1st or 2nd Gear for AutoX

[Dr Ronald]

So I ran my car in my first Autocross event since I had my tranny rebuilt over at Shep Trans. I got the stage 3 rebuild with the EVO first gear upgrade. The course I ran was short and very technical. It is a common course in my area in that they don't usually change it from year to year. I ran in 2nd for my first run, but had absolutely no boost for the entire run. The second run, I decided to see if the taller 1st gear would let me run in 1st the entire time. I definitely fixed the boost problem, but I was obviously revving a lot higher. I was around 6k pretty often, and I hit the rev limiter in one spot on every run. Apparently in one spot when I hit the limiter, I blew out a fireball (which is awesome, but worrying). I also just replaced the main and rod bearings. I put Clevite Tri Metal bearings in. I have Link, but I'm having problems with that ECU, so I am running a stock ECU. How do you guys feel about revving the engine that high? It is my only DD and I would rather not have it down again and time soon.

 

[ileagleracing]

Unless you're riding the rev limiter you'll be OK (and even then, with the stock rev limit you should be fine). Hit the limiter more than 4-5 times in a row and you're probably going to be faster shifting to 2nd.

Samuel Krauss
08 Expedition (TSP)
04 S4 (STU)
98 Talon (SM someday)
95 Talon (STX)

 

[PotatoFlakeSTi]

The rev-limiter is there for a reason, if you're not hitting it for long enough to be faster in second like ileagleracing mentioned, there should be no reason use 2nd gear.

You could always upgrade your valvetrain if you want to bump your safety net a bit.

 

[Dhan]

I drove a n/t 2.0 1g in rallyx for two and a half seasons in the way you describe and never had a major failure. 4-6k in 1st gear for all six runs was pretty common.

However, each car is different and mine was a non turbo. This wasn't my DD either. If it broke it wasn't; going to cause me much grief.

Btw, I was always taught to focus on technique and car control instead of lap times and speed. Plenty of time for speed later