[Eagle2000GT]

It's been 30 years since I've driven a muscle car. Back in the day, I had a "66 Dodge Coronet 500 with a 426 wedge, 850 dual-line Holley, headers, Malory dual point ignition, and a Hurst shifter. It launched pretty well on street tires by dumping the clutch at 3500 and when the tack hit 5000 I shifted.

The kids are out of college so a bought a basically stock 2000 GT a few months ago. The 245/45 Kumo tires don't seem to hook up well even if I drop the clutch at 2000 and feather the accelerator. It seems like forever before the tires grab and I shift to second. If I shift early all I do is burn them up in second.

My Procharger is in and they are installing it next week. So my question is, "What is the best way to launch running street tires?"

Eagle

[HessiaN257]

2000-2500 is a good place to launch in our cars on street tires. I've never had experience with Kumo tires but my falkens hardly spin when I launch at 2500. But with that procharger coming, and you wanting to launch, I would pick up some Nitto DRs to run around the street in.

[Timm10221]

Welcome!! I will 2nd the falkens... good tire for the price, i put them on my 95 gt and she hooks alot better. but get a wider tire too,... if you got stock rims i think they are 17X8.. put a 255 265 tire on them and it will help a lil. wait till you get gears and see the hookin problem, haha, i am putting 315's on as soon as i can afford the rims for them.
Tim

[MustangMatt96GT]

I say gett nitto 555s. Best tire for the money IMO. I replaced my falkens and with them and lets just say its a lot harder for me to spin now!

Anyway I launch between 3000-3500 slipping the clutch. Then I shift around 5600-5800.

[Ryan Paymaster]

I'm all about the Mickey Thompson E/T Streets. They hook better than a fisherman using live bait.

I like to rev to around 2,500-3,000 RPM and slip it out fast. Car hooks like hell, might try just dumping it with 4.10s though. I had terrible bog if I did it on the stock 3.27 gear.

[Eagle2000GT]

I love that picture of Torque, but compromises must be made for a daily driver.

I knew changing tires would make a difference. The only street race I lost in that Dodge was to a "68 Chevelle 396/375. It jumped me two cars out of the hole. It was running H70 Polyglass tires which had a lot better traction than what I had. I immediately bought some.

I was more curious about initial RPMs and shift points. Is is more advantageous to shift early--say at 4500--and burn in second, or should you ride out first and shift to second after you have traction?

Eagle

[TheUNZippee!]

After you get the Procharger on, you may have to sidestep the clutch a bit if you can't get her hooked properly. As stated before, launch around 2500 rpm. Don't shift at 4500, that's before the peak hp. I would take her up 2 or 3 hundred shy of the redline, and power shift in to 2nd, and take it from there. You can work your way up and down the rpm range from there until you find the sweet spot.

I too would recommend the Nitto's. Great tires.

[Smoothgrandmama]

First gear Shift at 5900-6100

[Eagle2000GT]

Thanks for the imformation. I appreciate the replies. I had already planned to get some new rims and 315/35s. The question is do I want Bullet rims, FR500 rims, or Cobra rims? Half the fun is figuring out what to buy next.

[HessiaN257]

FR500!

[HMUSN]

what color is your car?

[tlgrant]

I love that picture of Torque, but compromises must be made for a daily driver. I knew changing tires would make a difference. The only street race I lost in that Dodge was to a "68 Chevelle 396/375. It jumped me two cars out of the hole. It was running H70 Polyglass tires which had a lot better traction than what I had. I immediately bought some. I was more curious about initial RPMs and shift points. Is is more advantageous to shift early--say at 4500--and burn in second, or should you ride out first and shift to second after you have traction? Eagle

haha my dad allways talks about "polyglass" tires on his old camaro...

[Eagle2000GT]

The polyglass tires were a lot better than the 8.25x14s that were pretty much the standard (and they wonder why we could burn rubber in 4 gears).

After I totalled the Dodge hitting two black Angus cows at two in the morning (and no I wasn't drunk), I bought a '69 SS/RS Camaro 350/300. I kinda liked that car even though it was underpowered.

My mustang is Electric Green and I'm growing more fond of this car every day that I drive it. Stock, it's power seems to fall somewhere between the Camaro and Dodge. I am expecting that after the Procharger is installed that it woulc have smoked my old Dodge.

The Dodge ran 400+ gross horsepower at 3800 pounds. This little electric green Mustang will probably run 400+ net horsepower at 3350 pounds.

People may think of the '60s as the Muscle Car era. But if the truth be told, now is the Muscle Car era. And, I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of it.

Eagle

[Garhfer]

Originally Posted by Eagle2000GT The polyglass tires were a lot better than the 8.25x14s that were pretty much the standard (and they wonder why we could burn rubber in 4 gears). After I totalled the Dodge hitting two black Angus cows at two in the morning (and no I wasn't drunk), I bought a '69 SS/RS Camaro 350/300. I kinda liked that car even though it was underpowered. My mustang is Electric Green and I'm growing more fond of this car every day that I drive it. Stock, it's power seems to fall somewhere between the Camaro and Dodge. I am expecting that after the Procharger is installed that it woulc have smoked my old Dodge. The Dodge ran 400+ gross horsepower at 3800 pounds. This little electric green Mustang will probably run 400+ net horsepower at 3350 pounds. People may think of the '60s as the Muscle Car era. But if the truth be told, now is the Muscle Car era. And, I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of it. Eagle

Those camaro's were the best looking ones! I wanna build one when I'm done with college! More technology put into these cars, it's like a space ship compared to those! Definately get Nitto 555R's, they last the longest out of all the drag radials I've seen and hook real good on the street but for track only tires go mickey thompson's...

[TheUNZippee!]

Originally Posted by Eagle2000GT People may think of the '60s as the Muscle Car era. But if the truth be told, now is the Muscle Car era. And, I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of it. Eagle

I love this guys attitude.

[06RedfireGT]

Originally Posted by TheUNZippee! Originally Posted by Eagle2000GT People may think of the '60s as the Muscle Car era. But if the truth be told, now is the Muscle Car era. And, I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of it. Eagle I love this guys manhood.

[tlgrant]

my dad had a 68 Z-28, it was the first z-28 sold in NE, the owner of the local chevy dealer in ct where he lived bought the car, he was my dads neighbor and he sold it to my father when he was done with it. it came with the very rare and high reving 302 motor, he sold it when i was 6, but i do remember it somewhat. the money he would goet for that car now being original and its history... sickening