only read the OP, but to answer your questions

don't manually shift, it will break your trans

keep it in drive, the computer will shift faster than you

"stall" (press the gas and the brake) up to just before your tires start spinning...stock should be around 1,800.

don't tweak the shift points, youll ruin the transmission

don't hotlap your car, if you do then invest in a trans cooler

 

Wow, ton of info here.

I have a ton of Mod's already. Some of which are in my sig. I do have 4.10's and a semi-custom tune from Steeda. The reason I say Semi-Custom is that it is a HO Tune that is created especially for the Q350 +Automatic. They have a written guarantee that my car will do below 12.5 in the 1/4 (maybe not with a noob driver of course!). I will be getting a custom tune from Steeda in April when I take it down to their track and dyno.

What does HOTLAP mean? "don't hotlap your car"

FYI - I am waiting for Whipple and Steeda to complete their 2008 HO SC and will be having one put on sometime this summer.

So I have been told to go with 3.73's and get rid of the Steeda UDP's once I do that. Not sure why? Can someone explain exactly how the Under-Drive Pulley's work and why it should be removed once I have mySC installed? Guess I don't really understand how the UDP works.

Be gentle, I am a computer geek and trying to learn!

My Suspension has been swapped out for Steeda's G-Trac stuff along with some other Steeda racing suspension gear.My wheels are light weight 19's. I have Nitto 555 Extreme ZR's. In warm weather they are really sticky. I am amazed actually how well they grab.

This is great info everyone, thanks so much!

Keep it coming!

 

The transmission shop told me shifting manually is actually better for my transmission, because more things lockup in each gear and there is more pressure.

 

The UDPs slow down your accessories so there is less parasitic drag.
I think you should just go to the track and punch it and go as fast as you can in the beginning and let the auto shift for you. Before you try anything tricky you need to get some experience. It will come to you as you gain that experience. You should come out to the track with your fellow club members, like myself, and get some hands-on help and suggestions. When you get the Whipple your car is going to be difficult to hookup and the practice will be crucial. We have a long wait till April though.

Jack

 

These things will allow an auto to perform better, but without a converter, a well driven manual/DR's (with exact bolt on's)will still outperform an auto in the 1/4. Think about it, a manual can rev up to 6k and take the F off, whereas an auto will be limited by a stock 2400(give or take)stall converter. I cant see a bolt on auto cutting better than a 2.0 60' on DR's without a converter, but a manual can cut 1.8's or better all day long...Thats a fact!

 

I love it when people with limited track experiance and limited car building experiance give advice on here, I azm always in need of a good laugh.

 

Since your car is already guaranteed to run a 12.5, I wouldn't change anything until you master getting a 12.5-12.7 ET. Hotlapping is when you make more than one pass on the track without letting it cool down between runs, basically meaning that you are heating your transmission and engine more and more with every pass, making your car less efficent. I figured the title of this thread would result in a ton of responses, and most of it is good advice, less the shift kit idea.[:'(]See what you can pull off as is and once you have gotten close to that 12.5 consistently, then start modding. You will get even more info from the people at your track, which will help you as well. P.S.-Leave the 4.10sin thereuntil you get that S/C, then think about 3.55s or 3.73s.

Just remember on your first trip out......

#1. Turn off the TC
#2. Launch as hard as possible with minimal Spinning
#3. Don't shift Manually
#4. Turn off the O/D
#5. Make several passes on the track!

 

Man, Im laughing at myself here. Im just stating what Ive read 100's of times and have witnessed. I know that with the exact same bolt ons, only difference being manual/auto, the manual will always win if the auto has a stock converter and that is a fact. A manual can get off the line faster and the auto aint walking it down, no way!

 

Wingman, I will absolutely take you up on that offer! It would be really good for me to go and just watch once and check everything out first. Scope out the procedures and such.

Then maybe try myself. But I will want to go along with someone like yourself!!!

Thanks for the offer! Yes, spring is a Long way's a way! Brrrr it's cold out too!

My little Pony is in shock!

Thanks everyone for the advice. Some of it seems really awesome.

Anyway, I will consider it all and we will see come spring!

Thanks again!

 

Especially that you're a vert those 4.10s will helo you get out the hole. As far as fixing a roll problem get a diablo tuner and it will fix the acceleration issue nicely.