Launch RPM ?...Lost to a 97 Integra B18 5spd
 

I just though some of you might find this interesting. A good buddy of mine and I went out today and raced, away from public and animals on a deserted runway and the results were some what surprising. Twice, i lost to him. The first time I launched at 6k, and the tires spun quickly, while slipping the clutch, and I was slowly realing him in at the end and lost with his rear bumper at my front. The second race, I launched at 5k, and the tires didn't spin at all, the clutch just sliped slightly and grabbed at around 3.5K, but in the end, i lost by about a fender.

I raced him in my 90 56k original FC Vert manual with a K&N drop in, and some really crappy Michilen touring tires with a 680 treadwear rating :scared:, along with the original, now slipping mazda clutch. I know the RX-7 N/A is not a 1/4 mile car by any account, but never the less i was surpised. Im going with the 9 lb flywheel and a street strip clutch, along with the Pineapple Racing sleve inserts, but still dont expect to beat him by much.

He has a 1997 Acura Integra, with an intake, coilovers, and 16" rota circuit 8's with Falken Ziex 512's 205/40/R16.

Just out of curiousity, what is a good RPM to launch from in a stock S5 N/A FC? I hope some of you enjoyed my story, and im not looking to make an N/A Vert a drag car by any means, i just though it was a fun race.

GSR? They're supposed to be faster than a N/A... And a hell lot faster than a vert. Hell, most modern vans can pull on n/a 7's.

Nope it wasnt a GSR, it was a Non Vtec B18C 1.8 LS, and the vert isnt too much heavier... I wasnt looking for anything incredible, its just my nice, very clean daily, once i get an AFM for the 60-1 10th AE, then i'll be cookin...

If you are doing drag racing with the Integra, keep your stock flywheel as it stores more kinetic energy for your launch. If you are racing from a roll, the light weight flywheel will help.

Your slipping clutch is not helping ... :(
Try having a soft launch at 3k rpm so the clutch catches and you can accelerate. It's better than launching high, slipping and not going anywhere.

I am not surprised the Integra beat you. Your car is a lot heavier and you only have 15hp on it. If you really want to beat this guy add an exhaust system. Racing beat offers a nice setup that bolts from your stock exhaust manifold to your stock cat back. If I remember correctly, its dyno tested to give you 15-20 hp. That should be enough to spank that DA any day.

yeah its not your rpm's, its just that non-turbo rx-7s are slow.

Is that even right? 15-20 HP? Someone else said 35-40 in an other thread? Is someone just making numbers up? I just don't see how an exaust can do THAT much. Then again, I'm a tard.

I dont know what works best for everyone, but you should just go somewhere and practice launching until you get good at being consistent... I'll try to describe how I launch and this may/may not be helpful to you.

I rev to about 5k rpm...

Then, when I launch I release the clutch till it starts grabbing and floor it at the same time. My goal at this point it to have the accelerator to the floor and the clutch slipping just enough to maintain 5k rpms....

This is high enough in the rpm band to have a decent amount of hp, and early enough in the rpm band that you can still shift at 7k instead of accidentally running 1st gear too far out...

- Chris

Also, about the RB exhaust... Depends on which setup you are talking about to get a "hp" claim, they have a "streetable" single header to dual exhaust configuration, a "road race" setup that is true duals all the way out, and then the bolt on exhaust from stock manifold back. It is one of the most beneficial bolt on increases on a N/A to do a header back exhaust though.

LS is a B18B, B18C's are GSR/ Type-R...unless he has an LS head on a GSR block for some reason

Try a full tune-up, etc., etc. Or maybe you just need a little practice or a better launch rpm. N/A RX-7's aren't as slow as most Integras... or vans :rolleyes:. I've checked the numbers on the Integra and the manual Mustang V6. The S4 N/A's 0-60 is supposed to be slightly worse than the Mustang and significantly better than the Integra. I beat Mustang V6's in my s4 but it tends to be close. They must all be automatics or something.

Factory the S4 n/a was rated at 0-60 in 7.7s.

That's pretty slow by modern day standards. And yeah, 'stang V6's are weak as hell, especially if they're the 94--97 6's

its 56hp for the turbo but you need new injectors. the added power is from boost due to lack of backpressure.

