Shutting off engine crossing finish line

Jared Jordan · 09-03-2019, 08:26 PM

Not as hard on parts, in general, but it does depend on the car.

The '65 SS/BA Belvedere I drove once upon a time would tear up rod bearings if I didn't go into neutral past the finish line. Never tied itself up because Grandpa was meticulous about maintenance; particularly the preventative type. After we went to "clean neutral" in the valve body and I could kill it at the stripe, that was never an issue again.

On the other hand, my '64 Dodge H/SA car has great oil pressure through the entirety of the shutdown area and does not have a "clean neutral." Racepak shows a line that descends in correlation to engine RPM, but no dips whatsoever.

Ed Carpenter · 09-03-2019, 08:34 PM

Stick car super easy done it for years

e vassar · 09-03-2019, 09:29 PM

So if I don't have a clean neutral, there's no reason to do it?

J.R. Haddad · 09-03-2019, 09:45 PM

All the reasons above are why you do it, but it can be unsafe without
a clean neutral valve body. J.R.

MR DERBY CITY · 09-03-2019, 09:49 PM

Mr. E,....if you have not experienced engine problems before, why would you want to shut your engine off now ? Many , many 3 speed trans builders Do NOT recommend this ....

e vassar · 09-03-2019, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MR DERBY CITY

Mr. E,....if you have not experienced engine problems before, why would you want to shut your engine off now ? Many , many 3 speed trans builders Do NOT recommend this ....

Well I don't know. Maybe I've been lucky. I try to ask questions and learn as much as I can. Maybe with 3 qts of oil in the engine it makes sense to get it shut off ASAP. But otherwise no.
Thanks for the good info.

MR DERBY CITY · 09-03-2019, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e vassar

Well I don't know. Maybe I've been lucky. I try to ask questions and learn as much as I can. Maybe with 3 qts of oil in the engine it makes sense to get it shut off ASAP. But otherwise no.
Thanks for the good info.

Let me clarify my answer, I am only talking about SBC Stockers with 3 speed GM automatic transmissions with Cheetah shifters...no clean neutral....

Dyno · 09-03-2019, 10:02 PM

Rehr-Morrison has a great article in their tech area why you should shut down the engine at the finish line. A valve body with a clean safe neutral should be used however. There are many tech articles on their site but that are a “must read” if you are a racer.

Dana Fitzpatrick · 09-03-2019, 10:37 PM

On my stick BBC I push the clutch pedal in and let it idle.Should I also key it off?

BRINK · 09-04-2019, 08:06 AM

Don't try it without a clean neutral transmission. Period.

09-03-2019, 08:26 PM	#1
Jared Jordan Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 614 Likes: 200 Liked 540 Times in 120 Posts	Re: Shutting off engine crossing finish line Not as hard on parts, in general, but it does depend on the car. The '65 SS/BA Belvedere I drove once upon a time would tear up rod bearings if I didn't go into neutral past the finish line. Never tied itself up because Grandpa was meticulous about maintenance; particularly the preventative type. After we went to "clean neutral" in the valve body and I could kill it at the stripe, that was never an issue again. On the other hand, my '64 Dodge H/SA car has great oil pressure through the entirety of the shutdown area and does not have a "clean neutral." Racepak shows a line that descends in correlation to engine RPM, but no dips whatsoever. __________________ Jared Jordan 9 B/SA 2024 Jeg's D7 All Star - Stock

09-03-2019, 08:34 PM	#2
Ed Carpenter Live Reporter Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dripping Springs, Tx Posts: 2,709 Likes: 186 Liked 520 Times in 132 Posts	Re: Shutting off engine crossing finish line Stick car super easy done it for years __________________ Ed Carpenter 2005 Chevy Cobalt A/SM Race Engine Development

09-03-2019, 09:29 PM	#3
e vassar Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 382 Likes: 67 Liked 271 Times in 107 Posts	Re: Shutting off engine crossing finish line So if I don't have a clean neutral, there's no reason to do it?

09-03-2019, 09:45 PM	#4
J.R. Haddad Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 787 Likes: 940 Liked 1,471 Times in 308 Posts	Re: Shutting off engine crossing finish line All the reasons above are why you do it, but it can be unsafe without a clean neutral valve body. J.R.

09-03-2019, 09:49 PM	#5
MR DERBY CITY VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Derby City, USA Posts: 3,651 Likes: 1,085 Liked 8,052 Times in 1,529 Posts	Re: Shutting off engine crossing finish line Mr. E,....if you have not experienced engine problems before, why would you want to shut your engine off now ? Many , many 3 speed trans builders Do NOT recommend this ....

09-03-2019, 10:02 PM	#8
Dyno Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 919 Likes: 1,143 Liked 693 Times in 205 Posts	Re: Shutting off engine crossing finish line Rehr-Morrison has a great article in their tech area why you should shut down the engine at the finish line. A valve body with a clean safe neutral should be used however. There are many tech articles on their site but that are a “must read” if you are a racer. Last edited by Dyno; 09-03-2019 at 10:55 PM.

09-03-2019, 10:37 PM	#9
Dana Fitzpatrick Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 148 Likes: 4 Liked 10 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Shutting off engine crossing finish line On my stick BBC I push the clutch pedal in and let it idle.Should I also key it off?

09-04-2019, 08:06 AM	#10
BRINK Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Leclaire, Iowa Posts: 250 Likes: 392 Liked 140 Times in 43 Posts	Re: Shutting off engine crossing finish line Don't try it without a clean neutral transmission. Period.

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