Advice needed: Best way to launch Stock Marauder?

[03sport007]

I’m going to the drag strip Friday (PIR) for the first time and need some advice.

What’s the best way to launch a Stock Marauder (Zack Tune, 4.10, J-mod and CAI)?

Is a burnout necessary? What’s the best way to do it? (Leave it in Drive or L) How Long?

Any other advice? I’m hopping for at least 14.5. Thanks

[Pops]

Leave it in drive. Go around the water box. Drop your rear tire pressure to 24 pounds to start.

[SC Cheesehead]

Leave it in drive. Go around the water box. Drop your rear tire pressure to 24 pounds to start.

Turn off the O/D, Turn off the T/C.

Also, try a couple runs from idle and then pre-loading the torque converter (i.e. power brake) to about 1,500 - 2,000 rpm, compare 60' times between the runs to see which gives you a better launch (each car is different).

If temps and humidity remain high, mid-14's could be elusive.

[Mr. Man]

Do everything the opposite of VanWinkleDoom:flamer::D

[sailsmen]

See PDF Drag Race Tips

Check your fluid levels, tire pressure, belt, battery tie down, air filter, etc. Make sure your car is in good shape.
Walk up the staging lanes to the launch pad area and note where everything is. Watch several cars make passes noting what they do and if they are hooking. Notice where the return is.
Remember if anything goes astray both feet up. The MM is a very stable platform, the weight will shift to the front and she will settle her self back down. You can always make another run.
The most dangerous part is the pitt area after the return. Some are on andrenaline and go 50mph while guys are backing up with cars so loud no one can hear anything while they are reading their time slip. Take your time down your return lane and thru the pitts.

[99SVT]

What they said, all good advice.

Other points:

- depending on the track you may be forced to drive partly into the waterbox, you can do a short dry hop burnout to scrub the water off the tires.

- I've always launched best by flashing the convertor off idle. If there's any wheelspin other than a chirp I would stab the throttle to about 3/4 down, wait for the car to start to roll out then press the throttle to the floor. Every combo, track, day is different, you just need to find what works for you.

- once you show up and tech, park the car and watch the races for a bit, it'll let the car cool and you'll see how things work out at the track.

[fastblackmerc]

A/C off.

Windows up.

[Shaijack]

Radio off.. Put you seat belt on.

[Blackened300a]

If temps and humidity remain high, mid-14's could be elusive.

In soupy weather I pull low 14s with lots of mods. He'll be lucky to pull a high 14 in this weather.

Like was said, Drop the rear tires to 25psi and make sure your fluids are topped off. I usually run with 1/4-1/2 tank of gas in the tank.
Roll the windows up and turn everything off (AC, radio, TC, and the O/D)
Drive around the water box and do about a 5 second burnout just to clean the tires off. You don't have to smoke the tires, just clean the debris off. You don't have enough mods to worry about traction issues.
Line up and inch up til you turn the pre-stage light on and then slightly inch up to just turn the staging lights on. Thats called staging deep and can sometimes improve your ET.
Some guys load the convertor which means you hold the brake and bring up the RPMs to just before breaking the rear tires loose, I personally flash the convertor, which you just punch it off idle on the last yellow. I have better 60ft times with the flash method.
Just keep the O/D off the entire run and let off a little after the end of the track to be sure you completely crossed the line.

This is all the burnout I do and never had a traction issue.
s_Nn3k-Xpn4

[RacerX]

No need for a helmet... YET! ;)

[03sport007]

Thanks everyone for the help I had a lot of fun. First time out I had a lot of wheel spin in 1st and 2nd and ran a 15.1. The car was very consestant. I made 8 passes trying different launches and the best I could do was

60ft 2.23
1/4 14.78
Mph 93.79

The line guys made fun of me for doing weak burnouts:lol:

There were 2 Dodge diesel trucks running in the 11 second range that was strange to see

Thanks again for the input.

[RacerX]

Good job! May even try not doing a burnout next time. You get more slip on stock tires because they're a different type of compound. If you heat them by doing a burnout, it could make them oily and slip more.:beer:

[03sport007]

All I could think about on the way home was doing a Eaton Swap.

[Ktorres1]

lol i would too after being disapointed with a time like that personaly i think your car is more than capable of a low 14 time nbut like the guys said weather is a plays a part.

[TFB]

I've only made three passes with mine and short times were 1.91, 1.93 & 1.94...

At my track you have to drive through the water box, so I do a good burn and then SLOWLY roll up to the line, this cools the tires and picks up some of the sticky from the track...

BTW times were on the stock BFG tires, maybe 50% tread...

[03sport007]

TFB I almost bought your car I thought that was a screaming deal. What are your 1/4 times?

[TFB]

I've only ran it at a 1/8mi, best was a 8.43 which should be 12.9-13.0... Best MPH was 84.99, so I believe a 12.95 at 107 or so would have been possible...

It had a intermittent lean fuel problem shortly after I ran it(hose on one fuel pump came loose), possibly was already devloping... I'll prob run it again when the weather cools a bit...

Yeah at $9850 for a 42K mi, supercharged MM, I figure the deal was unbeatable... It had(has) a few minor issues when I bought it, but basically the drivetrain is sound and strong...

[drobin]

Remove spare, no more than half tank of fuel..every bit help with stock MM.

drobin

[Shaijack]

Donald where did you read that? Your MM never leaves the garage..

[drobin]

Donald where did you read that? Your MM never leaves the garage..

I know, it's so clean from top, bottom, underneath, and inside that it's down right frightful my friend. Trilogy #231 install soon as this heat simmers down a bit.

drobin

[DEFYANT]

Pair of solid rocket boosters and a great big fuel tank.

[Vortech347]

If you have a helmet, take it.

Even running my 15 second MM I wear my helmet and fire jacket. Why? because I'd rather be wearing that stuff if something happens instead of it just sitting in the garage next to the mustang. You never know what the jackass in the next lane will do.