A non VTEC DC2 integra is at least a good .3 seconds faster than an NA 7 in the 1/4.

Non-VTEC B18B block still produces some healthy torque.
No non-turbo FC is going to beat it unless we're talking about a modded FC versus a stock Teg.

Your vert is not made for drag racing.
It has the shitty 3.9 rear end, and it's packing the most weight out of all the FC's.

You really should give up trying to beat your friend.


-Ted

while the first part is true


vans? comeon... maybe an s4 but even then :bsmeter:

In my n/a, for an autocross launch (lots of practice doing this), I rev to about 3000, as I let in the clutch I feed it gas to hold the rpms (revs do climb some as it does), until its fully hooked up and then mat it. 5-6k rpm is too high even if your clutch is upgraded - either the clutch is going to slip, or the tires will roast - especially 680 treadware tires (wow, I thought the 260 treadwear Eagle RS-As I had blew chunks!). With a 3k launch, I will get just a little wheel spin (on Kumho 710 r-compounds, treadwear 30); a little wheelspin is good, without it the engine tends to bog, and more than a little is just generating smoke, not forward motion until the tires hooks up again. Launch rpm will vary depending on your hp, clutch, and tires, but not a huge amount generally. I haven't dragged, I should add, but I expect the same should hold true - if you spend the first 30-50ft spinning your wheels, bogged, or burning your clutch, the other guy can walk away from you.

Wow, I think only in the context of discussing NA rotaries could I have ever heard of any Honda with 4 cylinders described as having healthy torque - :lol:

Pretty much true tho, an NA S4 vert never was considered a quick car, even new - a fun car, and a gorgeous car, but not fast.

Actually, I should have been more specific...
I think the B18B block makes more torque than the B18C VTEC block?
Thus the popular Frankenstein motors back in the day...B18B block with B18C heads.
I think the B18B block had a longer stroke...


-Ted

The GSR is faster than an s4 N/A, but he's not racing a GSR. That means the Integra could be up to a second behind the s4 on the 0-60 (up to 8.6s). Problem is, the poster has a heavy, tall geared convertible. Fortunately for the original poster, he got his answer amidst the nay saying. You got close with a 3500rpm launch. Somebody posted that a 3000rpm launch is better. There you go, you'll probably be able to tie or slightly beat the Integra now.

Thanks pd_day for the info. I'll remember that myself, too.

Just for reference, various 0-60's:
base Civic, some SUVs, etc.: 12's
Civic EX, Prius, other decent daily drivers: 10's
most Integras, Mini, other "sporty" cars, etc.: 8's
Civic Si, BMW 3 series, FC N/A, Mini S, Mustang V6: 7's
RX-8, Miata, FC turbo, 350Z: 6's
FD (low), Corvette (low), s2000 (high), Mustang V8 (mid): 5's
Corvette Z06, Lotus Elise, Porsche 911: 4's

Look at the cars surrounding the FC N/A. They aren't the fastest cars around, but I'd hardly call them slow. I think turbo drivers are just bitter b/c they spent $2000 more on there cars up front, and a bunch more on repairs (or, ideally, not quite so much thanks to careful maintenance).

Let me know when you can beat a Sienna with a stock N/A fc.

Exhaust will probably give you a bit of a power gain.

N/A RX-7 isn't that quick. It is alright, but, there are lots of cars that are faster.

VS. an LS Integra? Hmmm, I know my sister has a '91 Integra LS and she tries to keep up with me and she can't. But I am modded a bit.

I wouldn't waste money on the fly wheel. I did it and it wasn't that big of a difference. I noticed more of a difference with the exhaust. Maybe take that $300 or $400 that you were going to use on a flywheel and look at getting a 4.3 rear end. It will increase your acceleration but decrease top speed. But most of the time you don't take your car to it's limits. 4.3 is going to be my next upgrade before either forced induction or heavy porting... or both. :)

just throw some D's on that bitch and smoke that fool

^^What are D's?

what more can i say?

and you think a 4 speed automatic minivan would beat a 13b? not happining as long as its not fucked up

Sure bud, just whip that out without doing research. Let me know when you understand that RX-7s will not beat everything.