Shifting

DevilishStang · Aug 19, 2005

I own a 1998 Mustang GT 5-speed. I'll be going to the track tonight with a bunch of friends and was wondering at what RPM's should I shift? The only Mods I have are 3.73's. Any advice will help.

squares98 · Aug 19, 2005

try shifting between 5,200-5,500 rpm in 1st, 2nd gear. Since its your first time walk it off the line to get a feel for it things, and dont shift too quick or you will grind evry gear. And go around the water box, not through it

tjm73 · Aug 19, 2005

squares98 said:
try shifting between 5,200-5,500 rpm in 1st, 2nd gear. Since its your first time walk it off the line to get a feel for it things, and dont shift too quick or you will grind evry gear. And go around the water box, not through it

I would add don't back into the water either. Do dry spin to clean the tires off and head to the starting line. Smokey burnouts only burn up tread on the average street tires. They don't get much more sticky. 4.6's are kinda tricky to launch BTW. Too much gas and you get tire spin. Not enough gas and you get a BIG time bog. You actually need to slip the clutch off the line.

If you don't have an aftermarket shifter, shift slow like squares98 said at first and work you shift speed up as you go. It's very easy to grind going into 3rd.

One last thing.... don't expect stellar times or traps speeds. Most '98's run about 15.6 at 93 in stock form. 3.73's should get you real close if not intot the 14's if you drive well and launch well.

BooWFO · Aug 19, 2005

Also slowly pull into the staging beams you want to stage the front tires not the back. See it ever time I'm at the track. If you get several passes play around with shift points some like more rpm some don't.

AmBo · Aug 19, 2005

tjm73 said:
Do dry spin to clean the tires off and head to the starting line.

Dry spin? Dry burnout? Why should he stay out of the waterbox?

CManT1914 · Aug 19, 2005

AmBo said:
Dry spin? Dry burnout? Why should he stay out of the waterbox?

The only thing that happens when you spin street tires is they get greasy = bad traction

trinity_gt · Aug 19, 2005

AmBo said:
Dry spin? Dry burnout? Why should he stay out of the waterbox?

Because treaded tires will retain water within the tread unless he absolutely smokes them (in which case the rubber gets slippery, not sticky...) This retained water can and does drip on the surface and can nix all traction at launch.

It's also kind of a bummer for subsequent cars...

sgarlic · Aug 19, 2005

That's weird that the tires get more slippery if you do a burnout on street tires. That's never been the case with me, and I often wonder why I seem to be the only person who uses the water box on street tires.

I also used to drag race motorcycles, with street tires, and I could literally spin the tire off the line if I didn't do a burnout first. Did a burnout, you could literally hear the rubber sticking to the track surface as I crept up to the line.

WillDuhhBeast · Aug 19, 2005

At the track I go to, I have no choice but to roll through the water box..

DevilishStang · Aug 20, 2005

Well I went tonight. It was really hot and muggy. I ran a 15.451 at 91.3, not bad for my first time. Shifted at 5200 RPM's

CanadaStang · Aug 20, 2005

DevilishStang said:
Well I went tonight. It was really hot and muggy. I ran a 15.451 at 91.3, not bad for my first time. Shifted at 5200 RPM's

When mine was stock I would get my best times shifting at 5200rpms. What were your 60ft times?

DevilishStang · Aug 20, 2005

R/T - .587
60' - 2.417
330 - 6.607
1/8 - 10.8
MPH's -72.35
1000' - 12.974
1/4 - 15.451
MPH's - 91.32

CanadaStang · Aug 20, 2005

DevilishStang said:
R/T - .587
60' - 2.417
330 - 6.607
1/8 - 10.8
MPH's -72.35
1000' - 12.974
1/4 - 15.451
MPH's - 91.32

Ya with a bit of practice on your launches and some cooler weather you will be in the 14's.

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