RPM's and when to shift.
 

I have a manual v6 mustang stock and i have been wanting to race some of my friends.
At about what RPMs do i rev it to before i throw it into 1st gear for a fast start without hurting the engine?

also i was wondering if many people only fill their tank like 1/4 or 1/2 full so that their car will be lighter for racing, does it make much of a difference?

RE: RPM's and when to shift.
 

If you "throw it into first for a fast start" you ain't going to race anyone.At least not very far.

If you just didn't write the question like you wanted it to come out,your shift point would be somewhere just before the engine hit redline.That way by the time you start the shifting process the engine will be close to redline without hitting the rev limiter.(do V6's have a rev limiter????)

Racing a V6,or V8 for that matter,The less weight you have to get moving the better.It would seem that traction would benefit with more fuel but acceleration would suffer.As an extreme comparison,I knew a 350 lb guy who raced a Hyabusa and only barely broke into the 13's in the quarter.He had all the traction and wheelie control you could hope for but the weight just killed his time.

RE: RPM's and when to shift.
 

oh.. well then how should i start a race? I thought manuals had the advantage of reving the engine and then put it in first so it shoots them out fast.
im new to racing and cars in general so go easy on me hehe

RE: RPM's and when to shift.
 

no, just put it in first and hold the cluth in..hold the rev at about 1500-200 before you get going and when you take off just let out the cluth and nail the gas and idk where you make max powe but shift about 500-700 rpms after that

RE: RPM's and when to shift.
 

You DON'T want a lot of wheelspin when taking off from a stop. Give it as much throttle as it'll take without wheelspin.

You might even find out out that on different types of roads you'll get different amounts of traction.

RE: RPM's and when to shift.
 

actually automatics have the advantage of a better start. not only will you lose the race if you spin your wheels, you will tear off a lot of tread from your tires. the way to get good is to practice...you don't wanna just stomp the gas in first. Ya gotta ease into it and then stomp it when you are sure you won't get wheel spin. only way to know how to do it is to practice practice practice.

RE: RPM's and when to shift.
 

dude ur n a stang
ur gonna win
put it n 1st half throttle quick but smooth of the clutch matt the gas and shift right b4 u get to the redline
diffrent roads also efect this a smooth road u will get less traction on take off esp if it a new road and is still greasy
older road u will get better off the line also if u r street racin then ask them if they wanna do a rolling start this way u aint gotta worrie about all that stuff also its easier on your clutch as well as every thing else

RE: RPM'
 

The best place to experiment with launch rpm and shift points would be the dragstrip.

Try various rpm launches and study your 60' times.
Then do the same with shift points and note your et.

The less weight the better. The only exception to that rule is traction limited cars. They can benefit from weight over the drivewheels.