taking the ecotec out

colonel6632 · 05-21-2009, 05:25 PM

well guys... the second day for street legal racing is tomorrow... thinking about taking out the ol' alero.

just looking for some beginner tips... i've never done this before. and looking for what i should be expecting to run.
here is my car.
2002 alero gx.
bone stock except for a slightly clogged cat and a freshly cleaned k&n air filter.
15" tires on some crap tires.
and a stereo w/ subs

i've read tips about launching and stuff... but might be different for the 5-speed and eco's

i'm just basically gonna pop the clutch at 3k, feather the gas until she catchs, floor it and shift at 5500rpm.

thoughts?

jackal2000 · 05-21-2009, 05:42 PM

16 seconds later you should cross the finish line.

CactusWill · 05-21-2009, 06:14 PM

Not a ton you can do, slam on the brakes before you get to the strip, that should help loosen up the clogged cat... Then learn to power shift, that is keeping the throttle floored while you shift.

AbHeLlRaZoR · 05-21-2009, 06:34 PM

pull the subs and the spare tire out for a quick weight reduction won't do any thing impressive but I guess it helps.

NickAlero2000 · 05-21-2009, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AbHeLlRaZoR

pull the subs and the spare tire out for a quick weight reduction won't do any thing impressive but I guess it helps.

Think about it. We have a FWD car. If we can get as much weight as possible out of the back, then it will allow the engine to weigh down forward more on the front wheels, instead of leveling the car out/sloping it backwards.
My subs weigh 120 lbs, I dropped 3 tenths when I pulled em out

Valley olds · 05-21-2009, 06:52 PM

I saw this in the N-body power forum. I thought itd be pretty helpful if I went to the track one day, but I never went. This should be pretty useful.

http://www.nbodypower.com/nbodypower...?p=434#post434

Cliff8928 · 05-22-2009, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colonel6632

i'm just basically gonna pop the clutch at 3k, feather the gas until she catchs, floor it and shift at 5500rpm.

thoughts?

Depending on the tires, 3k might be a little on the low side. Just try and avoid the wheel hop. And don't dump the clutch really hard unless you can afford to break stuff, or your tires really suck that bad.

As for shifting... just a touch under 6500 RPM, not 5500. You can get a good feel for the fuel cut right at 6500.

colonel6632 · 05-22-2009, 05:26 AM

cool... thanks guys!

Redog · 05-22-2009, 05:40 AM

3 grand to dump the clutch might be high, you'll spin up pretty good and risk tranny and axle damage.

Be sure to go AROUND the waterbox. You do not need to wet your tires to do a burnout, it will hurt your launch.

Don't burnout too much. I just set the e-brake and give it gas and spin them up a bit. My back tires cannot hold the car, I drag them. I might smoke them up a little bit, but the more you smoke them the hotter your tranny is going to get and hurt your e.t.

When the lights come down, leave on the 3rd amber. You'll cut a better r.t. this way. The Mitch method is say BRIGHT, BRIGHT, BRIGHT when the lights are comming down and as soon as you get the BR out of your mouth on the 3rd amber, GO!!! Wait for the gas light, you lost.

Take a little bit of air out of the front tires (maybe to 28 psi) and go from there. I run 25 in my fronts. For fun, increase the air in the back tires to as much as they will hold ( a lot of tires will hold 44 psi ) Less rolling resistance. I usually don't increase mine on a points day, just speical events like import days. A good start might be in the high 30's for the rear tires.

I'd convert the PSI number for you, but I don't know how you measure air pressure in Canada

Cliff8928 · 05-22-2009, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redog

3 grand to dump the clutch might be high, you'll spin up pretty good and risk tranny and axle damage.

Not so much with a nearly stock Ecotec, just be smooth with the clutch. It doesn't nearly make that much torque that far down like the 3400 does.

colonel6632 · 05-23-2009, 12:46 AM

ecotec didn't do so well...

best time was 16.6 at 83.4mph i can post some slips later

Redog · 05-23-2009, 12:55 AM

Stock 4 banger running 16.6.

Why is that bad?

What time did you expect?

Valley olds · 05-23-2009, 01:06 AM

Look at the bright side. You are now #2 on aleromods top ten quarter mile times for the eco

colonel6632 · 05-23-2009, 04:18 PM

i unno... lol. but i'm pretty sure if i had more runs i could get it to 16.5... thats what i really wanted to hit

colonel6632 · 05-24-2009, 08:26 AM

also... we measure air pressure with psi here... well i do. lol.

and i had alot of wheel hop every time... did i give it to much gas off the line?

Vic28 · 05-24-2009, 09:48 AM

dump the clutch?? Should of done what Cliff said.

colonel6632 · 05-24-2009, 09:50 AM

tried not to dump the clutch... i think i need more practice... it was alot to take in while at the track.

colonel6632 · 05-25-2009, 03:37 AM

posted a slip in the best 1/4 mile times.. my best one... you guys dont want to see the other 4.

going again in 2 weeks i think. hoping for 16.5 or 16.4

Cliff8928 · 05-25-2009, 09:30 PM

Yeah, you should be able to get that 60 foot down a little better.

colonel6632 · 05-26-2009, 05:14 AM

just slow down on the clutch so i get better traction... thats what i'm gonna try next time