Slight Wheel Spin Verse Dead hook ( Physics)

DZ Fool · Jun 9, 2009

What theory do you all believe in ? I have heard this argued many times that a certain amount of wheel spin is good for the best ET, Rather than a car dead hooking and accelerating the entire rotating assm.

Who was that guy with the beard that said a object in motion tends to stay in motion ?

If a car launches and spins the tires a little the car has to catch up to the speed of the tires

if a car doesnt spin the tires the engine has to overcome all forces involved

Pro stock,Funny car , Top Fuel, Pro Mod all allow the clutch to slip slightly to help compensate for wheel spin and accelelration

Have a beer and discuss with the rest of the class

68rs406 · Jun 9, 2009

Physics aside, when dealing with certain cars, very fast ones specifically like pro stock and the fuel classes, you must have some slip of the tires because dead hooking is not possible, you need to apply the clutch with slight slip, let the tires slip a bit, and let the chassis respond in unison in order to keep engine speed up and motion forward with the most possible hook. It's not physically possible to dead hook a high horsepower fuel car (if they could they would) so slip has to be applied to all parts that will slip (and not break).
In a lower horse car dead hook zero spin is best as long as the chassis will allow and engine speed stays in a usable range, in a properly set up car.
So do I get a silver star?

Z282NV · Jun 9, 2009

DZ Fool said:
Who was that guy with the beard that said a object in motion tends to stay in motion ?

Sir Isacc Newton..it was his first law of motion also known as the law of inertia...by the way he had no beard...

and I am sure he would have loved to own a Camaro :yes:

DZ Fool · Jun 9, 2009

Correction Hairy Dude

3pedals · Jun 10, 2009

My opinion is Dead hook is best, BUT only if engine rpms can be maintained. those who have torque converters are lucky, those of us with clutches, need fancy slipper clutches, or learn to make the tires slip as little as possible to prevent engine bog, yet without blazing the tires into oblivion. Its a balancing act at best. dead hook is definately more consistent.
If dead hook results in the engine getting dragged down out of is power range, ET will suffer. If dead hook does not drag engine down, then no amount of tire slippage will improve it.

Eric68 · Jun 10, 2009

With an automatic transmission you want the tires to dead hook because the converter slips.

With a manual trans you want the clutch to slip just a little on launch so the tires don't.

Real high HP stuff is a whole 'nother world -- one that I don't know enough about to comment.

Lonnie P · Jun 10, 2009

Typically on a good launch, about 1 revolution maximum of tire spin can be good in a stick car to prevent bogging it. Most manual trans street cars will bog if they dead hook & obviously they do not run some type of softlock race clutch that has controlled slippage.

An auto with enough conveter does not need any wheel spin, but a car with a tight converter can benefit from a slight spin as well to get it up in the power range.

Slight Wheel Spin Verse Dead hook ( Physics)

DZ Fool

68rs406

Z282NV

DZ Fool

3pedals

Eric68

Lonnie P

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