I read that it's best to launch a high HP FWD car in second gear is better than starting in first. Is this true?

If so is there any strain on say clutch, trans, etc. I'm assuming yes but to what extent?

Lastly is it a technique worth mastering or should I just get used to launching in first

 

Interested in this as well. I know your gonna have to have A LOT of power for sure and a strong clutch.

I have never tried it so I wont chime in but I know theres gonna be a bunch of guys saying don't do it when they havent even tried it.

 

ive heard this too. i'd say its best for something with a LOT of power(like you probably) and a strong clutch. probly requires quite a bit of slip instead of dropping it and risking not hitting boost early enough

 

even with a 4.45 cant happen. Forget the clutch which will give up. Its too high a ratio to launch with grip.
and forget the calculations with theory which are clear. I tried it. lol

 

from my understanding of this only reason to really do it is to minimalize/eliminate wheel hop. i've been told to do this before as well

 

huh?
use second in the water box. use first to launch. power hop is only neutralized if the car cant go. because the clutch is broken.

 

how about getting the tires toasty in 2nd gear?

when in the water box

EDIT: u just said it

 

I always skip water box. Is launching in second ideal for street tires and no waterbox

Edit

Haha appears not the case

 

Nope. Just got to learn how to peddle 1st

 

only if your 1st hear is ratio'd horrendously low like my wifes kia. i swear the damn thing redlines at 20km/h in first haha. with how laggy the throttle response is in it, first gear is almost unusable. wife starts in second all the time. her clutch hates her.

 

My dad has a pickup with a 454 and he takes off in 2nd. I asked him why and he said he only takes off in 1st if he wants to go fast.

 

Didn't work for me when i tried it, it just bogged and wanted to stall almost haha

 

Playing with the boost solenoid % per gear (lsj) eliminates the need to start anywhere but first. Yes you can "pedal" it, but no one is perfectly consistent.
It's something that has to be fine tune for each car/driver/launching style.

 

I've had similar experiences with the fortes I've driven. The throttle delay is hilarious.

 

it's brutal... sometimes the car bogs and almost stalls. so i have to rev it up a bit and then get it going. then all of the sudden you hit the sweet spot and the car wants to redline and spin the tires. let off the pedal a little and it wants to get jerky.

wife always asks me why i do that. i keep telling her the car is a POS and that i can't help it. she says well it doesn't do that for me. a few days later she insists on starting in second because 1st is too touchy haha

you can even hear the delay. give the gas pedal a jab in neutral and you can hear the air getting sucked in like it has a CAI on it. but it takes a second for the rpm's to pick up and make the noise. it's sad. i should get a video of it.

 

Works in traffic when your going real slow, helps mpgb:p

 

I tried starting in 2nd tonight just.for the hell of it abd only cruising. Wasnt as bad as i thought lol. And i gotta piggyback on someone setting the boost down fir first gear is a big helper

 

Nice if you get the chance make a video.

I actually came across this when looking at ZZP catalog for my next mod.

Drag Racing Tips | ZZP News

It appears ZZP thinks a second gear launch is the way to go...

 

Quit trying to think it will work. It wont happen.

 

Let them try. It will be good for clutch sales.

 

 

I use second when its snowing so I don't spin as much lol, I can't see it helping your quarter mile times (if that's what your after) however I can see your clutch hating you. But I have seen it done, but mostly only for smoke shows.

 

tahts for the 3800. cause i pointed that out to Ryan at the last CED meet and he was like "wtf.. no don't launch in 2nd"

 

Grand prix's had the option of the second gear start button.

 

I like to launch in reverse, way better ratio than 1st.