355 Launch question?

Hi,
my previous fun car has a 7.2 liter Pontiac engine.
Torque monster but toping at 5000RPM.

So this 3.5 hi-reving V8 feels really sluggish to me when slamming the throttle until it reaches 4000 RPM.
I guess it needs to be pushed up before dumping the clutch.

What RPM would you advise to go to get a good launch without smoking the clutch?
(I won't mind smoking the tires a little as they need to be changed anyway )
Thanks.

 

Buy another Pontiac for that kind of stuff.

 

Buy an EV instead.

 

You want to have it bouncing off the rev limiter at 8500+ before dumping the clutch. The 355 was designed as basically a drag racer, that's why it revs so high.

 

Some say there is no stupid question, but I see there is stupid answers.
Thanks for your help guys

 

What did you expect, honestly?

 

Wise advice maybe?

How bad is it to get the best launch for a sport car?
I just want the best of my car without damaging it.

Some here should buy something else I guess. They forgot why those car are made for...

 

Didn’t you see Fast & Furious? These have never been drag cars.

 

Who's talking about drag cars?
I just said my 355 feels sluggish until I reach the 4K line.

I asked some advices from people who are used to drive them to get the best launch without hurting the car.
I guess I'll have to experiment myself and find out, as my question seems so outrageous to some.

 

I’m dumber for having opened this thread. Godspeed.

 

I still don't see what's wrong about my question.
But maybe it's because I just bought myself a sport car I want to enjoy and drive, and not an investment...

 

It's 3.5l motor not 8l hemi. Needs revs power is made up top. It's the nature. You were expecting it to launch like a viper? That's an expectation issue.

If you want to drive it like the sports car it is, keep the RPMs above 4000 and throw it around. That's how you use a sports car actually. What makes the sports car is NOT its ability to Launch like a Hemi Challenger. There is no grunt in a small displacement NA motor.

If you want to "race" stop light to stop light you have the wrong car that's kind of what it sounds like.


Sent from my SM-G990U using FerrariChat.com mobile app

 

These girls are getting up there in age... and parts are getting scarce and expensive.. Launching and the forces that come with it may not be the best strategy for things to happily ever after. On the other hand let her stretch those legs and sing through some back country corners! Bottom line it's always been low on grunt until the revs get up there.

 

Your impression is correct and the F355 engine powerband is basically the opposite of a low rpm big block Pontiac.

That being said, the only way to get a decent launch is to sacrifice the clutch. So, 7000-7500 rpm initial and progressively feed it throttle and clutch until it's coupled.

I don't recommend it, but here's what it looks like. (forgive the botched shift)

Start at 30 sec, it won't accept modified link

 

INTMD8 thanks for your informative reply.
7 to 7.500 rpm launch? I wouldn't dare.

For the others, yes I'm aware this car is not made for drag racing and I'm not intend to drag race it.
Are you calling Formula 1 races starts, drag racing too?

 

And don't forget about fun, and listen what Clarkson said at the end of this famous video

 

Is this some kind of trolling? think so....

 

355 is not an F1 and an F1 gets a new engine and GB more frequently than I change underwear. Also F1's launch at 11,000 RPM. Again, not a Hellcat. Its the nature of a small displacement sports car, it takes skill to drive and keep rpm's up even around corners, heel toe, gear selection, it needs to be worked, its about driver engagement. Not mash Hemi pedal, mash Big breaks. And yes same is true for the F1 car. The launch is not really what sports cars are about, especially order ones. The actual point of the car may be getting missed is all, I mean your asking about launch not the finer points of cornering at the limit. You'd really hate an S2000.

The issue is not the car. The issue is not you. The issue is simply mismatched expectations going in.

 

Buy a Hellcat or Demon automatic or a ZL1 with line lock

Cheers

 

WADR "some here" that own 355s (I do - as well as a Hellcat so get the need/excitement of a hard launch) should not be "buying something else" and we absolutely know what a 355 was "made for" which absolutely was not hard launches and 0-60 times.

355s were made for brisk acceleration once the clutch was engaged - outstanding (at the time) midrange and upper range acceleration - outstanding handling (at the time) and if driven properly a quick and very satisfying day on a track (within moderation unless track-prepped) and incredibly fun and satisfying "spirited" drives on twisty roads.

That said - and to provide the advice (not sure if it is "wise or not" ) you are seeking - if you want the best possible dead-stop acceleration without blowing through clutches and damaging other drivetrain components get the car moving at a decent RPM and then pin the throttle and be ready to shift to 2nd QUICKLY because a 355 will rev to 8500 RPM much faster than an American muscle V8. IMHO and having owned my 355 GTS since 2010 that is the best and safest way to accelerate "hard" - Otherwise, enjoy it for what it was designed for and if you have the means get a used Hellcat or ZL1 with launch control or Line Lock and scratch both the "twisty road" and tire smoking/badass launch itches.

Cheers

 

Merica! HELL YA!

All good cars, use as intended is all. I'd be afraid of breaking stuff on a 355, stuff is getting hard to come by and repair bills for things like broken gear boxes are like 12K and long lead times. Now get out there and enjoy our car!

 

Over 9000

 

RPMs = 2,000, throttle at 1/3, let the clutch out gently-to-moderately,
wait for the RPMs to reach 4,000 RPMs, and then mash the throttle.

The other option is to replace the clutch every 2,000-3,000 miles.

 

305ci destroker, would come off the line at 10,500 in a 9 second camaro
Sounded like an F1 car
Image Unavailable, Please Login