haven't been to the track yet, but one big thing I keep reading about is pulling the traction control/ABS fuse. This will totally disable the traction control since it is still functioning while the car is under 20mph. That could be part of the launch problem and 60 foot times.

 

I'd like to know how people are pulling such low numbers as well. The only things I can think of is the altitude, (but you're at around 800', right?) and the pressure of both the tires and the air density.

Someone wanna lend some assistance??

 

My only guess is t/c, my car ran 15.3 at 1600 above sea level? T/c control raised my 60' time by almost have a second, but the car jerked around so much, I let off, it realy slows the car down. My best time I got the week I bought the car with t/c on was a 15.8. So right there its worth half a second. Keep in mind I had to really drive the car hard to get those numbers. Of course if I got a 15.3 now I would slap myself, but I have done a decent amount of stuff to car.

 

Shift Higher, to me it feels like most of the power is way up there anyways.

 

Shift at 7.2 k for starters. The power only starts at around 5500..

 

Originally posted by Osiris:
Last run, feathered out at 6 grand this time, pegged 2nd at 6000, smooth again, never left third by the end on the run, pegging 7 grand.
Time was a 16.65 at 87.6 best 60 ft of the night at 2.63

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">You shifted at 6K? The power only starts coming in there, the dual stage IM stiwtches to it's shorter runners there.

If you would have shifted at 7K and nailed the shift, you would have probably ran a low 16.

- Drew

 

Yeah, you are shifting way too soon to both take advantage of the power, AND to keep yourself in the powerband. If you shift from 1st to 2nd at like 6000RPMS, you drop out of the power band. Also, at 2400 miles, I know I was still on the learning curve of shifting perfectly. Give yourself some time before you hit the track next time.

 

When I tried to shift out of 1st and into 2nd at 7 grand the car simply did NOT want to go into 2nd. On that run I really felt like I just blew the clutch. On the first run when I dumped the clutch pretty much at 5 or 6 grand off the line the car really felt like it wanted to shake itself apart, as you can see, my first two runs were pretty scary, especially in a brand new car! The times just got slower after that, maybe I was a little hesitant, I dunno...

I rode the clutch out from 5 grand off the line. The car seemed to do ok getting off and wheelspin was rather minimal, but maybe next time I should ride out higher?

I remember you mentioning Dave that the best runs you've had come from riding the clutch out from about 4 grand off the line.

I really don't know, ( or care for that matter ) about drag racing this car. We all know it's not that kind of car. I guess I have my SHO for that, though not a drag racer itself, it's still about a second quicker with no mods. Much easier to drive too ( just push the fargin' gas pedal, lol ) The Focus will surely outhandle the Taurus, but the SHO is decidedly faster and I'm OK with that, that's why I'm keeping it, Just like you and your soon-to-be undrivable beast, Tommy.

Still, I may run it again someday, but I'll try to nail my shifts better first. Although what better place to do that than a drag strip that I work 5 minutes away from?

Thanks all, any more tips/ideas please let me know. I know this car is faster, I just need to know how to get the bawlz out of it!

 

You have to be careful if you try to power shift at 7000, it will think you're over-revving it and keep you from going into second.

 

Well... you REALLY need to work on those 60' times. You should be able to at least get them down to 2.2. That and shifting at 7200rpms will get you solidly into the 15's.

My advice is not to rev it up so high on the launch... I'd try launching at around 2500-3000rpm and seing if that helps. Sometimes faster feels slower.

[ 12-12-2002, 08:09 AM: Message edited by: bongofish ]

 

Just so you guys know, Osiris doesn't have TC, (I didn't see where he mentioned it).

Now, what's the best way to launch the car? Launch around 2500-3000 rpms?

Slip the clutch or dump it?

Osiris: Who would have problems driving a 700 HP Mustang around a town that believes in dumping SAND on the roads??

It'll be interesting, that's for sure.

 

this is easy . i had the same issue . .i was like "wtf this car is slow"

then i found the issues ..

1) look dynos and you'll see where to shift NOT 6K!!!!!
2) if u have traction, disable the ABS fuse (trust me)
3) launches are important .. don't just "rev and go" .. it's not that easy ..
4) SHIFT FAST!!! hard to do with our huge shifters

this doesn't apply to only the focus . u need to know all of these things with all vehicles .. u need to know the car .. u can't just go to the track and think "rev, drop clutch, go, shift, go, shift .. yah 15.3" .. NO that won't happen ..

spend some time at the track and learn ..

with traction control i got from high 17/16's to high 15's .. now without traction control when the winter is over, i expect to get a little lower ..

although, i'm at 3,000 ft altitude, which is apparently .8 seconds off sea level quarter mile times ..

 

If you know how to launch properly you wont need to turn off the TC. If you have wheel spin the TC turns on. If you spin the wheels anyways your losing traction and time.

If one person can run a 15.5 in a stock SVT then all SVT will do that. Its not the car if its not broken, its the driver. The driver needs more experience and training.

just because you go and buy a saxophone doesnt mean you know how play it, you need practice!

The problems I see with your times seem to be all related to YOU, the driver. you need to work on where and when you shift and dump the clutch. Those 60ft times are very important to cars with tall first couple gears. Since most of the power and speed comes in the 3rd gear and up you need to make sure that first and second shifts and timing are flawless to get the best run.

