How to drag a diesel
 

I decided to take my truck to the track the other day. But before I went I spent 3 hours on here and google trying to get any tips or how to's. I couldnt find a single thing on diesel trucks. So I thought I would start a thread on this subject incase there was any one else out there that might be in the same boat I was in. So please add any other tips or correct me on anything I spew out here. But before we get started this may only apply to 4wd and automatics. So I show up to one of those "run what you brung" days. I figured it would be alot of those tarded rice burners and punk kids with mommy's car type thing. To my suprise there mostly trailered pro street and barely street legal rides. So that is not the best thing to walk into as a virgin. But I asked around and nobody wanted to help out the big redneck truck. So I lined up with one of those 350z. I did my little burout, stagged and spun all the way down the track. Now it did fell awsome spinning for an 1/8 mile making that crazy grey smoke. (black coal and white from the tires burning down to nubbs). So I lined back up and was told that I better not do another burnout or I have to go home. I found out you cant burn out with mud terrains, only drag radials or slicks. So confused I ran again. I idle out and roll the throttle about 60ft out. Pissed at this time figuring they just didnt want me there and trying to get me to leave. But thank god a cummins showed up. He explained everything to me.

1. Go around the water trough or water pit. The officials get pissed when you track water up to the line.

2. If you have 4wd throw it into high, and tow haul. I thought this guy was crazy when he told me that. Running 75+ in 4wd. But it is a must.

3. Slowly creep up to the tree. When you get up to the right place a yellow light will come on at the top of the tree. Then you need to roll up another 6in maybe to stage. The second light will pop on the tree.

4. Soon as the second light came on, I stood on the brake and quickly built up my boost. Now I have an 05 powerstroke, No boost gauge, yet. But I went off the sound and tach. It took alot of tries but my sweet spot was 2800 rpm's.

5. Then once both sides get stagged the light will start to go. There was three yellow lights verticle below the staging lights. It will start dropping at half a second apiece I think. So from the time it takes to go from stagged to a green light is about one and a half seconds.

6. I learned when it got to the last yellow before green, I slammed the throttle and released the brake at the same time. I got awsome r/t time doing this.

7. Being in 4wd it never broke traction. It shot out of there like a rocket. Just keep on the throttle slammed till you get to the finish line.

But here are some other things to keep in mind, Kill your air conditioner before you get anywhere near the starting area. ( I got threatened to get kick out again because the water from the a/c collecting). Keep all windows rolled up when you get close to the starting line. Dont be offended when no one lines up with you, unless there is another diesel is there. I ran a mustang and a new gto, It felt awsome but All the other racers saw them get beat and avoided me like I had herpagonasifalaids. So I would have to run by myself, Unless that cummins was close. They would all pull over and make me or him pass them so we would line up with each other. I didnt mind a bit, but the cummins was running a built tranny, twin turbos and more electronis than radio shack. He blew my doors off every race of course. But it would have been nice to play with some of the gasseres. But I understand there reasoning. They spend an ass load of money on all kinds of parts. And get spanked by a big ole truck that they could drive under. :ph: After I ran each time, I was crossing the finish line with cold chills and the biggest addrnaline rush I have had in a long time. Thanks for reading and hope it might help someone.

Sweet. Good post.

Awesome post man!, did you have OD on or off? And did you stay in drive, 1, or 2?

I had it in overdrive and in tow/haul

good post but i will say if you have a 03 or newer duramax with push button 4x4 and want to leave hard go to low 4x4 and ride the truck is smarter than you it will unlock and go into hi 4x4 with out you knowing it it is to save the truck. they are the only ones i know that will do this (ive seen 100+ mph in low lock):U:

Good post.
So what were your times?

9.2 was the best I could grab. But usually stayed around 9.3. My best r/t was .039

that must be 1/8 mile times? I went to the drag strip last weekend for my first time, I learned all the same things you put in your first post. It was import/street car weekend. There was lots of stuff there faster than me, but more importantly , my friends civic was slower :choochoo::choochoo::choochoo: My best time was a 15.4 (1/4) at around 86 mph, I figured it was pretty good for a mostly stock 12v. I need to go again and practice more , my best r/t was .906 ( someone asked if i fell asleep):argh:

For manual tranny guys!!!!!!!! and 2wd guys!!!

i have learned a few things. if you dont have a locked rear axle or traction bars like me, get off the line nice and easy to avoid the rear axle wrapping up all the way to the 1/8th mile.
once you get off the line you can pin it as long as you can keep it from spinning.

Now, manual 4x4 guys. use your 4hi and if you have a clutch that will hold up to a 3rd gear launch this is your best bet!! however if your clutch is like mine it's not recommended to do 3rd gear launches so launch in 2nd. now since we have handshakers just get your rpms up to around 2500 or so and as soon as you see that last yellow light pop up drop that clutch and pin it!!!

Now, if you want to set your truck up to be able to launch get a line lock and a dual disk clutch so you can slip the clutch to build boost and make sure you have a locked rear axle and traction bars!! haha

strokin if you have a clutch that can handle it. get your rpms up and hit the break with the same foot, start to engage the clutch and it will bog down the engine then from there you can build up boost and launch like an auto. i have cut a 1.6 60 ft before with this and if my tranny would have liked 5th it would have been a sub 12 sec pass oh well its life.