land-speed
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Re: Transmissions

To: "Thomas E. Bryant" <saltracer@awwwsome.com>, Keith Turk <kturk@ala.net>
Subject: Re: Transmissions
From: "Lawrence E. Mayfield" <mayfield@traveller.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1999 18:08:29
A new thought on gearin' an shiftin'. Do any of you use Shift Master
Software to determine the best shift points? No? Shame on you. 

mayf

At 01:51 PM 4/21/99 -0700, Thomas E. Bryant wrote:
>Keith,
>
>You think that you are hurting, I run a direct-drive, (no converter)
>two-speed Powerglide that drops from 8000 RPM to about 5500 RPM when it
>shifts. There are different schools of thought on the subject, but quite
>frankly, I'm not sure that it hurts us that much, we still are capable
>of a 205 MPH 1/4, with little left at the 5 mile. 
>
>If you had fifteen miles under power the speed attained is the result of
>Horse Power versus the Resistance to forward motion. The greater frontal
>area cars reach the wall in a shorter distance. It is my opinion that
>the gearing you speak of is a bigger factor for the streamliners.
>
>Tom
>
>Keith Turk wrote:
>> 
>> you folks realize your destroying my Transmission plans.... shot a hole in
>> my Grand Scheme you did... it was my thought that I could accelerate from
>> Zero faster if I had a wide ratio.... trans....
>> 
>> At Maxton on the mile this may even be true... But I understand the logic
>> of staying in a proper torque band and the decrease in RPM drop between the
>> gears.... AHHH now to look at transmissions again... and this was a Doug
>> Nash / now Richmond Gears T-10 that I bought special for the wide ratio...
>> and it worked like stink in a Autobahn cruiser.... and didn't even need a
>> push truck at every stop light
>> 
>> I know of a 5 speed Doug Nash with extra gear sets here in town... I may
>> look into that.... it has a 1:1 output...  I don't know if it has straight
>> cut gears or not.... is that an issue?
>> 
>> Keith...
>> 
>> ----------
>> > From: John Beckett <johnbeck@blueridge.cc.nc.us>
>> > To: land-speed@autox.team.net
>> > Subject: Re: Transmissions
>> > Date: Tuesday, April 20, 1999 8:30 AM
>> >
>> >       Dave makes a very interesting point about transmissions. A very
>> important
>> > and often over looked part of the total combination. My current car has a
>> > close ratio, 2.32 first gear, even that is to much. May next car will
>> have
>> > a very close ratio 4-speed, in the 2.0 to 1.9 range.
>> >       Discovered last year that exceleration through the first two
miles could
>> > have as much as a 5 MPH difference in the five mile speed.
>> >
>> >       John Beckett
>> >
>> >
>> > At 10:26 AM 4/17/99 -0400, Dave Dahlgren wrote:
>> > >I am a newcomer to land speed racing,since '93 but have raced cars
>> > >professionally since I was 22, am 47 now.. So when I am out there I am
>> > >at work.  Land speed racing is no different than any other that I have
>> > >been to. There are a ton of tough decisions to make and I am not afraid
>> > >to make them. The most important ones revolve around will I make it to
>> > >the other end ? My philosophy may not work for most as I plan on setting
>> > >a record when we go and at the end of the meet there does not have to be
>> > >much left. This does not work for most people as the cost is $$$$$ . But
>> > >every pass other than license passes on the car has been a record pass
>> > >or the qualifying one before it. have probably jinxed this year by
>> > >saying that but do not believe that much in luck, just hard work and
>> > >good engineering. If I were in your shoes I would make all the trades
>> > >necessary in order to get down the track and pump up the power as money
>> > >allows. The only exception to this would be a transmission that allows
>> > >you to change gear ratios at will.
>> >
>> >       "Everyone that I have ever helped out there almost always had an
>> > impossible combination of gear ratios. either overpower the track early
>> on
>> > or gear splits that can not be done and stay in the power band on the big
>> > end.. There is as much thought required in the transmission than almost
>> any
>> > other part of the combination. read you NEED a CLOSE RATIO TRANSMISSION
>> !!"
>> >
>> > >
>> > >So buy the dry sump,best fire suit and system,best
>> > >suspension,transmission. Blow off the 10,000 dollar cylinder heads for
