Flashing the converter????

I hear guys always talking about flashing the converter prior to launch. What the heck is that exactly???

thanks

Originally posted by S.J.S.
I hear guys always talking about flashing the converter prior to launch. What the heck is that exactly???

thanks

Holding the car on the line with the brakes, a line-lock, or a transbrake and applying throttle to bring the rpm up. Using the service brakes or a line-lock will not allow to reach the "true stall" rpm as the motor will overpower the brakes and spin the rear tires before the stall speed is reached. The advantage of doing this is the car leaves the line with more torque. On street tires, especially on an unprepped surface, all this will accomplish is more wheel spin though. It is used at thrack with sticky tires.

Rich Krause

As much as I respect Rich and his experience, I have to disagree with him on this one.

At least where I'm from, the sceanario Rich describes is called "power braking", or "getting up on the converter", or "loading the converter".

"Flashing" the converter is when you use some method to hold the car in place - manual brakes, line lock, etc. as Rich described - but staging the car and leaving the starting line at idle and going to WOT (wide open throttle) as fast as you can. e.g., hammering the gas from idle when you start. This "flashes", or "hits" the converter hard, up to the highest rpm the particular converter can slip to, provided you have adequate traction and don't spin the tires.

Mark

Originally posted by Raptor1
As much as I respect Rich and his experience, I have to disagree with him on this one.

At least where I'm from, the sceanario Rich describes is called "power braking", or "getting up on the converter", or "loading the converter".

"Flashing" the converter is when you use some method to hold the car in place - manual brakes, line lock, etc. as Rich described - but staging the car and leaving the starting line at idle and going to WOT (wide open throttle) as fast as you can. e.g., hammering the gas from idle when you start. This "flashes", or "hits" the converter hard, up to the highest rpm the particular converter can slip to, provided you have adequate traction and don't spin the tires.

Mark

You are right, that's how the term is usually used.

Rich Krause

I'll agree with Raptor on that one.

My converter stalls at 5700 on the transbrake. I could footbrake it to around 3500 but I use a 2 step to launch for consistancy. I set my 2 step limiter to 4000. When I push the transbrake button, the 2 step won't let the rpms go above 4000. When I let go of the transbrake, the converter flashes to 5700. Although you can't feel it, it's very noticable with a playback tach especially when played back at 1/3 speed.

If I launch at a higher rpm, I usually get worse traction. Letting the converter flash takes some of the shock load off the tires. I've tried launching right at the converter's stall and spun off the line from too much power.