Smokin' tires w/ a 4 spd is not that easy to do. I also have a 289 (although definitely not stock) w/ a toploader and 3.50s. I'm running 295s in the rear and when I start even fairly hard my tires will spin for a little while but I also would like to be able to just smoke 'em. With an auto trans power braking will let do it easy but is there a way to keep from launching while keeping the tires spinning with a manual trans that isn't bad for the clutch?
2 ways to spin with a manual:
1: Rev and let most of the way out of the clutch as if you are doing a hard take off. However, you do not want to let totally out of the clutch. If you do, you will only spin a little. Keep the clutch pedal right on that 'sweet spot' where it is right on the edge of being engaged yet slipping some so your RPMs stay up.
You won't stay put like power braking, but you won't be going anywhere fast either. You will just roll forward slowly while the tires smoke up, then when you let off the gas and clutch (keeping it in gear), your rpms will fall back to idle, but the car will lurch forward very hard. Very pro-stock style burnout is the comment you get from bystanders.
2: Push the clutch in with the left toes while keeping the left heel on or very close to brake pedal. Rev and dump the clutch while simutainiously
lightly holding the brakes with your heel. You can't lay on the brakes hard, just enough to hold you with the front brakes while letting the rear spin.
It is basically the same as doing a power brake with an auto, just have to do fancy footwork.
If you push the brakes too hard, you will stall the car or burn the clutch rather than tires. If you push the brakes too light, you will gain forward momentum and not be able to attain stationary power braking, which will require you to start all over. Once the car is rolling more than a creep, your brakes will never get it stopped again.
This method also does not allow for you to keep the pedals stationary. You do have to feel what the car is doing and make slight adjustments on brake pedal pressure and throttle the whole time or you will over-rev and/or overcome the front brakes.
Also, all you gung-ho types with late model cars that want to put this to the test, make sure your traction control is off!
I used to do this with my LS1 Z28/T56, and it works very well...
However, the TCS was 'default on' and I forgot to shut if off once.
I was holding 5k rpms in stationary position, smoke just boiling out from under the car, grinning ear to ear. Yet all my buddies outside the car had a puzzled look on their faces... The clutch was smoking, not the tires!
Didn't hurt anything but my pride.