the car wanting to move forward, then rev up the motor and then launch.... I was popping the clutch as soon as I lowered the ebrake.

I have the stock clutch and was practicing on my hoosier drag radials...

Any helpful tips? Something I am doing wrong?!?!

 

you are using a stock clutch. you gotta be easy on it.

 

well then that brings me back to the drawing board...

Do just launch with the drag radials and pop the clutch? Modulate it? I am fully aware that with the sport of drag racing comes a new clutch(s), but what technique should I use to prolong my stock clutch and allow sub 2.0 60' foots?

 

preload, & ride the clutch(vary on how much you ride on it)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dturbocivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">preload, & ride the clutch(vary on how much you ride on it) </TD></TR></TABLE>

I appreciate your info, but wouldn't riding the clutch after preloading be even worse than what I was originally doing (preloading, then popping clutch)?? Seems to me that riding the clutch in any situation will eat it to pieces, then add drag radials and 5500rpms and that clutch is lunch.

 

Anyone else have tips for preloading or other options? Call me paranoid, I just want to get the most effective technique to achieve a good 60' and still be able to drive home.

Please and thank you to the pro's

 

anyone?

 

just like dturbocivic said , you need to get a clutch thats gonna hold up first though

 

I think basically your question does not have an answer
u can have great 60s and can advoid eating up the clutch by not sliding it

but to be the best 60s u need to preload and slide (give or take what kinda tires), if u preload and dump is def better then preload and slide (for clutch life) not necessarly for best 60s. if u use radials u want to slide clutch to avoid total slipping of the tires (spinning) and more importantly want to avoid wheel hop if u can (its hard on drag radials they like to hop alot , thats when u know ur close to getting them to hook) SLicks on the other hand launch them high, get them spinning alittle and then ur good (obviously clutch has to be able to handle it, and a stock one aint going to handle it)


So basically what im trying to get at is, preloading weres the clutch out, so does sliding it, the only way to advoid clutch failure is either dont do these 2 things with stock clutch or get a clutch that can handle alot of abuse (but sooner or later all things fail)


hope this helps
d

 

well would it be easier on the clutch to just dump it then? seems to me that preloading will work great when I upgrade clutches, but maybe it isn't a great idea for the stock clutch on drag radials... Perhaps launching like I would with street tires (slipping clutch after moving) would be the best option?!?!?

 

Preloading is not about good lunch time, it's about not breaking stuff.
Dumping the clutch with a lot of power and good tire is hard on the clutch, the gears and the axles.

 

when i bought slicks, i read on here about preloading. i had never tried it before...

i went to the track on the slicks and practiced what i learned on here.

my best 60' of that day was a 1.73 on 23x8x13 M&H Racemasters.

my best advice is to read about it, then go to the track and do it. thats the only way you're going to really know how to do it. you'll see what works, what doesnt work and what works best...

best of luck at the track!