Racing an Auto

[-GSX-Falcon]

Hey Guys,

Just wanted to you how you guys race an auto. Do you shift it like a manual (L to 2nd then to D)? Or do you just let the tranny do all the work for you. I can see from a stop it not being such a big deal...but what about from a roll? I mean if you are doing 40mph roll and are in 3rd or 4th gear and the manual next you you is in 2nd you will get pulled on right away until the tranny decideds to downshift. So I was wondering how you guys do it. Also, do you think manualy shifting from L-2-D will hurt the tranny any? Any feedback is appreciated.

 

[RiceRocket18]

when you slam on the throttle, it shoudl automatically downshift already. it's the launching part you should worry about getting smoked. the only way to do it right is to hold your brakes and slowly build up your rpm to a point that you know it won't peel off when you release the brake. then let that baby go when it's green, should put up a good fight. always make sure to cool off the tranny after each time you do this. some say pull over to the side and shift to neutral and turn on the AC.

 

[DSMNightmare]

when you slam on the throttle, it shoudl automatically downshift already. it's the launching part you should worry about getting smoked. the only way to do it right is to hold your brakes and slowly build up your rpm to a point that you know it won't peel off when you release the brake. then let that baby go when it's green, should put up a good fight. always make sure to cool off the tranny after each time you do this. some say pull over to the side and shift to neutral and turn on the AC.

Yep, I'm with him on this.

 

[RiceRocket18]

is it usually this slow in this forum.

 

[theboogieman]

is it usually this slow in this forum.

Yes.
Leo

 

[69_luv]

When you launch off the line, if you don't have the supporting mods...external trans cooler with a fan, valve body, stall torque converter, something or all of these things, you are going to smoke check your trans eventually.

When you are at the stop light and have your foot on the brake and giving it gas, and the rpm gauge climbs, your are building temp in the TQ faster than you think.

I wouldn't make it a regular habit at the stop light. As for slamming it into gears just remember you are doing just that.

Good luck!!

 

[DSMNightmare]

When you launch off the line, if you don't have the supporting mods...external trans cooler with a fan, valve body, stall torque converter, something or all of these things, you are going to smoke check your trans eventually.

When you are at the stop light and have your foot on the brake and giving it gas, and the rpm gauge climbs, your are building temp in the TQ faster than you think.

I wouldn't make it a regular habit at the stop light. As for slamming it into gears just remember you are doing just that.

Good luck!!

I raced for over a year with the stock tranny. The key is to not power brake it too long and to allow the car proper time to cool down after a run. 1G A/Ts need more supporting mods because if I'm not mistaken they do not come stock with a tranny cooler but 2Gs do. When you say valve body are you trying to say that they need one or that they need an upgraded one? Because that is what the shift kit is for. Stall converter does help but I have seen plenty of people get by on the stocker. The more hp you make the more heat your going to produce faster under power braking. So yes when you start reaching over 300hp on an A/T upgrades are a must.

 

[asexton6969]

For one thing pulling over and turning on the A/C seriously what is that gonna do for the trans????? Also if u are really worried about heat in ur tranny buy a tranny temp gauge that way once u no what normal operating temp is and u notice it gets too hot u can pull over and let the turbo and tranny cool down a bit and if needed shut off the car.

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

Just wanted to you how you guys race an auto. Do you shift it like a manual (L to 2nd then to D)? Or do you just let the tranny do all the work for you. I can see from a stop it not being such a big deal...but what about from a roll? I mean if you are doing 40mph roll and are in 3rd or 4th gear and the manual next you you is in 2nd you will get pulled on right away until the tranny decideds to downshift. So I was wondering how you guys do it. Also, do you think manualy shifting from L-2-D will hurt the tranny any? Any feedback is appreciated.

Power-brake off the line and build boost for your launch, then just let the tranny do its thing. From a roll, if you anticipate a race, make sure overdrive is off so you're at least in 3rd gear, then it's just a one gear drop from there in most cases.

Don't fear the slight delay from the auto kicking into lower gear at WOT...manuals have to cope with small delays in between each shift where they lose a bit of boost and might not even shift at the optimum point in the gear's power band, plus they might grind it or miss it completely! Very few people can drive a manual like an auto...basically only the pros.

The only real tradeoff you have is some additional drivetrain loss thanks to hydraulics rather than a mechanical connection to the tranny, and this you have to make up with a bit more mods or boost versus a similarly equipped m/t. This is the reason why you hear that autos are "slow"...in stock configuration they usually are slightly underpowered versus the manual model. In the aftermarket, when you're running the same whp as the manual, you should be able to beat it in many conditions...consistently.

