Just a Thought (Easy Burnouts)

[SCOTI]

Phoenix, not to be a dick ( I've never had the pleasure of piloting a top fueler), but do they use a line loc or just horsepower for those big burnouts??

[raceman6135]

Top Fuel and Funny Car, the nitromethane-powered drag vehicles, don't do a static burnout. They roll through the water, hit the throttle, and maintain about 10% throttle to do their rolling burnout.

Yes, they have that much horsepower that they don't use their brakes at all.

And guess what? They don't have transmissions, either. They have an in/out box aka a reverser, but the rest of the power application is done with the clutch. But that's a totally different thread.

Pro Stock, and all other classes that do static burnouts, use Line Locs / Roll Controls, whatever you want to call them. They're simple, cheap, and darn near idiot proof. No routing of cables, no cables to get sticky and require maintenance, etc. etc. etc.

If you're looking for something cheaper than a commercially available line loc, don't forget that whatever kind of valve you use in the brake line must be able to withstand approximately 3000 psi, and must be resistant to brake fluid. Without doubt there are industrial valves and/or solenoids that can be adapted (after all, that's where the first line locs evolved from), but how expensive do you think they'll be?

On a side note, the idea about using a washer tank and pump to lay down "burnout juice" was old when I started messing with cars 35 years ago.

DJS

[PHOENIX]

Yeah I was thinking about that last night.
I said top fueler but I should have said prostock.
Top fuelers and funny cars do just kinda roll through and punch it.
I was just blowing off steam from the ricer comment
Nothing ricer about line locs or other similar devices though.

EDIT:
Ohh yeah and I know how much power those top fuelers have. I go to alot of the drags here in town when I can. A good friend of my dads racers a pro stock and a few others. So I have been in his pit and some of the top fueler pits when around them. Dont you just love it when you cant breath and your eyes are watering. That stuff kills me
I also love the feeling of your chest plate rumbling when the hit it.
I usually get tickets at the line, so I can tape all the burnouts. I have some video from the last drags here, but have no way to post at this time.

[1FaastC10]

Originally posted by raceman6135
And guess what? They don't have transmissions, either. They have an in/out box aka a reverser, but the rest of the power application is done with the clutch. But that's a totally different thread.

so THATS what those little levers they're banging on are for... might want to check your facts again raceman. the only race cars i've seen that didnt have a transmision were sprint cars.

[raceman6135]

The vehicles I was referring to when I commented on the lack of transmission were the Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars. They use multi-stage clutches, activated with pneumatic fingers that apply progressively more and more pressure on the clutch pack (an assembled stack of alternating disks and floaters).

The clutches are often referred to as "slider clutches" because they are designed to slip, as it is easier to control slip in the clutch as compared to having the tires spin on the track.

When a fuel car launches, watch closely the area immediately behind the engine. Don't look at the tires, and don't look at the flames coming out of the headers. If you watch the clutch can area, you will see a big puff of "smoke", which is actually clutch dust during the initial hit and subsequent slipping of the clutch.

Pro Stock, Comp, etc. do have transmissions, for sure. The first part of my post, however was referring to T/F & F/C. In fact, if you check the T/F and F/C rules in the NHRA rule book, under Section 2 (Drivetrain), subsection "Transmission", you'll find that...

~~ "Clutch hold-down device recommended on all cars. Reverser mandatory. Transmission prohibited. ~~

Even if T/F & F/C wanted to run a transmission, they aren't allowed.

Sorry for any confusion. Hope this clears it up.

DJS

[1FaastC10]

my bad, for some reason i've got pro stockers on my mind...

[raceman6135]

Ha ha ha.. no probs. I'm a "doorslammer" guy myself!

If only I had the cash for a Lenco. "Banging those levers" sure is fun....

DJS