>> > >now and the paint well why bother if you do not have the other stuff. It
>> > >is not much fun changing bearings in a pretty car, or worse yet dragging
>> > >the remains on the trailer after you roll it up in a ball because you
>> > >bought the paint instead of the Koni shocks..!
>> > >
>> > >Regards,
>> > >Dave Dahlgren
>> > >
>> > >Keith Turk wrote:
>> > >>
>> > >> and your opinion is worth more then the cup of coffee... thanks.....K
>> > >>
>> > >> now how to do all that on a budget.... Guess I have to settle for the
>> fun
>> > >> eh...
>> > >>
>> > >> Bud I am dead serious about this one thing in my life... someday I am
>> going
>> > >> to be in the two club... if it takes multiple valves and 10 speeds
>> then
>> > >> that is what I will acquire...  Been down a ton of roads over the
>> years...
>> > >> and I have always accomplished the goals I set for myself... this is
>> one
>> > >> that has been lurking in the back of my mind since I was twenty years
>> > >> old... (41 now)
>> > >>
>> > >> My Partner has to bring Reality with him and keep me grounded... we
>> are
>> > >> here to have fun.... and the record someday will happen... I seriously
>> > >> don't expect it this year.... I expect to drive the long course and
>> have a
>> > >> ball... hey and meet my newly made friends from here...  But most of
>> all I
>> > >> expect to take home a ton of lessons on what to and what not to do at
>> > >> Bonneville....
>> > >>
>> > >> Learning Curve here is pretty steep... It was kinda like that with the
>> > >> AH-64 Apache when we first started flying it... none of us had a clue
>> and
>> > >> the engineers weren't much help in communicating on the
>> Pilot/instructor
>> > >> pilot level... we had to assimilate a ton of new information and then
>> > >> decide what was important and what wasn't... Based on all the kids we
>> > >> trained and the outcome of their work... I would say we did a pretty
>> fair
>> > >> job....
>> > >>
>> > >> This is a ton like that.. for me at least...
>> > >>
>> > >> I honestly appreciate your being here and lending your knowledge to
>> those
>> > >> of us that aren't as well versed..
>> > >>
>> > >> Keith
>> > >>
>> > >> ----------
>> > >> > From: Dave Dahlgren <dahlgren@uconect.net>
>> > >> > To: Chris R Harris <yesford@clear.net.nz>
>> > >> > Cc: Land-speed@autox.team.net
>> > >> > Subject: Re: Belt camshaft drives
>> > >> > Date: Saturday, April 17, 1999 5:05 AM
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Best pushrod engines belong to NHRA Pro Stock 1250 hp 500
>> inches..2.5 HP
>> > >> > per Cu In  that would be 887 hp 355. Winston Cup is around 720
>> HP.2.03
>> > >> > HP per Cu In.. The prostock guys run them... Belt drive is like a
>> dry
>> > >> > sump, big money up front hardly any later.. There are many parts
>> like
>> > >> > that .. The best is usually cheaper in the long run.. Let's face it
>> we
>> > >> > are out there to do 2 things, Have FUN and Break records!!! It is
>> pretty
>> > >> > hard to break records if you are not running the best money can buy,
>> and
>> > >> > I have the most fun breaking records.. Nothing like coffee in the
>> > >> > morning at impound :>)  Parts i will not race without, dry sump,
>> EFI, 4
>> > >> > valves per cylinder ( or more), slide throttles, and a trans that
>> has
>> > >> > many gears.. the rest is usually not a record breaking combination..
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Just my opinion at least.
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Regards,
>> > >> >
>> > >> > Dave Dahlgren
>> > >> > Engine Management Systems
>> > >> >
>> > >> > < Commercial >
>> > >> > For those of you that want slide throttles contact me off list we
>> make
>> > >> > them here. Do EFI also Won 24 hr Daytona twice set pole etc. and a
>> > >> > zillion races in Pro Sports Car. Also G\GL and G\FL at Bonneville
>> went
>> > >> > (215 in Australia) for many years.. Have setups for Ford yates
>> > >> > head,Chevy 18 deg,Cosworth BD and YB, Porsche 911, ferrari 348,
>> mazda
>> > >> > 13b, and any custom thing you can think of.. but it is expensive...
>> > >> > <End Commercial >
>> > >
>> >
>> >
>



L.E. Mayfield
124 Maximillion Drive
Madison, Al. 35758-8171
1-256-837-1051

http://www.hsv.tis.net/~mayfield

DrMayf@AOL.com
mayfield@traveller.com <<<<preferred


Bonneville Land Speed Racer, '66 Hydroplane Drag Boat (390 FE)

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