Stick questions

[Geerhead55]

Welcome aboard,, long time looker. Don't be afraid to post your real name,,, might get more response that way. Don't know how dedicated you want to get, moneywise and partswise, but you can check out the "manual trannys" thread in here and theres some good advice a few pages in, to help with your decision. Transmissions and clutches have come a long ways since I did it 35-40 years ago. Theres some good, knowledgable racers on here that can point you the right direction. Good luck with your project.
Danny Durham

[Shabs]

Thanks Danny, I'll look into that. Btw my real Name is Mike Shabareck, just everyone calls me Shabs.

[james schaechter]

That is a pretty light car. It is possible to do those things, but you will need good stuff, some good advice, time and money. If you put that many runs a year on, you will need to have some spare stuff around to make maintenance easier. I mean like a spare clutch for starters. One thing about any car is that if you can change out parts with fresh stuff, you can keep racing while you inspect and freshen parts. Not too many of us put even half that many runs on in an entire season, but we do tend to push our stuff a bit harder than the average bracket car.

I think the best thing you could do is to find a stickshift racing mentor that can evaluate your current equipment, your goals and your wallet. If all that works out, then see if they will coach you at the track as a crew chief and driving coach.
There is also a site called UMTR that has stickshift racers on there as well.

If you can do this, you can have a lot of fun!

Just to give you a feel for it, there was a jerico clutch etc for sale in the classracer parts ads. You would have to evaluate the deal, but that is an example of the kind of investment needed just to swap over.

[69Cobra]

Welcome aboard and Jim is right. Go to www.umtrnorth.com and then go to forums and sign up. You will have to get approved by the admin before posting but that should only take a day so just check back. There is a lot of info between this board and the UMTR board that should help you figure out the best plan of attack for you. Where are you located?

[joespanova]

I would never consider a stick car for over and over weekend bracket racing , at least at the faster levels anyway.
For what you are doing , maybe.
And I am a stick guy BTW , but for the occasional 6.0 / 9.50 index racing , and I'm OK with it. But I'd op out for weekend brackets for sure.........but at 350 inches my stuffs on the ragged edge anyway........

[Mike Taylor 3601]

On gearing question on gear&1/8-1/4 changes for max rpm you want in 1/4 ,and does'nt matter 4 or 5 spd you will be in high gear 500-600',I had car went in high gear@ mph trap in 1/8 it was 5 spd ,I would run through in 4 th when racing 1/8 was easier to drive finish line that way.
Take MPH X gear ratio (rear gear)X 336 divided by tire height =RPM this formula will be almost dead on for a stick car,auto has to factor in conv. slip.

I always stage at dead idle,and just use foot on brake,this is my preference because car will move easy and smoothly and not put heat in clutch,I have line lock on shifter for burnout,have micro switch that clutch linkage contacts that operates line loc,you can also have 2 step connected, I use high side chip, then when clutch is released line loc is also.
On full tree you have plenty time to bring RPM up,I usaully go WOT @ 1 st amber.

You could probaly have clutch dialed in 1-2 test-n-tunes, You could probaly run 6-8 races with no work,watch your time slips the incrementals(spell) will tell you when service is due which could be just adjust base press and adjusting air gap or may have to deglaze disc,which can be done by glass beading@ low press.

The weight and HP of your car,I feel like you would be very low maintance on clutch,once you had dialed in and learned your combination.

As far as between rounds goes about the most you'll have is to do is have something to cool inside bell housing,leaf blower,squirrel cage w' ducting, probaly just in later rounds

Mike Taylor 3601

[SuperStockDodge]

The best person to contact on this automatic to stick switch over would be Kyle Ratcliff.

[tj310]

#8 Try to gear the car so you shift to top gear just after the 1/8 mile .---Trevor