I wonder if locking it up for the last 100 or 200ft. might help someone if they were running out of RPM? I know there are other ways to solve an RPM problem, (gears, tires, ect) but what do you guys think? Frank?

 

Yeah it will definitly help with that some, but remember at higher RPM's your converter shouldn't be slipping as much as say a 3500 stall converter at 3000 RPM motor speed. In other words It should get tighter as the RPM's rise, at least that is my thought, but the next time I go to the track we'll see. So, like you said there are better, more optimal, ways to do that with the correct combo in gears/tires etc...

 

I'm not sure where I'll be at next year (rpm) with the 100 shot. This Fri. I'll find out where the R's are at with the new converter. Hopefully I will have some rpm to play with, or it looks like taller tires next year.
Nice times you have there, by the way. Any tips on what I can yank out of the car for weight savings and still have it look decent. Rick

 

That depends on what you consider looking decent? Here are pics of mine from last week, http://www.1slowformula.com/HVAC-rad...lete/index.htm, I think it looks decent, the only addition since then was I made up and delete plate for the dash last night for where the HVAC controls and radio were, but haven't updated the pics yet...

 

Your running out of RPM's in 4th? Whatcha got in it, 5.13 gears?

Frank
CPT

 

i talked to john at fuddle and he pretty much said the same thing about the gn/turbo guys being the ones that benefited the most from this theory. he told me that most likely i would not benefit, since the converter i just bought was pretty efficient anyway. i know the last few times going in the 1/4, i ran out of gear in 3rd and it would shift into 4th before the end. i'll have to find out what rpm im actually at. maybe i'll test out the lockup thing at the end of the track just to see what kind of difference it makes. im goin to the dyno on the 18th to make sure my a/f is good, but maybe i'll make an extra pull locked up just to see the difference.

 

Set-up is in the sig. Frank. Just hoping between the new stall, 6400 redline, and the addition of Nitrous will work out ok with the 26" MTs. Who runs there car and uses 4th gear with an auto? Our was that a joke and went over my head as usual?

 

I use 4th in the 1/4.
I shift into overdrive right after the 1/8 on the bottle and right before the end when on motor.

 

Really? Iv'e watched your videos and never noticed.

 

Thanks for the pics John, but this is a 30k car with no snow and rained on only a few times. I'll pull a little weight, but this is a toy for me, and I enjoy the air and stereo on the drive home from the track.

 

There are a couple of reasons to use the torque converter lockup. One, mentioned earlier, turbocharged Gran Nationals, where the torque converter was not matched to the motor/torque converter/rear end gear ratio, and/or the torque is too much for the torque converter to handle (overpowered, blow through) you choose the expression. And if you are going to lockup the TC, it should be "only" in 3rd gear in the quarter mile. The gains (if any) that I have seen when doing this are minimal at best. If you see a gain in the quarter mile (locking up the TC) in a naturally asperated setup, then the torque converter is not matched to your combination, this is very rare though. The other reason is when out trying to get the maximum MPH on a freeway/expressway all out run, then locking up the TC at the very top rpm of the run, might gain you a little in mph. Most street vehicles making the 3-4 shift in the quarter mile, will see very little gain in mph in most cases.

 

Dana, I don't plan on using forth gear in the quarter, but can a built 4l60e handle it?

 

I know ours can. Others may CLAIM that theirs can, but judging from the calls I get, most other builders can't even keep 3 gears alive in a 4L60E for very long.
BTW, we have nitrous cars making 3-4 shifts in the quarter mile.

Frank
CPT

 

That's nice to know. thank you.

 

If you listen close you can hear it. It may be fooling you because 1st gear is so short, I'm in 2nd before the 60' I beleave.


My street car gains 3-4mph n/a and 15-16mph on a 150 shot shifting into 4th in the 1/4. But I think I could run faster n/a if I could finish in 3rd, I can't really pull 4th on motor. Hopefully next time out I'll be on taller tires that will provide that little bit of extra gear to let me finish in 3rd n/a.