I noticed in another thread,Jim mentioned that a line lock would be nice for the 4-speed cars.I think it would be a good idea,as long as it was hidden.Even with an automatic,doing a burnout,is hard on the rear brakes.I remember in Bristol,Dan bent all the holddowns,and anchors on his Chevelle.What do you guys think? Remember it all needs to be hidden,as these cars are all stock right???
In the name of safety, I agree. If we don't do it because of trying to keep the cars showroom I understand as well. If I have a choice I would like something that gives me better brakes at the end of the 1320. Some of these cars are getting pretty fast and the value isn't going down on them either. Jim
I"m all for it. Can't do a stage up in the lemans without severe wheel hop with the brakes on. I always felt like something was going to break. Therefore I just rev and pop the clutch and stop right at the staging line. Sometimes overshoot and have to back up. In the name of saftey and possibly breaking down and delaying the race, I'm in. Don:TU:
I agree fully. With manual drum brakes and a not so fast car, last thing I need is overheated brakes before I get to the long end. Having had to about pull the steering wheel off the column trying to stop my car after the traps (ever noticed I hit the brakes very hard right after the traps, then get off for them to cool for the "hope they're there" stop at the end of the track?) Usually OK for first run, shaky on a second run and suicidal on the third. I tried a coupla runs last year at Stanton without holding the brake in the burnout box, and the brakes were infinitely better at the top end. Unfortunately that kills my launch to keep it from spinning with a no torque small block. There are a few cars running there with hidden line loks, that's probably the best way to do it. As long as they're used for burnouts only, it really is a safety item. Sure would level the playing field a lot for the 4 speed cars.
I've used a short broom handle on the brake peddle on my 4 speed car during my burnout. It works good enough where I feel I have more control. It's easier on the clutch as it is either in or out. I'm waiting to hear from Benoit on his process.....................LOL:laugh: JIM
In 71 and all the other years he raced 71 super stock world champion Ken Mclellan always used a broom handle always as a line lock even at the staging lights he would throw it into the back seat while going down the track.
I am restoring my 4 speed car and would like to add a line lock. Could someone please explain how to hook it up and where to get the set up? How about posting a picture of it installed? Thanks Tim
I think this is drifting. Wasn't the original intent of this post by JG for safety reasons so we don't heat up the rear brakes in the burnout box? That's the primary reason I'd like to have one. But............ I'm all for using them at the tree for launch, too, but not for safety's sake. I can see the broom handle being a good idea on an automatic car, but in a stick shift car with one hand on the steering wheel, the other on shift lever, I don't really want to know where the broom stick is attached or what actuates it. :laugh:
Jim, can truly say I don't know what a line lock is or what it does. Sounds like it locks the front brakes during burnouts, but how does it help on the launch? And whats up with a broomstick!! As far as my process , I back off the rear brakes so I won't burn them up in the burnout pit. Then you have to be really quick with your feet. First rub a small amount of Benoitment on your rear tires. Then go to the burnout pit, pull in and shift car in reverse. When staff gives signal to light um up, ease off clutch and let the car roll backwards. Then as fast as you can slam it in 1st, gas it and pop the clutch. When left foot comes off clutch transfer it to the brake before the car can start rolling forward. Now hold it and let it burn.:3gears: After awhile and when you can see a lot of smoke and you know your tires are really hot and the Benoitment is working (this is where it gets hard) As fast as you can take left foot off brake mash clutch and power shift into 2nd gear then back on brake with left foot before the car has time to gain any forward momentum. Now you can really get um smoking.:3gears: Hold the the gas down untill you think the valves are going to float or it starts to hit the rev-limiter.Hold it for awhile. Hopefully there is a light tail wind. When the car starts to disappear in smoke ease off brake and when you can see where you are heading, with all you got power shift into 3rd gear and let it go. :3gears: About 30 feet from the line, at the same time take left foot off brake and mash clutch and take right foot off gas and hit brake and try to slide up to the line and pop both bulbs on at the same time. Now look over at your opponent who is now intimidated, rev the engine up 3 or 4 times and get ready to get it on. That is the perfect burnout. Ony got it right once. Plan to keep trying though. After a weekend at the drags go home and order a new set of tires from Coker
I can't remember all that crap at my age. I just stick the broomstick through the spokes in a front wheel and dump the clutch.
