I am going out late night tonight with my friends(one has 86 Trans Am 305 4bbl, one has 97 3800II Bird, and the last one has an 80 Turbo Trans Am) onto a back road to practice launches. I have found that the best way to launch is to stand on the brake and rev it up to 1400-1500, then get off brake and feather in the gas. I have done this and it squealed a bit but hooked up(with my stock 15inchers I might add). But, I have done the first three steps but floored it and it squealed like a b****! If we get good enough, we might even drag out there...

---------------------------
1982 Trans Am
LU5 CeaseFire 305 V8
TH-200C Three-speed automatic
T-tops(d*** the weight)
***Bone Stock***
(for now, heh heh heh)

My car eats 89 octane for breakfast, 70's stangs for lunch, and LT1 exhaust gases for dinner.

 

You got your launch technique down pretty well. Some cars respond better to different methods, but whay you've explained works best for most stock-suspensioned F-Bodies.

I have a stall converter, maning my car doesn't start to move when the brake is applied until around 1900 RPM. I leave at 1300 RPM (off the foot brake like you've explained) and go 1/2 throttle until the car starts moving. I then flat pedal it

You have to try different RPMs. Too high of rpm and you will smoke the tires, too low and you bog the motor.

You guys got cool cars.

Stay outta trouble



------------------
Mike L.
It ain't pretty.......

1987 IROC Z TPI 350 A4 3.27 Borg-Warner.

Mods: 2300-2500 Stall Converter, Shift Kit(GM parts), TPI Specialties Stage 3 PROM, Modified Airbox w/ K&N's, homemade cold air, Relocated MAT sensor, Gutted MAF, 160* thermostat, Accel 8mm Wires, bypassed TB coolant, Flowmaster 3 chamber single 3" in/out muffler, 3" MAC mandrel intermediate, custom dual !cat Y-pipe. airfoil, ported plenum. !smog

http://www.MichaelLasiuta.home.att.net

**BOYCOTT LAPEER DRAGWAY**

 

Well, I found out that my technique was the best for my car. I bogged my motor and once I thought I broke the transmission, but all is sound. My buddy in the 80 TTA wanted to drag me. All I can say is he was looking at my tailights all the way. His excuse was a bad launch, but he was on par with me. I think he manually shifted the tranny and missed a gear. My two other friends(1986 Trans Am and 1997 Bird 3800II) raced and I was surprised as they were even throught out the race, although the 3800 seemds as it would pull ahead sometimes. If I couldn;t afford a new Trans Am or Formula, I think the 3800II is a good bet(easier on your insurance, too! ).