i have a 03 evo and i still cant find a right rpm to launch at?? any suggestions?? i tried launching at 6500 and popping the clutch and it bogs... then i tried launching at 5200 and letting the clutch go at a fast paste but not popping it and it starts smelling like burned clutch... my best time on my stock evo was a 13.9 but i feel like i should be doing a whole lot better... any pointers???

 

OMFG dont pop the clutch, unless you wanna explode your tc, thats like the worst thing you could do when trying to launch

there was a thread just on this about a 05.... its all the same

 

Launching is tricky with an AWD so don't be discouraged. For me, I have learned that you can launch at almost any rpm above 3000. It is all a matter of clutch release and slippage of the clutch. With an AWD, you need to slip the clutch before you go all out. Dropping the clutch is bad idea as it will probably result in slower times and breaking of tranny parts. The problem with slipping is that the stock clutch can only take so much slipping at launch before it just gets too hot. So the key is to find just the right amount of slip and letting it go along with your foot on the gas.

Try launching at 4000 rpm and slipping it just abit and then gassing it once you feel it has engaged. This will give you quite a rush. Once you are comfortable, you can try higher rpm launches and adjust accordingly.

 

Hmmmm, search maybe....

 

well my clutch is aftermarket but for some reason when i slip the clutch it still smells like burning clutch... maybe im doing it wrong i dunno?? how do u reall "slip the clutch??"

 

Drop the clutch and spin all 4 tires like a one mean mother! seriusly though try luanching at like 4-5 and geting off the clutch pretty fast, by the time the clutch is completly out you should have gained 800-1000 rpms. The clutch is there for a reason let it slip for the 1st 800-1000 rpms of acceleration. You boged at 6500 because the tires wernt spinin to keep the rpms up. every car is differnt but this should help.

 

Flash tuners are starting to include launch control technology. If you're looking into flashes you might look into their options and their advise for using their options for optimal launches. I know Works has this feature and believe others do as well.

Good luck!

 

For me with the Exedy twin disc, I lower my tire pressure to 25 psi front and rear. Rev between 5 - 6K depending on track conditions and do a quick smooth release of the clutch. I don't side step it or pop it and have never smelled my Exedy clutch. I also pull through the water and do a burn out to clean off the tires and heat them up. When doing the burnout, I usually let the clutch out at 6 - 6.5K. Just make sure you don't over rev when burning out as I once saw 9K. Surpsingly though with completely stock internals there was no damage. I wouldn't recommend over rev'ing like that often though. On a good launch I always have slight tire spin which helps with shock to the drive line. One common thing I see people do when racing is pull to far past the lights, backup until they are staged and never pull forward again. Others will pull around the water box and backup and then burnout without pulling forward prior to doing so. Always pull forward for a few inches to take the slack out of the drive line if backing up for some reason before launching.

I almost always cut 1.68 - 1.72's at any track unless I break loose from rev'ing to high and then usually see a worst of 1.8's.