Yes, this is moving in the right direction; right on the heels of my rant about trying to remove e-ignition & X-pipes. Just because the automatic folks can misuse their stock set-ups to do a brake burn, the stick crowd feels they should be able to "hide" a trick part. This is exactly the kind of stuff the S/A guys fought over years ago when they were first formulating their rules. Here instead, (and pat yourselves on the back fella's) we're doing a very clever job of couching the argument in terms of "safety" (all while we're wearing shorts and sun hats at the line). The only reason brake fade is an issue is because folks are misusing their brakes at the line. If the auto guys feel unsafe, here's an idea... stop doing the brake burnouts! No matter how you slice it, the problem only arises because folks are trying to go faster at the expense of safety. Now, if I'm wrong... let me also say that '69 Firebird convertibles are particular unsafe cars to drag race. Therefore, I propose the following additional safety features be permitted for those vehicles only: Super charger Nitrous kit 12" slicks ... oh, and a pusher pump (for good measure) Gosh fella's, I'm justing wanting to make sure everyone around me is safe out there.:grin:
Geez Robert,Why dont you tell us how you really feelp I think a good burnout is half the fun.Anybody ever see the stands when the Benoitment starts flying,they love it!! I agree about not letting things get out of control,but i thought this would be a good idea.Ask Dan about the Chevelle losing the brakes at Bristol,not cool.
Yeah sorry John, that was a pretty cold glass of water I threw on that. Aren't I a pain in the:moonu:. What's that in my corn flakes...? Tell ya' what, just carry on like I'm not even here.:grin:
Yea John, I know what you mean, I went to hit the brakes on the camaro @ Bristol @ 125+ MPH, to find out the the rear brakes shoes had adjusted all the way in ou: BOY WHAT A RIDE! With all due respect Robert, I guess it's a lot harder to stop a car @ 120+ mph then 98 MPH, and if it ever happens to you, you a$$ will pucker and you will know what we are saying.
Youve said a couple of different things there Terry, so Ill reply in kind. To start with, having your brakes fail at a buck twenty five would make anyone pucker. And youre right, stopping a car thats running almost 30 mph slower has got to be easier. Frankly, I never want to know what its like to lose your brakes at either speed. Now, if you dont mind me asking though, Id like to know if you have an explanation for why your rear brakes were adjusted all the way in? That doesnt sound like a stock setting, rather thats where they'd be set to defeat the system for purposes of a brake burnout. Author of your own misfortune maybe? If you have to compromise your own safety to go 125 in P/S, then maybe thats too fast and its just not worth the risk. If so, that was my point above. Most guys are satisfied with a straight 10' - 20' burnout to clean and warm the skins. The auto guys (and I guess the broom stick crowd) have figured out a way to gain a traction advantage by super-heating their tires through misuse of their brakes. Now I know what youre thinking, theres no rule against it. True. But now theyre arguing that their trick creates a safety issue. So here are the choices: a) stealth line locks for everybody, or b) just quit doing the super-smokies for the extra 1/10th. Im a purist, so its pretty clear (if it mattered) where my vote would be. Most guys dont have a brake problem at the big end because thats the only time theyre using their brakes. With an average of a half hour between P/S passes, fade shouldnt be an issue. It might be noteworthy that no one suggested improving the quality of their brakes as an alternative to a line lock... better brakes alone have no incidental performance advantage I guess. As with everyone, I appreciate your comments.
Can I run an aluminum radiator? I don't want my car to overheat and spray hot coolant on anybody, it's a safety issue:bglasses:
YEA!:laugh: $HIT HAPPENS! They were never adjusted all the way in on my part, sometime during burnout the adjusters went all the way in, did not know it until shut down time. Robert, if notice I said the camaro @ Bristol the camaro has NEVER run in P/S. I will never compromise Julies or my safety no matter how fast we go.:3gears:
