How to launch a 300+rwkw 5sp ZX + calder park story!

Well....i went to the drag strip @ calder park on saturday....was lookin forward to hitting a 12 or maybe an 11! Well F....!!!!! ;(



After over an hour drive to get there, i quickly entered it and it wasnt to packed. Waited 10 mins before my run....

well did i get laughed at....I WAS SO NERVOUS...jelly legs!

In the space of 2 minutes i got told off 4 different times. First when i went on the strip, i had no idea where to stop or what the top white 2 sets of light meant... So here i am half way down the strip ready to go!

LOL!!!

Well i got told to go about 20meters back...LOL jeez....

Then i got told to wind my window up (i forgot to) and THEN i got told to pull my jumper sleeves down....LOL

I knew all the rules etc, but it was my first professional run ever. Got it all wrong lol....


Anyway....i was up some charmillion coated WRX. The lights change! BOOM#@$$%@#$# there goes the wrx flying down the strip...here i was...jumping along.... ;/ Missed the start and i STILL cant get a decent launch in a Z.

i got ~310+rwkw @ 1.2bar. I got 1.277 reaction time, 2.791 60", 9.709 660" @ 135.50kmH, and a crappy 14.180sec time @ 180.6kmH.

The wrx got 168kmH @ 12.330sec.


I REALLY need to work on my start. I saw the drag times on oz300zx and according to the dyno sheets on there to im ruffly in the flat 12/high 11 range. My car keeps traction now on my current setup and new tyres i got when im flying through high rpm 2/3rd gear thank god....And i recon im good for a 190kmH+ pass off an even HALF decent launch.

So....i need someone to teach me to start. I need someone to come show or tell me how its done. Someone preferabbly with a 300rwkw+ 300zx 5sp. Cause its all different for every car/power ranges. My clutch will fry if i keep using it for the launch but if i need to, i fry it lol ;/


How do i launch a 300rwkw TT 5sp manual? (oh and im getting slicks too so method for both would be nice)

 

yer I have proved to a few cars that I am the quiker but there have been a fcouple that were close and I could of beat if I new how to launch.

Show us launching newbies how its done

 

stop reading the newspaper on the start line
Have you tried a launch control system ????????

 

first tell us how you where doing it??? bit hard to say how to do it without showing but its about how fast and smoothly you can swap from a clutch in to a flat accelrator....300kw is going to be hard to master as if you dump it too fast your just going to be spinning the rears up...control the accelerator to assist you in this...also do you have a ebc? maybe set it to say 10psi for take off and soon as traction is caught switch over to full boost...

also depends on your suspension setup...ill leave this up to the more drag racing experts to comment...

and regardless of what any will show you and tell you, practice makes perfect....did you only get one run??? you will need alot more runs to master it....

 

setup your front shocks to stiffest possible settings and your rear shocks to the softest.

if you have m/t's (max psi of 18) do a nice 2nd gear burnout for around 5-10 seconds. if you have street tyres just do a little 3 second burnout (no use warming up street tyres).

again, if you have m/t's, rev till about 5000rpm and drop the clutch. you could probably drop the clutch higher in the rev range if the driveline can handle it.

if your on street tyres, rev till about 3000-3500rpm and feather the clutch until you get good enough grip then just drop it.

hope it helps.

Chris

 

Start in the beginning ignore the lights!!

What I mean by that is dont wory about the reaction time. Your car is only being timed once you start moving. Saving the reaction time cutting for later. It is one less thing to concentrate on. Get the car into position to go.

Wait for the green to go then, concentrate on the launch for the first few times till you get it then go for the reaction times.
I aim for about 4500 rpm - 5000rpm then release the clutch with not a dump but a smooth action, while juggling the peddle so as to reduce wheel spin.

I have found with the right rpm and throttle control you can get the car off the line quick and smooth. Do not use too much as you just get wheel spin, use to little and it will bog down. But at the same time dont be a sook with the right foot as you will be slow. But remember things will break if you get into it, he he, but thats the gamble for fast times.

Remember low pressure in the tyres, play with the pressures a little to see how it goes. I was using 16 - 20 psi on my Semi Slick road tyres when I ran my 12. Dont bother changing into 4th unless you have a lower ratio diff as its a waste of time. Wind the rear shocker tension up as Zeds lose potential grip as the rear squat so avoid this, unlike with other cars, maybe soften the fronts though (yet to try that though - hard rear works due to suspension design).

Off now before I give it all away LOL Aiming for an 11 on the next trip.

MattB

 

I'm inclined to say that the pre-race nonsense put you off and made you kack your dacks even before you started.

 

Dont soften the rear shocks on a Zed!

They lose grip when they squat because of the suspension design. A few of us (me, John, and JT) have trialled this with less grip when soft in the Zed.