 

[DSMNightmare]

For one thing pulling over and turning on the A/C seriously what is that gonna do for the trans????? Also if u are really worried about heat in ur tranny buy a tranny temp gauge that way once u no what normal operating temp is and u notice it gets too hot u can pull over and let the turbo and tranny cool down a bit and if needed shut off the car.

What it does is allow the secondary fan to kick on and give more airflow under the hood. Tranny temps are going to be the hottest right after a race and you don't want the tranny fluid getting hot and caking up on you. Heat is your biggest enemy with an A/T and your right a tranny temp gauge is a good idea as well as a tranny cooler or larger tranny cooler if you have a 2G. The worst thing you want to do after a race is just shut the car off because you want to keep all the fluids flowing until the car comes back to a decent temp.

 

[asexton6969]

Ok my bad i didnt know that about the fan, but of course dont shut it off thats why i said let the turbo and tranny cool down and then shut it off. I may not have said it that clear, but i no not to do that so yea...

 

[DSMNightmare]

Ok my bad i didnt know that about the fan, but of course dont shut it off thats why i said let the turbo and tranny cool down and then shut it off. I may not have said it that clear, but i no not to do that so yea...

Yeah you've got the right idea. Most people don't think about when the fans kick on. I only have one connection going to my slim fans that way if they need to engage they can do so at the same time.

 

[asexton6969]

O your from Illinois, my older sis told me there was an earthquake in Illinois idk if thats true or not ( u no how siblings are, they lie to eachother) I hope no dsm's were damaged...I no there are alot in and around Chicago.

 

[RiceRocket18]

when i do powerbrake launch from a light, i usually don't hold it longer than 3 seconds. most people'll tell you more than 5seconds can be REALLY bad for your tranny. like it was previously mentioned, it does get heat up REALLY quickly. observing the traffic light change should give you enough time to build up the boost within 3 secs.

 

[DSMNightmare]

10-15 seconds at most. When I was new to A/Ts I burnt one up powerbraking because I wanted to win too bad. They screwed up the light and I ended up holding for over 30 seconds. That was a very bad thing. I was dead in the water 90 miles from home. My wife had her truck but we did not have a trailer. We screwed around with it and eventually got it to go into limp mode. I had to do 3rd gear all the way home. That is why I have the level10 now.

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

Just watch the other sets of lights...when they turn yellow it's time to power-brake because yours are about to go green.

 

[95gster]

Just watch the other sets of lights...when they turn yellow it's time to power-brake because yours are about to go green.

I wish the same could be said for the tracks cause by the time I make it up there yellow yellow yellow then green = no time for me to brake boost......

 

[DSMNightmare]

I wish the same could be said for the tracks cause by the time I make it up there yellow yellow yellow then green = no time for me to brake boost......

Thats why you make sure your the first one up there.

 

[95gster]

theres only one small problem, I'm the only one up there whenever I run :laugh: everyone else is still tuning and messing with their muscle car.........

 

[TonyTrump]

yea...really sucks for me...im runnin a 20g and even if im the 1st one up there it still takes forever just to get to 5lbs...still launched like shit...i gave up launching completely...was able to pull of a 15.0 at 95mph...shows that once i got movin it got up there considering most people dont get in the 90s with 15 second cars...15 still sucks though...need a new way to launch...should i get torque converter???

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

You have a 20G setup and your a/t isn't built? Regarding the 1/4, I'm not sure why those with FWDs are so concerned with times for drag.

 

[TonyTrump]

im AWD, and yea its not built...thats why i dont launch...it shifts perfect though

 

[theboogieman]

need a new way to launch...should i get torque converter???

ABSOLUTELY! And consider the end clutches and valve body mods as well. Those three ttranny mods will do wonders for the shifting and track times....even if you think it shifts fine now, and it might, it will shift much better with upgrades of course.

But get the torque convertor to go with that 20g and you'll build boost alot easier at the line.

ME = 13.3@104 with a sm16g and a 1.9 60' with NO tranny mods about 2 years ago (man it has been forever it seems). Also killed that tranny after seeing like 38-42 run in 4 hours on one day at the track!!!

Now I have the fully built IPT tranny and all the mods available from them . No new times yet but building boost with a high stall TQ is much easier and MUCH faster now than ever.

Leo

 

[DSMNightmare]

Yeah FWD A/T 13.8@101mph with 15psi on a 20G here. Also nailed a 2.1 60ft that run as well. Not too shabby.

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

Not to mention torque improvement. I noticed that the 5 speed guys often dyno with hp/tq numbers pretty damn close to even if not somewhat less torque numbers than hp. The torque convertor should boost those numbers up in favor of torque significantly. I dyno'd 242 whp and 268 tq on my last tune with 15 psi on the T28. I love torque more than anything...it always feels like raw power on acceleration!