There was a very light rain yesterday in Temecula so I thought I'd try a little launching experiment without having to worry as much about burning the clutch up. From a stop I dropped the clutch at 4000 rpm on wet ground. The tires BARELY spun at all, more like a big "chirp." It barely bogged however: That chirp had a lot of forward motion. Still, not a good launch. On sticky dry ground I would have completely bogged. A 4750 launch might have done the trick.

My 60 ft times are weak compared to others: 1.98 average on my only two attempts. I have been doing 6000rpm clutch drops. My tires have spun too much on both, but partly by design. If I can get the tires spinning, I save the drivetrain. I don't believe in slipping the clutch on the Evo. I've slipped it here and there on the street for different reasons and always with bad results. I can just tell the Evo can't handle controlled slips.

Please advise: I plan on trying launching at 5000 next time out at the strip (with a clutch drop). Also I will line up as far to the back of the staging line as they will let me. What do you think?

 

Make sure you have 2500 in the bank in case something ****s out. And don't start a thread about how mitsu sucks once your **** explodes.

 

wut he said

 

Thank you for your kind replies and highly thoughtful suggestions.

 

At the strip I always do a very fast chutch release at 6K not more not less this has excess wheel spin but oh well its also the least stressful launch for the drivetrain. I dont drop it and I sure dont launch on the street

 

At least you are thinking about it in advance and realizing that wheel slippage is saving your drivetrain. Most of the people who want to drag race their Evos are oblivious to the damage they can truely do in a heartbeat.

So I am guessing you have the clutch restrictor removes and a stainless steel braided clutch hose, right?

 

Know what? Maybe I need to define "dropping it." I don't literally drop it (letting my foot slip off pedal while clutch is fully depressed) I just lift my foot fast. Still, this is pretty much like dropping it. Also, yesterday my 4000 launch was in a remote industrial park on very nice new smooth asphault that was wet. There was not a moving car in sight. Very safe and no risk of ticket. I was looking for a back way home to avoid x-mas traffic.

At the strip I actually had 45 lbs of air in my tires AND launched at 6000 in order to be smart, not stupid. I knew tires would spin, but they did so too much. I'm looking for that perfect rpm where I'll still get a "safe" level of spin for the drivetrain, but not spin more than half way through first.

Of course the smart thing for all of us to have done would have been to buy Toyota Camrys. I have only LAUNCHED 3 times since owning my car twice at the strip and yesterday under safe conditions. I have 7800 miles and my clutch feels like new. (Actually, I have launched a couple of times in dirt too. Very fun!)

I just want to make the point that I know I'm playing with fire whenever I launch. I ask others on this Drag racing forum for suggestions so that I don't have to tear up my car experimenting with it. I wasn't looking for my Mother to come on here and tell me to be safe or save my money.

 

Josh,
My clutch and lines are 100% stock. I've considered mods but have done nothing yet.

 

You're probably not easing into the throttle enough and bogging the engine.

 

josh maybe you should give that disclamer you used to have on your sig to smogrunner... i have a funny feeling he's gonna need it..

 

They are not trying to be dicks but if u dragg race or launch a EVO u will kill the clutch for sure. They are just giving u the Sad truth. SO dont **** on other members just cause the truth hurts

As for launching dont dump the clutch ride it out that is how most get the best launch high revs and riding the clutch out till the car surges forward then ditch it.


chris

 

Drop the clutch.

Wide Open Throttle.

Some people are half gassin the launch and half assin the clutch bogging the car + burning the clutch.

 

Let me see if I can explain what is happening. Just because you are at 4000 or 6000 it doesnt mean it cant bog. You can be at 6000 and only about 1/4 throttle, if you drop the clutch in this case it will bog because the rpms will fall rapidly and the engine dont have enough *** down low to get them back up.
What you need to be doing (if you want good starts and are not worried about parts) is this:

1. Take it up to around 3 or 4000 rpm at light throttle.
2. When you are ready to take off, floor it with the clutch still in. This will cause the rpm to jump up very fast so be ready for it.
3. Right after you have the throttle on the floor dump the clutch before you hit the rev limiter.
4. Stay on the floor all the way through.

I have alot of launches on my car doing it this way on the stock clutch. It is still fine. In my opinion the clutch should last longer doing a launch this way because you are not slipping the clutch, which is the other way to take off without bogging. I usually end up taking off at around 6k while on the floor.

 

I'd keep them stock, if I were you. If you take out the restrictor and remove the play from the rubber hose, you will make things engage a lot stiffer. Since you are looking at hard launching your car, I don't think you would want to have everything rigid as can be. This will only cause mure headaches for you when parts start wearing down quicker.

Just a thought.