I trie doing a search and couldn't find anything on it. I was wondering if anyone uses a twoor three step. I have a fewquestions about them. When having an msd 6al, all the two/three step does is plug into where you plug the rpm pills (where the rev limiter is)?

How exactly does this two step work when your coming off the line? Thanks for the info!

 

Yes it just plugs in. The 6AL can be considered a one step because the rev limiter is a high end limiter. The other "steps" are seperate rev limiters used for different functions.

A second rev limiter is used for launching at a specific rpm every time. It's usually used with a transbrake or manual transmission. When activated, you go to WOT and the rev limiter keeps the engine at the lower preset limit. When you're below the set limit, nothing happens. Launching at the same rpm every time increases consistancy. When hooked into a transbrake, the transbrake and 2 step work together. The transmission is locked and the rpms are at the launch rpm. When the transbrake is released, the 2 step is also released and the car launches very hard. It's possible to use a 2 step and foot brake also by hooking the 2 step into the brake switch. When the brake pedel is released, the 2 step is also released and the engine rpms can operate as normal.

A 3 step is another rev limiter usually used in the burnout box. Some drivers like to do the same burnout every time. Limiting the max rpm in the burnout box keeps the whhels spinning at the same rpm.

My ignition has a built in 3 step but I don't use the burnout rev limiter. Without the 2 step, using my transbrake, my converter stalls at 5700 rpm. That's too high a launch rpm so I use the 2 step to launch at 4500 rpm. The 2 step drops cylinders (cuts them out) when you are at WOT to keep the engine rpms down to the preset limit. When it's released, the rpms will climb since you're already at WOT and the engine doesn't have to take the time to build up the rpm.

 

okay i understand now! so when your at the light all you have to do is time your 3rd light and not worry about trying to hold the gas at your set rpm. thats what im doin now and im gettin sick of the inconsistancy.

i think i might get a little confusing so let me give you a situation....your stock rev limiter is all the way up to 7000. then your rev limiter on the 6al is set to 6700. now your two step is set to 3400 (for launching at the tree). and the three step is set at 4000 (even though im not going to use a three step, just curious about it). can you use switches for the two and three? how are they usually set-up?

i'm wanting to just use a switch for it and im not sure if i want to do this or not because its a manual car and ill have to get use to using it. thanks for the reply and the help!

 

The rev limiters are activated by a switches. My 2 step switch is mounted in the steering wheel. A siple pushbutton momentary switch. When the button is held on, the 2 step is engaged. When I release the button, the 2 step turns off. High tech buttons are adjustable so releasing the button can be like a hair trigger.

All the buttons do is provide a ground curcuit to the controller. You can mount a momentary button or toggle switch anywhere.

Do you use a line lock?

 

This may be a stupid question, but I'll ask it anyways...

Why do you want a converter that stalls at 5700rpm when you only want to launch at 4500rpm?

 

Launching at a lower rpm has the engine at a more prefered torque level. Launching too high and the engine is over the peak torque. It also allows the converter to flash at launch which can soften the hit on the tires. If I launch at a higher rpm, I usually spin the tires. I have a powerglide and since I do the 1-2 shift at 6200 rpm, if I launched at 5700, I'd be shifting to second before the 60' mark. I go through the traps at 7200 rpm. The higher stall converter is required. I'd like to have one that stalls in the mid 6000's but it's way out of my price range.

 

Sorry to be so inquisitive, but I really want to understand this.

Why is the higher stall required if you're launching lower in the rpms, aside from less shock to the tires? I'll be the first to admit that I know very little about converters so sorry if these seem like dumb questions, lol.

 

Think of a high stall converter like a manual transmission. You could go to max rpm and drop the clutch but that isn't the best way to launch. Now a converter is nothing like a clutch because it's a fluid coupler and multiplies torque. I'm trying to launch at or near my peak torque but I want the stall speed to be at or just past my peak HP where I shift. Except when I launch, the engine's rpm is never below the stall speed because I only need the torque to get off the line. After that the HP is needed for a quick ET.

 

Yes I just installed it last night!

 

Been playing with it all day...

 

You have to play with it to determine the best rpm to launch at. Since you have a standard transmission you can set it for whatever rpm you want to launch at. Providing you don't roll through the lights when the brake is released, you can set the 2 step, go to WOT and when the last yellow comes on, dump the clutch and let go of the 2 step.

If you do some wiring, you can activate the 2 step with a simple toggle switch and use a switch on the clutch pedel to turn it off. That way when you dump the clutch, the 2 step turns off. If you use a line lock to hold yourself from moving, you can wire it up through the line lock also using a relay. The only down side is that you have to release the clutch and the line lock/2 step at the same time. This means a foot and finger need to react the same and humans are terrible timers.

 

With a brake pressure gauge installed in the front lines you can also set your staging pressure the same each time.

 

So, all i would have to do is hook up the 2 step with the MSD ignition box, wire it to a toggle switch to activate the 2 step and how would i wire it up so when you release the clutch pedal, it turns off the 2 step? Do you just wire the toggle switch with the clutch switch???? I'm a little bit lost with this!!! Thank you for your help once again.

 

A simple toggle switch to open and close the curcuit to the 2 step. It's a ground signal so the curcuit needs to go to ground to activate. Continue the wire from the switch to some sort of switch mounted on the clutch pedel to ground. Then the clutch is depressed, the curcuit closes and goes to ground which will activate the 2 step. By turning off the toggle switch, pressing the clutch does nothing since the toggle switch is open. Theoretically you don't really need the toggle switch since when you step on the clutch, you should be also letting off the throttle at the same time so the 2 step won't kick in unless the engine rpms are above the 2 step setting.

With the switch turned on (closed curcuit) and the clutch depressed (closed curcuit), the 2 step is activated and will keep the rpms from going above the preset limit. Below that rpm and the engine runs like normal. When you dump the clutch, the clutch switch will open and break the curcuit turning off the 2 step.

Driving around with the toggle switch turned on won't have any effect on the engine rpm as long as the clutch is released. As soon as the pedel is depressed, the 2 step will turn on only if the rpms are higher than the setting. The toggle switch is only really needed if you're doing tuning and you have the clutch depressed and want to bring the engine rpms up higher than the 2 step setting. Pulling the 2 step pill out will do the same thing.

Using a 2 step with a transbrake and an automatic transmission is so much easier. Sit on the start line in first gear, push the transbrake button, release the foot brake and go to WOT. When it's time to react, let the button go which will release the transbrake and 2 step and hang on for the ride. I also use a delay box so I release the button on the first indication of the top yellow bulb coming on then wait for the delay box to release the transbrake and 2 step.

 

yeah i know...thats what i'm use to but with what you just told me makes perfect sense! i really dont like that momentary switch idea so i'm going to go the clutch switch way. i'm going to stick with the two step for now and see how everything goes! thanks stephen!!! GREAT info, hopefully this helps some others out as well!!! keep you guys posted with the two step!