Drag Racing Discussions > Front Engine Dragsters

How to properly launch a FED?

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Mister_Fitz:
What is the best way to launch a FED?
I have an FED, old 60s Jr Fuel, that I'm racing with just for fun. My problem is that the FED tends to pull to the right (most of the times) when I let it go from the transbrake. I have tried some different launch rpms and different tire pressues with out finding something that I think works good enough.
I have a long distance to the nearest dragway so I get perhaps 10-15 passes a year. So it takes time to figure it all out by my self. So if any of you have any ideas I would really appreciate it.
The FED has 150" WB.
350" SBC, alcy injected
PG with transbrake
Chrysler 8-3/4" - 4.11 rear ratio
M&H Racemaster 12" x 33" x 15"

Once I get up to speed the car is stable.

Am I perhaps launching it to "gentle" so that the slicks hock up to soon/hard? Can I get this problem then?

How do you launch your FEDs?

masracingtd1167:
The first thing you should do is check the circumference of the tire . Inflate the tire to the pressure you want and take a tape measure and measure both tires it should be within a 1/4 inch . If one is too small you can sometimes stretch the small one a little by inflating it to around 20 lbs and then let the air back out and check it again . If the tire is old this may not work .You may not want to hear this but with a car that short you really need a wheelie bar . With the tracks the way they are today and using an auto trans it just makes good sense to use one . I am not a big fan of changing tire pressure to make a car go straight but I know that some people do it . Could you borrow a smaller set of tires from someone to try I think it might help give you a little wheel speed and that will help a lot . When we ran the short wheelbase cars years ago  we ran a 10 inch tire and a clutch .I hope this helps you . Bill 

ricardo1967:
This is a great topic, thanks for posting it Mr. Fitz .

I have done only three test passes so far in a dragster, my old FED (173", SBC 400, PG, transbrake, MT 3068W 31.0/10.5-15W M5, unknown rear axle ratio). They were all incomplete passes due to scary moments at launch (the local track is very narrow!). On my second pass I tried to 'tame' the launch by launching on 2nd (top) gear. It shot straight to the right side guard rail (didn't hit) and I aborted it. I realized that, because most of the cars at this track are door cars, with a wider tire tracks, I had mistakenly placed one tire on a stickier path than the other. Not sure if this could relate to your problem but thought about mentioning it anyway.

Does your car wheel stand? Do you have a wheelie bar? If so, the older 2-wheel style or the newer mono-wheel design?

Mister_Fitz:
The rear tires are brand new and are within 1/4".
I allready have a wheelie bar. It has a singel wheel. According to my measurements the wheelie bar wheel is of center with about 1". I'm not sure how this affects the launch but I will make i adjustable and center it.
I also have a hard time knowing if the wheelie bar hits the track or not.
What is a good starting point for wheelie bar height?
What is the best way to get a good amount of wheel speed with the setup I have now?

Skickat från min GT-I9505 via Tapatalk

Pipe Dreams:
 
Mr Fitz,  I had the same problem with my car when I first started running it. I tried lots of things, but the bigest thing I found that helped my car was lowering the wheelie bar. I run mine set at about 2 1/2" . You can also try differant tire pressures from side to side after you know your tire rollout. I run mine at the same pressures now, but running the right tire a 1/2 pound lower than the left also helped.

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