Burn out question

[ssym]

66 Chevy II 14.5/32's, TH400 with trans brake.

How do you do your burn outs? Is a line lock the common item just for the burn out?

My question is should I install a line lock/roll control to keep it in the box a little longer. How important is wheel speed in the burn out?

Its a newbie question, but a complete review of the burn out would be very helpful.

Thanks in advance.

[vader2]

I am no expert, but I have been on the track a few times, this is what I do.

First a line lock will definately help with getting the proper heat in the tires. I have seen guys have the line lock and transbrake hooked in parrell. This helps in the staging lights to ensure the car does not move on the transbrake. Most of the time these guys do not need a line lock for a proper burn out, I am not one of them.

I come to the water box, I rap the engine in gear in the box to get the tires good and wet, then pull forward out of the box about 2-3 feet. Depress the brakes fully, engage the line lock, rap the engine to 5000 in first gear and then run through the gears quickly. After about 3-5 second in high gear I let off the line lock and ride out the burnout. Let off the gas, place tranny in neutral, rap the engine good on the way to the staging lights, place in gear and hold on. :D

I am sure there are alot of ways to do it, this is just the way I do it.

[ssym]

Thanks Vader

Next question....I have a transbrake switch on my shifter. Where would you recommend the line lock switch go? Steering wheel? two switches on the shifter?

[vader2]

I have a toggle switch on my shifter counsle, personal preference though. Down is off and up is on. When I am done with the burnout it is right there to turn off. I did have one on my shifter at one point, didn't like it much. Alot of guys will put it on the steering wheel, I personnally don't like the cord extending down the steering column. My recommendation is put it in a comfortable location for you. Just my .02

[kwkracing]

use the line lock to block the rear brakes from getting fluid from the master cylinder. This way you can have full brakes on the front and be able to feather the pedal out of the burnout and not skid the tires into the gaurdrail

[spib]

use the line lock to block the rear brakes from getting fluid from the master cylinder. This way you can have full brakes on the front and be able to feather the pedal out of the burnout and not skid the tires into the gaurdrail

never heard of that before, line loc is so you have full brake on front and no brakes on back, when you put brake pedal to floor then engage line loc button, you keep button on and let brake pedal come up and front brakes are on and back are off

you roll through water, when back tires are just out of waterbox engage brake, engage line loc, let brake off hit the gas good, get up on tire, get rpms up,shift to second, then to high gear and when they are ready let line loc button off as said above and come out

[kwkracing]

i know, most people are so confused on how things work.

[dparker]

ssym don't ever feather the gas while doing a burnout. Your causing the stater in the converter to engage and disengage. It won't last long. I've never had to use a line lock.
My opinion would be to roll barely thru the water. Hit you gas hard and fast to about 3/4 throttle. Shift to high gear as quick as possible. As you feel the rear tires starting to bite go ahead and roll the gas to full throttle. Its very important to hit the rear tires hard otherwise your ass end will start to drift from side to side.

[kwkracing]

we only use the front brakes to start the burnout, then release and let the blower and sticky tires do the rest.

[russ67chevelle]

IVE HEARD ON A TH400 BURNOUT TECHNIQUE IS BEST TO START OFF IN SECOND GEAR THEN GET INTO THIRD ASAP ON A ALL OUT TRANSBRAKE RACE TRANNY...CAN SOMEONE THAT HAS MORE INFO PLEASE SHARE???

[dparker]

Yes that works great. The faster you get your tire speed up works the best. If you have enough HP you can even start in high gear. good post.

[mopar1968]

I start my burnout in second gear take her to 6500 rpm's shift to high, smokem good off line lock, let car pull out of water.

[denn468]

smoke smoke smoke

[shawnp]

IVE HEARD ON A TH400 BURNOUT TECHNIQUE IS BEST TO START OFF IN SECOND GEAR THEN GET INTO THIRD ASAP ON A ALL OUT TRANSBRAKE RACE TRANNY...CAN SOMEONE THAT HAS MORE INFO PLEASE SHARE???

Yes this is correct. Any tranny guy will tell you that it is best to go 2-3 with a TH400. 1-2-3 is hard on a tranny.

[chevyfireball]

I do a quick spin in the water as i roll through. Stop and engage Line Lock. As soon as I feel the car stand up on the tires I release the line lock, hit second (Powerglide) and burnout right on down the track. Don't start a burnout in 1st with a TH400. It'll f#@%k it real quick.

[cepx111]

Never heard that about a T400.
I'd do a quick 1,2,3 till I got good white smoke then power out of it,
Ran my old nova W/ T400 that way 7 years ZERO problems.
Maybe ya'll need a new tranny guy?

To me it's important to be as consistent as possible, you can't John force them one time and the next time just haze them.
Pay attention and do it the same way everytime till it becomes a routine and very natural.

I do like alot of the guys above me mentioned but with a few variations.
I wet the tires by romping the motor once in the water box, pull up about 2 feet to where it's DRY ( sometimes I open the door to see this or have a spotter do it for me) Then pump the brake pedal a few times to build up plenty of pressure, hold the brakes down, hit line lock button if I got one, release the brakes, nail the throttle, (you can't ease into qa burnout) and when the tires start spinning over easily shift into high wait a few more secs ( I usually count to 3 to be consistent, like one thousand etc) and then power out of the burnout, no dry hopping, no reving the motor to 9K prior to staging or in the staging beams, if your doing that to "clear it up" you need to take it back home and work on it.
Then slowly ease up to the staging beams and pre-stage and then stop - concentrate- give everything a one last look see to make sure everything is ready to go I.E plenty oil pressure, fan and pumps on, engine at proper temp, shifter in LOW, then slowly bump into the last beam, take a deep breath exhale and most importantly think win!

Later, Cp

[Tod74]

I have also heard that you shouldn't do aburnout in low with a 400....not sure why.

[Scooterz]

That is news to me about the TH400 too. But then again, I have much to learn still...

Here is my tip: I was lucky enough to have an AutoMeter brake pressure gauge in my car when I bought it. I did not use it much at first.... but upon using the line lock, I found it to be helpful. Like CP said consistencey is important. BTW, my front brakes are the only part of my line lock... I am not sure what that post was all about talking about front & back. Anyways, I pump my brake & peek at the guage & engage my line lock at about 350 on the pressure gauge. It is helpful to know where those brakes not only lock the car in place, but how they are working when slowing down from 100 + MPH... if I see any real variance in my guage, I will be worried... it is dead on. If that guage reads abnormal, I consider my saftey at risk!! Scoot

[harben]

something else to concider, Find out what the tire manafacturer says about burnouts? as most street car tires dont need alot of heat, just a clean up! as they are very soft compound and you will just cook the hell out of them! also dont spin them in the water box much at all, as you will spin water up into the guards which will rain down onto your tires while you are staging! Not a great start to any any drag race!!