Its all in the driver. It comes with practice. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE.

 

I have a couple of 15.3 second slips, and i am trying to bring them along, but these are the tips that worked the best for me (i always record the essential info on the back of my slip)

front tire psi: 38 psi on stock contis
burnout before launch: yes (warms up tires)
launch rpms: 4100 (i agree with dave on this one, too many rpms and you will have unnecessary spin, too low and you will bog, bog, bog)
launch type: clutch dump
gas level: 1/8th tank or less
shift point: max rpms (~7200)
and i have had the "2nd gear lockout" at times, it is just a result of the synchronizers locking you out when you are at the upper rpm limit.. unfortunately, it is something that you will have to deal with (and pray about lol)

and how are you shifting? try to make the shifts as linear as possible; that is, try to minimize the amount of time that the engine is disengaged from the transmission. in other words, shift fast! if you are doing it right, you should be hearing your exhaust "pop", especially with the 1-2 shift....

one problem that i noticed: the rpm limiter in 3rd gear stops the car at around 90something mph... my runs have been in the 91-92 mph range and right after crossing the line my rpm limiter kicks in... i am hoping that the 3-4 shift doesn't screw me up when i start adding performance mods.

hey i just got a phone call! my intake manifold is in, and i can go get it installed today! rock ON.

Andrew

[ 12-12-2002, 11:52 AM: Message edited by: andrew d b ]

 

Doespulling fuse 46 (ABS) through a trouble code or 'ABS' light on the dash???

Im going to toggle the fuse...

Russ

 

I think another thing to consider is the ambient outside temperature because the lower the temp the performance decreases and visa versa.Osiris you mentioned that the temp was 48 degrees which seems rather cold so maybe the car was affected by that.The car mags always post what the outside temp is when testing their cars and said it DOES affect performance to a certain degree.Just a thought.

Jim

 

If colder air = more horsepower, then wouldn't lower temperatures be better for track times?

 

Originally posted by Virtual_Insanity:
I think another thing to consider is the ambient outside temperature because the lower the temp the performance decreases and visa versa.Osiris you mentioned that the temp was 48 degrees which seems rather cold so maybe the car was affected by that.The car mags always post what the outside temp is when testing their cars and said it DOES affect performance to a certain degree.Just a thought.

Jim

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">That is backwards... low temperatures equal better times. Ideal conditions are low temp and low humidity with high barometric pressure. You want the air as dense as possible. The only downside to low temps is possible traction problems.

 

Ok I stand corrected thanks bongofish.

Jim

 

Sweet!

Thanks for all the great feedback!

I'm sure I must have looked like a fool last night. Getting used to this car will be a process, but I'll get it down.

I'm used to torqier motors, and I know how to shift pretty good, but I'll need to improve with this car for sure.

FWIW, I had no trouble wit 2 and up, my shifts are pretty fast ( I shift MAD quick, LOLOL ). First seemed like a pain, going into 2nd after that little lockout incident just plain scared me into babying it the other runs.

Next track day, I plan on leaving the line at 3 grand, no clutch dump, but a nice, ride-out. I'll go into 2nd at 7 grand again, hoping I it it this time, by the top of 3rd, I'll be at the end, I did notice my trap speed increased on the last run, I never let the car cool down either, something that helps my SHO immensely.

 

Thought I'd post the numbers for all to see:

will go as follows:

Run#
R/T
60 ft
330
1/8 e/t
1/8 mph
1/4 mi et
1/4 mph

#1
.9279
2.6897
7.1261
10.7354
68.23
16.4158
86.87

#2 ( The missed gear run, LOLOL )
.8089
2.7273
7.6428
13.0790
49.56
19.8610
75.80

#3
.6208
2.8518
7.3027
10.9392
67.90
16.6453
87.19

#4
.7218
2.6689
7.2260
10.8732
67.97
16.5799
86.77

So there they are, in all their glory.

 

Great info, thanx Andrew!!

 

Well first I just wanted to say hi to everyone that owns an SVT. I just picked up my SVT Focus about 3 - 4 weeks ago. I have to say I love this car. I broke it in to about 800 - 1000 miles. After that I just started tearin up the streets.

Now to talk about your times on the track. I would just say to practice on shifting. As soon as you get the knack of power shifting you will see a tremendous difference in this little hatch. All my friends are civic owners and they all love the power that Ford put in this car and the handling. I know with my car it's bone stock and when I power shift at 7200 RPM's I don't drop lower 5100 RPM's. That's from 1st to 2nd. Same thing applies for going into 3rd. Also I have found that a good launch off the line is around 4700 - 5100 RPM's. You have minimal tires spinning plus when the tires do grip you are pretty much in the powerband for the car.
Also it really depends on the driver when it comes down to it. It just takes practice. What I do is go to an empty parking lot and practice launching sometimes and also power shifting. Once you mastered that you will definately see the difference. Hope this has helped you out a little. We just need to take care of some of these other imports on the road and show them whose number 1. Ya know.

 

a little tip i learned on the shifting for you is that when you are powershifting from 1st to 2nd and it jams up its because you have shifted into reverse. not all the way but like the neutral area. when shifting into 2nd at high rmps make sure you pull the shifter straight back because i had the same problem and now i can take every gear to 7200 with now jamming. hope this helps it helped me.

Logan

 

by the way i did 17.06 with a bone stock zx3 not very far off.