Thread: Stall converter and most efficient way to get "off the line"...

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Still easing my way into my new car, which was a former drag car and has been made a bit mroe streetable with a 373 rear gear, and some 255/60/R15's rear,235/60/R15's front.
454 bored 30 over, 12:1 compression...502hp and a 3500 stall converter (and all that other stuff too)....

I find that even trying to come close to flooring it in 1st results in spinning tires and a sideways drift.

I have also read to use the brakes and get the rpms up then drop off the brakes (purpose of the stall converter?)....haven't tried this yet though.....

Im thinking of taking it over to a local track that has open time and trying to get a feel for the best way to get up to speed quickly off the line....

Any advice for a newbie?...

Streets - I'll take a 1 wisecrack to 1 piece of advice ratio please, and yes: Now that it runs I want to wreck it :-)

Wow Jim, glad you've got your car rolling and smoking tires It sounds like you're looking for a harder launch off the line (less tire spinning)... I don't know how you're going to accomplish a real hard launch with those P255 tires. It sounds like some suspension mod's might help (I'll let an "expert" on that subject give you some advice), but you don't want to over do any suspension mod's if you really want to do a lot of street driving. Can you fit any larger width tire up under the car?

Dan J

First of all Jeff, all converters stall, it's just a matter of what speed. Your car was done with a 3500 presumably to get the engine into the fat of the HP curve for a good launch. For street driving it's not such a good deal. Typical for a "normal" street car is somewhere around 1500 rpm. Most people with a mild performance requirement to do mostly street, but still have some "racey" feel target for something between 2000 and 2500 rpm.

I would think that 90% of your problen is tires. With street tires on my car (or steet DOT approved cheeter slicks) I spin like crazy, Including at the track. I got a set of ten inch slicks and I'm running a 1.50 short time. This is the same for on the street. You said about holding the brakes and giving it some gas....I have a 3500 stall and I find that leaving the car at a idel lunches me harder. Far as I know the only reason that benifits reving while under brake is that the car wont fall on its face or stall? I think that goes back to tuning your car....anyways... My advice.

1) Slicks. (atleast DOT slicks)
2) Try lunching from a idel once you do hook it up.

Let us know your short times after you get to the track.

Originally posted by DDTS
I would think that 90% of your problen is tires. With street tires on my car (or steet DOT approved cheeter slicks) I spin like crazy, Including at the track. I got a set of ten inch slicks and I'm running a 1.50 short time. This is the same for on the street. You said about holding the brakes and giving it some gas....I have a 3500 stall and I find that leaving the car at a idel lunches me harder. Far as I know the only reason that benifits reving while under brake is that the car wont fall on its face or stall? I think that goes back to tuning your car....anyways... My advice.

1) Slicks. (atleast DOT slicks)
2) Try lunching from a idel once you do hook it up.

Let us know your short times after you get to the track.

Tires is the important factor, I think depending on your application like big solid cams don't like to start off idle they need some rpm to really get them going, so I think that part depends on the set up.

The Mickey Thompson Sportsman Pro's are about the best "sticky" tire that will hook and can still be run on the street. Typical mileage is 8-12k miles. The M/T Drag Radials are DOT legal and will definitely hook but then you're down to about 5k miles and they're done.

Hope he's got the tire problem fixed, that was 1 1/2 Yrs. ago.

Ain't it wonderful when someone pops in, asks a question, then never says boo about any of the answers?

Yup .

Pro70z28; Ya should have let it go on a while longer.
I like watching people answer those two year questions.
Besides I don't what to be the only one thats ever done it!!!
HE! HE! HE!


~ Vegas ~

Originally posted by vara4
Pro70z28; Ya should have let it go on a while longer.
I like watching people answer those two year questions.
Besides I don't what to be the only one thats ever done it!!!
HE! HE! HE!


~ Vegas ~

Yup..........I've been there........done that............tooooo.

Better late than never?