Question: About 45 years ago (before good drag tires), we learned to launch a car at about 3000 RPM's using half clutch and maintaining a constant steady RPM level until the tires griped. At that point full clutch and WOT were initiated. When I first got my 350 in August of 02 I went out to my favorite location to see how the car ran out of the hole. I launched the car like I have for years and O’crap…………. The car left great and hard, but the clutch when attempting to engage it completely, it wouldn’t engage all of the way!!! The clutch was just slipping and the car was not gaining speed like it should. That was the last time I attempted to drag race the car from a standing start. Now almost 7 years later I have a new 370. I head out to my favorite location again to see how this car runs out of the hole. It’s O’crap all over again. What gives? Has anyone else had this experience? Is it something in the hydraulic clutch?

Thanks

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Mspeasl
Decatur, Illinois - Forum member since 2/02

'Growing old may be mandatory, but growing up is optional'

2009 Solid Red Touring 6sp W/Sport Package '370Z' - Delivered 7 April 2009
2008 Radiant Red Toyota 'X-Runner' - Delivered 15 November 2007
2005 Satin Jade Green Chrysler 300C 'Hemi' - Delivered 1 June 2004

1957 Chevrolet Belair 2dr post - 'Gas Coupe Drag Car' owned since 1964
1947 Chevrolet Fleet Master sport coupe - 'Street Rod' owned since 1974

i guess that depends on how strong your clutch is. you may need to slip the clutch faster so you don't keep glazing it.

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'74 260z turdbo
'76 280z N/A for now MUHAHA
Suck. Squeeze. Bang. Blow.

hmm...
Thats how you hook up a car on the drag strip, yes. But, you can't forget that your old muscle cars may have had a 20lb clutch pedal on it. That kind of clamping force will hold up to tons of torque. It probably has a larger diameter as well.

My guess is that the OEM Nissan clutch is overheating while you slip it while trying to get the wheels to hook up. Therefore when you finally go full clutch, you've already saturated its heat dissipating ability and therefore its ability to endure more friction.

I'm only speculating though, couldn't tell you for sure. What I can tell you is that even my Z31 with its measely <200whp would exhibit similar symptoms with the OEM clutch in it. When I upgraded to a higher performance clutch, I never had that problem again. Now the problem is that I have too much clutch for my cars horsepower...

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1985 300ZX n/a

See my Z project

have we seen pictures of your car yet?

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Currently Zless
Z's I've owned:

'71 240Z White
'73 240Z Orange
'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
[www.henryism.com]

You had crappy tires 45 years ago. These tires hook up quite a bit better and make the clutch the weak point in the drive train. Try a few launches just dumping the clutch at about 2500 rpm, the clutch should grab firmly. You will probably get some wheelspin but that's better than clutch destruction.

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-- I've had a few Zs --

^^ +1.

cmcniel Wrote:
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> You had crappy tires 45 years ago. These tires
> hook up quite a bit better and make the clutch the
> weak point in the drive train. Try a few launches
> just dumping the clutch at about 2500 rpm, the
> clutch should grab firmly. You will probably get
> some wheelspin but that's better than clutch
> destruction.

*********************************************

Doing the dump gets me a whole of lot of wheel hop. That can be deadly for a rear end.

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Mspeasl
Decatur, Illinois - Forum member since 2/02

'Growing old may be mandatory, but growing up is optional'

2009 Solid Red Touring 6sp W/Sport Package '370Z' - Delivered 7 April 2009
2008 Radiant Red Toyota 'X-Runner' - Delivered 15 November 2007
2005 Satin Jade Green Chrysler 300C 'Hemi' - Delivered 1 June 2004

1957 Chevrolet Belair 2dr post - 'Gas Coupe Drag Car' owned since 1964
1947 Chevrolet Fleet Master sport coupe - 'Street Rod' owned since 1974

As someone who has drag raced his 240Z for 20 years ..I must say I NEVER slip the clutch. I dump it at 3500 let the tires spin and then once the tires begin to hook up I floor it.

This technique has netted many 1.81 60fts with normal street tires and a
12.804 @ 107.26 1/4 mile.