I just bought a 99 ls1 with an automatic can i race this or will i just get laughed outa the track ?

 

Dont be silly, you can drag race anything. A 99 is a very respectable car. Very, very few do well their first time out, at anything. But with an auto you just have to put it in drive and step on the gas. How hard can it be?
My very first race I did my burn out pulled up to the line blipped the throttle a couple of times, the floats stuck flooded the carb and killed the engine. So there I sat., by my self, 16 years old, blocking the lane . Some of the entrants came over and push me off to the side. I was very embarrassed. But no one died and I survived. It's all part of the game, I think your supposed to be embarrassed the first time!

 

Why would you get laughed out of the track? I've seen just about everything I can imagine run at the track. Even cars that are about to die and are rust in color! So i would say you have a very nice car, hell I raced my 95 v6 camaro at the track.. haha!

 

My 99 ran 13.6 bone stock! I dont think that is something to laugh at.

 

You may get laughed out of here for asking such a s----- question , but the ones (who should be) getting laughed off the track are the kids' moms' FWD Hondas with a fart can on them, running 17's, and thinking they're fast .

You have a 13-second car ... go kick some a$$!!! Little bit of work and you can hit 12's. That's NOTHING to laugh at .

 

cool i was concerned about trying to launch a auto is all, was under the impression you should only drag a stick. so can i do anything to my tranny to help it launch ?

 

You just step on the throttle and point it straight, there's nothing else to do. I'd leave the shifter in D instead of OD also. If the car doesn't spin the tires, you're having a good day. If the track sucks and you spin a little, then you have to work around that and get into the throttle a little slower. Don't overcomplicate things. Drive around the water puddle if that's an option. Post results when you get back.

 

Actually most RWD V8 cars at the track are automatics. They are the prefered choice for most drag racers. You have an awesome car, that even stock can lay down some very impressive number, and with an auto they will be consistant numbers.

I run an auto and wouldnt trade it for a 6sp if you gave me money! Pull up to the light, press the breaks at the same time give your car a little gas till you have 1200ish RPM, on the third yellow roll into the gas quickly and chances are it will be you crossing the line first.

In import cars with smaller engines such as Hondas and such you have to turn high RPMs before the engine starts to make power. This coupled with the fact that most import cars have very lame automatics is why a stick shift is preferred to drag with. When you have low end toque then an auto is the way to go!!!

Now buy a stall, and some slicks and you will be the envy of your friends

 

Plenty of autos at the track. If you were laughed out of the track, that definitely would not be one of the reasons.

 

dude a 99 LS1 is a bada$$ car... and very fast...i bet u will be prolly one of the fastest out of ur friends...and if u come on here everyday and read up...u'll be very very fast... a mid 13 sec car is fast...very fast... dont listen to dom on fast and the furious... a 10 sec car is smokin fast and takes years and years and lots and lots of money to achieve... work on gettin to the mid 13's and high 12's.... u have a car capable of doing it no question... and like said before...autos are much better for drag racing... more consistant and once u stall em there is no turning back when u go to the track make sure u watch a few runs first and study the procedure of it all

 

what do you mean by stall them ? i assume you mean change the torque converter ? and if i do change it what do you mean can never go back will it be street-able this is my daily driver so i don't want to do anything to outrageous i know i want bolt ons and cam but have no idea what to do to my tranny to make it better for dragging on weekends

 

Adding a higher stall torque converter is what is meant by "stalling" and it will make a huge difference in the way the car drives and should make a significant difference in your track times as well.

 

if u dont get an outrageous high stall it will be fine for the street...3200 seems to be best for street/strip cars

 

You can stall up your stock converter as well. Hold down your breaks and give your car a little gas. Get your RPMs to about 1200 or as high as you can get without actually moving. What it will do is preload your suspension, and your drivetrain and launch you out of the hole much harder. Like dropping the clutch on a manual.

Now your stock converter is stalled to a very low RPM so it is more friendly to granny, and soccer mom. You can (and should get, check out Fuddle Racing I use them and LOVE it!) buy a converter that is set to a higher RPM. 3200 is a good choice, but you might want to go with a 3000RPM stall. My 3K is very streetable, and I daily drive my car. I can barely tell its there unless Im at the track then I definately tell its there.

You will also need a tranny cooler like the very popular 24000gvw B&M Super Cooler. Running a higher stall will heat up your tranny, so the cooler is just protecting your investment.

Hope this helps

 

dont want to sound ignorant but how exactly does it work ? with a 3000rpm stall does that mean my car wont move when i let off the brake untill i rev to 3k ? and how does this help on launching the car ?