[twooldgoats]

We're taking Ellen's '60 Catalina out to the track for a few test passes Saturday night and I need to know the recommended technique for doing burn-outs with a TH400 without messing it up. Here are the specs: the transmission is a standard, nothing special Hughes street/strip TH400 with a standard valve body. The rear end is 3.90 to 1 posi unit. The car has a Line-loc to lock the front brakes for the burnout. It's a very mild car that will run low 14's at best in the Tucson heat, but it does have slicks and I want to do a burn-out prior to making passes. Regardless of the floor shifter position, the trans will start in 1st gear. I can hold it in 1st, second or drive, but it will always start in first, shift to 2nd and then to drive (depending on shifter position). In other words, I can't start the burn-out in 2nd gear or high gear, only in 1st gear. What is the best way to do the burn-out?

Thanks.

Jim

[Bruce Meyer]

Here is what I was told to do and I did it for 1000+ passes w/no problems.
Its easy w/linelock. The idea is to get it to 3rd gear under low power then roll the throttle on. Let the car start walking forward and let off the gas so its not under power when the car hooks up. In other words, let off the gas while tires are still spinning. Don't try to drive through.

[vin63]

I would always start the burnout in 2nd gear and quickly shift to 3rd as soon as I could feel the rearend up on the tire.

[mchell]

I have had very bad luck with th400 and spags.........consequently, I will only do 1st gear burnouts with an Automatic valve body.....saves the sprag....

Never had sprag issues with stockish power tho......so your mileage may vary..

[60man]

With my old set up with forward shift pattern and beefed up street guts I would just leave it in Drive.....going to do it's own thing anyhow unless you start in L or 2nd..
In Drive it was easier to snag neutral after burn out....

[JSPONT]

Does it need a burn out since its stock running low 14's? If it will hook with out it don't waste the rubber!

[Old Man Taylor]

I always started in 1st and shifted fairly quickly into 2nd and then third.

[racegto65]

Originally Posted by vin63

I would always start the burnout in 2nd gear and quickly shift to 3rd as soon as I could feel the rearend up on the tire.

X2 that's how I do mine.

[twooldgoats]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I'll just stick the shifter in "D" and let it shift to high under low power. I'm not planning heavy-duty burn-outs (I've got my '63 for that), but just enough to dry off the slicks after driving through the water box. Driving around the box is a big pain at our track. I would do a first-gear only burnout, but I don't think I'd get enough wheel speed with the 3.90 rear end.

We'll see how it goes. After I figure it out, I get to teach Ellen .

Jim

[BruceWilkie]

With full auto vb, hold in low and keep rpm below governor so it wont shift up on its own. When it starts to push out ease off pedal and drive to line.

[60man]

Originally Posted by racegto65

X2 that's how I do mine.

Jim said it's a stock valve body. Will start off in first gear no matter shifter gear selection.
Just saying.

FWIW: I did have the upgraded sprag & soft parts in tranny.

[RUDOLFSSON]

ASAP to high gear...

[Jagtec1]

Originally Posted by Old Man Taylor

I always started in 1st and shifted fairly quickly into 2nd and then third.

This is what I did, always. I had a non-manual valve body. I rolled the factory style sprag at VMP during the HPP shootout...not sure if burnout technique affected it.

I had a 34 element sprag put in it, and it's been fine since. Many 1/4 mile passes on the TH400 and now it's in my heavy Bonneville wagon without issues.

[screamingchief]

Honestly,seeing as I DIY all my own transmissions,if I were going to run an OE style auto valvebody (w/no manual low control),then I would'nt even bother with the 34 element sprag @ all,I'd just leave the roller style intermediate sprag in there and drive it like I stole it.

IMO under say 500 or so hp the OE roller style sprag is probably just as reliable as the "dogbone" style sprags are.

Anyhow,the general "rule" holds:
High gear only = best B/O method.
2nd quickly into high = next best B/O method.
And when neither of those is an option...
Low gear only = also an acceptable B/O method.

Anytime you make a 1-2 shift during the burnout it's very hard on the intermediate sprag.

So is pedaling the car hard in second gear,that's another cause of a fair amount of rolled sprags.

HTH

Bret P.

[Tim Corcoran]

Just drive around the water box, low 14's and slicks? No reason to do a burnout other than to just have fun. It might be embarrassing if you do a big ass burn out then run a 14 ET, or you might stall the engine when it shifts into 3rd gear, or they might just think your having engine problems when they see your ET. Don't think your making enough power to hurt a TH-400 so I wouldn't worry about it. Just go and have fun.

[Jack Ferris]

Originally Posted by Bruce Meyer

Here is what I was told to do and I did it for 1000+ passes w/no problems.
Its easy w/linelock. The idea is to get it to 3rd gear under low power then roll the throttle on. Let the car start walking forward and let off the gas so its not under power when the car hooks up. In other words, let off the gas while tires are still spinning. Don't try to drive through.

Exactly. Been doing it this way since 1990. Also still have the same sprag I put in the trans in 1990. Well over 20 seasons and probably 2000 runs.

[twooldgoats]

Originally Posted by Tim Corcoran

Just drive around the water box, low 14's and slicks? No reason to do a burnout other than to just have fun. It might be embarrassing if you do a big ass burn out then run a 14 ET, or you might stall the engine when it shifts into 3rd gear, or they might just think your having engine problems when they see your ET. Don't think your making enough power to hurt a TH-400 so I wouldn't worry about it. Just go and have fun.

We did just drive around the waterbox last night and it worked fine, but Ellen would eventually like to do a few burnouts with the car. Let's face it--most burnouts are just for show anyway. When I started with my 10-second '64 GTO, I swore I wouldn't do burnouts, but I decided it's half the fun and makes for a good show. With my Tempest I always do big burnouts and if the wind is in the right direction, I have to open the door to clear out the smoke. I once had my burnout smoke drift forward and turn on my staging lights. That brought everything to a stop until the starter realized what had happened. And I've left the line a few times barely able to make out the lights. The smoke always clears out of the car when I get moving.

Jim

[Tim Corcoran]

I have to admit burnouts are fun, only thing more fun is lifting the front wheels in the air.

[ErikW]

Originally Posted by Tim Corcoran

I have to admit burnouts are fun, only thing more fun is lifting the front wheels in the air.

+1!!!

[Michael G]

My opinion why you only want to do a 1st gear burnout with a standard valve body.
Think about it. With manual valve you have control of the transmission and can gently start in first, roll right thru 2nd and into third.
With a standard valve body, the trans decides were it wants to be. Just because you throw it into third like many have said, doesn't mean that is were it's going. Especially with the kick down hooked up you may find yourself in second, even after shifting into third and that's were you don't want to be.
Want that tranny to live a long life, roll thru the water, stay in first below the rpm were the trans will auto shift to second and do your thing.