MattB

 

Ha ha was thinking the same thing!

Had that before. Got SO excited I pre-ejacu-launched and wheel spun down the half the strip Bloody 350hp Mazda on 205 tyres, got spanked by the officials and cheered by the crowd.

MattB:biggrin: :bash:

 

Sorry, but that was never going to happen on your first attempt at the strip.

Forget about your reaction time, it dosent count or add to your ET anyway, just concentrate on getting a good launch.

Its not done until you do it. Just because you may have 300rwkw+ (still using an estimate not an actual dyno sheet right?) dosent mean you are a shoe in for 11s. Your terminal speed (which shouldnt be too affected by your dodgy launch) would suggest a low 13 or high 12 might be closer to reality. Maybe another 0.5 better with slicks..

You should be able to get a 2.0 60ft on street tyres with a good launch, try about 3000rpm and slip the clutch as you launch and then feed the power in gently through first and second to avoid wheelspin. If your clutch isnt up to this then you need a new one.

Slicks are completely different, 5000-6000rpm and drop the clutch should get you near a 1.6 60ft. Now you need a REALLY good clutch for this to work.

 

cheers guys

Ill work on 3000-3500rpm launches before the next calder meet. Organizing slicks via Caz for a purchase soon too. but want to practice on street tyres to get it right first.

My car was 280rwkw on the dyno (when it blew and had max wheelspin + running rich as it showed on my dyno sheet) that was before the latest Zshop rebuild. So now ive been told im on about 310rwkw with the latest tune and new fuel line setup + internals/block. Will chuck it on the dyno in a month or so after i wear it all in well.

I donno how much my clutch can take thouhg. I have done some decent laucnhes but i can smell the clutch burning. Obviosuly thats bad, but i dont know how much more it can take. Never has slipped (...yet) so i dont know if its like one of those bad things that fixes itself after a little break. But i guess ill just keep frying it till it needs clutch rebuild. Stay tuned and ill keep you all posted!

 

what work have you got for 300rwk?

 

1991 300zx TT midnight blue
UniFilter AirPod
Thicker aftermarket sidemount coolers
5sp heavy race g/box
2 x GFB stage 3 Blow off Valves
Excedy race heavy duty clutch
Custom built 300zx U/D Pulley
APEXI AVC-R Electronic Boost Controller
aPiller with DRIFT water and oil temp guages
Aftermarket HiTech ECU (running boost MAX @ 1.2Bar)
3" turbo back customized greddy race exhaust system
Twin 4.5" hotdog mufflers
650cc SARD injectors + nitrile o-ring seals
Twin Greddy td04 HiFlow aftermarket turbos
Low mileage bottm end rebuilt Dec 2007.
(inc. reconditioned heads, new water pump/cam belt/tensioner bearings, full gasket kit, neutral switch)

Bling chrome engine bay
Customized white/darkblue interior trim
18" Barb Chrome Mags with 265/35 bridgestones all around

4x52watt JVC MP3 Head unit + graphics
2x12" HUGE 500RMS BLAUPUNKT earthquake subs
2x5" (rears) 3way 220watt INFINITY splits
2x5" (fronts) 3way 200watt boston acoustics

POWER: 310-350rwkw
Time: Low 11sec pass on good tyres! Keep yas posted.

------


All work is done via Zshop

Z SHOP
4 Paran Place, Glen Iris, Victoria, 3146 Australia
PH: 03 9885 3366
lindsay@zshop.net.au


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think thats bout it....

 

Im not flaming you here mate. But 11's is a big deal. if i was you id be a bit more conservative with your expectations.

Aim for 13's next time. You've gotta walk before you can run

 

Engine failure

Do you know what part of your engine failed at 280 rwkw?

 

You keep writing that as if its fact... This thread is all about how you just did your 1st run at 14 secs......

All talk no action ???

 

Seems a little strange that you have had your car tuned with new turbo's and you haven't seen the dyno printout. I for one would be wanting to see that before I was going flat chat down the strip.

So, how much power does the sterio give you

As for the launch, can't help you there. In the NA you just load up the revs and drop the clutch, just goes forward, no wheelspin or any of that silliness

 

A few questions

You have a nice mod list but have you actually dyno'd the car? You keep stating 310-350kw and I dont doubt you could make it, but have you actually proven it? And also what is a "5sp heavy race gbox", as in how have you improved it over the stock box.

I also agree with the above 2 statements, lower your expectation, practice a lot more and get used to the car. I'm no drag expert but anyone will tell you there is a WORLD of difference between 14.1 and 11's.

 

hey stu i didnt know a vg30dett could produce that power with stock internals? im not kocking the car at all icer, but i would get it dyno tuned dude. impressive mods list, but yer who tuned the car?

 

with the right tune the internals can take it. Its mainly the standard turbo's and fuel system that have the final say