Drag Racing Technique Improve your track times

should I be hitting 4th gear in the 1/4 mile?

Old Oct 4, 2003 | 05:05 PM
  #1  
scoobysnax83's Avatar
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should I be hitting 4th gear in the 1/4 mile?

I had 17" Nittos on the back with a average trap speed of 106-108mph. Most people I know do not leave 3rd in an M6, but no matter what I peg the rev limiter about 50' before the line. I believe it is about 6000 on the tach, so I'm probably hitting the 6200 limit. If I light up the nitto's. My 60' is a 1.7?? I get great traction so that is not the problem. Am I shifting to early in 1st and second?

Thanks everyone

Edit: O yea, its stock 3.42's
Old Oct 4, 2003 | 05:12 PM
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I propose two solutions.

1) Raise the rev limiter another 1 or 2 hundred rpm so you don't bang the limiter.

2) Get some gears so you come across the finish line at the top of 4th.
Old Oct 4, 2003 | 05:13 PM
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4.11's?

Its a stock bottom end with 164,000 miles on it so I don't want to raise the rev limiter So you agree that its an awkard shift point?
Old Oct 4, 2003 | 07:57 PM
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If you shift earlier in 1st and 2nd it should get you in 4th. I have almost made it through in 3rd when shifting around 6000 - 6200 in every gear and hit the limiter about 75' - 100' or so from the traps. Try shifting around 5500 and see how soon you will be in 4th, you should (in my car) be about the top of 4th at the traps shifting around 5400.
Old Oct 4, 2003 | 10:12 PM
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Will shifting early hurt your times?
Old Oct 4, 2003 | 11:29 PM
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Originally posted by 30thZ286speed
Will shifting early hurt your times?
Depends how early and where exactly your car is making peak power. Someone may make peak power somewhere totally different than you. Just because you take it past the redline doesn't mean the car is making any more power. In my experience I pretty much run the same time whether I shift at 5400 or 6000, but then again, I am an average driver and I don't try to rip the shifter off throwing it in gears. Just try different techniques, that is what test and tune is for!
Old Oct 5, 2003 | 10:30 AM
  #7  
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Yea I unfortunately missed my test ad tune session due to a problem with tire fitment,

But thats cool, I'm happy with what I got. I will try to shift a little sooner next time I am at the track. I'm running an LT4 Hotcam, so I believe that it makes most of the HP up high. I maybe wrong though. I only got 3 runs in
Old Oct 5, 2003 | 12:21 PM
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I would go through the traps at 6500 rpm with my 306 and that was just over 112mph. Leave the car in 3rd one run and see what you trap, then if you want try 4th. But, if your shifting into fourth just before the traps and your only at 6000 rpms there really is no point in shifting you will lose a little bit of time and mph from the shift. To get the best trap speeds possible you want to shift as high as you can in 1st and 2nd. If you shift both at about 6500 you will trap much better.
Old Oct 5, 2003 | 12:23 PM
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yea, but the problem is, if I stick in 3rd I peg the rev limiter about 50 feet before the line

EDIT: I also would like to add that I am hitting the rev limiter at 6200. So I shift just before then. I'm not willing to up the rev limiter due to my 164,000 miles stock bottom end.

Last edited by scoobysnax83; Oct 5, 2003 at 12:27 PM.
Old Oct 5, 2003 | 06:14 PM
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on my dyno tune my power peaks at 5500, but my tach is 250rpms off. I have to shift at 5800 and I make it into fourth.
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