Originally Posted by
Padgett
I used to have a glorified Vega with a SBC, four speed, and posi. Turned out in autocrossing it was faster from a dead stop starting in second. I did have to replace the clutch periodically but got very good at it.
CF seems to have a similar issue, a first gear that is too low to be useful and you lose time in the shift. With a rolling start even more so particularly if you have a stock steel flywheel (inertia).
If you have an Android smart phone and Torque, you can measure time to distance which is what you are really concerned about and see for yourself which is faster. Suspect you would be surprised.
For drag, in theory with our gearing setup, we are faster in acceleration than we would be with a lower final drive or starting in another gear. Using 1st, technically we should be faster. I hate it, and from rolls for now on I would start in second at low speed but from a stop, it's easier on the clutch and quite a bit quicker.
I'll make a video of launches and the difference between starting in first and second. It's night and day. Even if I pick the revs up and launch in second with a good slip to get going quick, first is still a lot quicker. I think that's why I can sort of keep up so well with this AWD monster on launch. My only problem with first though is traction. Since the V8 is still somewhat new to me, getting the whole 'roll into the throttle' idea down to perfection is difficult, and the 275's aren't helping much lol. When I go with aftermarket rims I'm going with 295's or 305's in the back.
Some new info just hit yesterday with flywheel's so stay tuned. There may be an option to move to a Solid flywheel rather than the Dual Mass which would cut the inertia a lot.