Everyones a little different. Here's is what I did on my last run and I think it will be my new routine, having done many runs now on the SRT-8.
1. Before starting your car the morning you will take it to the track, change out your thermostat to a 160'. After the races, drive car home, let it sit several hours and change back to stock Thermostat
2. Lower rear tire pressure to 26 psi
3. Raise Front tire pressure to 40-50 (which ever you are comfortable with; I run 40 psi)
4. Use the 25 cent fan mod and keep it running during your runs and after to cool the car down in between runs
5. Let car get down to roughly 140' (this is the sweet spot for the SRT-8, so the 5.7 might be different)
6. Have 1/2 or a little more tank of gas in the car. This puts weight on the rear and keeps the tires from burning out off the line
7. Turn off ESP just before going around the water box or pull Fuse #17 from the engine compartment fuse box: see diagram on the lid of the fuse box. You can pull it as soon as you get to the track, but MAKE sure to put it back before leaving!!!
8. In the staging lanes and immedietely after a run pop the hood to let the fan run and to let the engine cool off faster. Dont leave the engine running, just start the car, give it a little gas, turn it off and put it in Nuetral while coasting to keep up with the movement of the stage lanes, or simply push it. (I push my car by myself and it is slow, but not harder than pushing the mower around. Don't push the car with the door closed or you might end up rear ending the car in front of you before you can open the door and jump in and apply the brake. You would think this was common sense, but I've seen this happen soo many times over the years, I figured it was worth mentioning)
9. Go around the water box (otherwise your street tire grooves will hold water and you'll end up burning out off the line from the tires being wet as the water drips out of the grooves, instead of the tires being just sticky. Leave it in Drive: I don't shift into 1st in the SRT-8 cause it will stay there, the 5.7's will shift up at Red line so this might work for you. Left foot on the brake right on the gas. Floor it to the burn out. Mine last about 5 seconds. Don't let the car start to roll or the computer will kick in and start to shut the engine down. When the brake is applied fully donw, the car is in non-managed torque mode anyway, with or without ESP off, but as soon as it starts to move, the torque management kicks right back in and screws up your burnout.
10. Pull up to the line until the top smaller yellow bulb lights up, then feather the brake until the bottom smaller bulb lights up just barely. This is called a "Shallow Stage". It will give a very small, but potentially important advantage on your 60' times.
11. The LX's have a lag at the line from the moment you drop the pedal to the floor. It is exactly the time it takes to go from the 2nd larger yellow light (NOT the two smaller staging lights at the top of the tree) down the tree, past the 3rd yellow light into the green. So as soon as the 2nd larger yellow lights up, just quickly blink your eyes (yes, actually do this) and then floor it.
12. Have fun!!! Swinger around and do another. With the 160' thermostat, and the 25 cent fan mod, you should be able to cool off in about 15-25 minutes in between runs.
1. Before starting your car the morning you will take it to the track, change out your thermostat to a 160'. After the races, drive car home, let it sit several hours and change back to stock Thermostat
2. Lower rear tire pressure to 26 psi
3. Raise Front tire pressure to 40-50 (which ever you are comfortable with; I run 40 psi)
4. Use the 25 cent fan mod and keep it running during your runs and after to cool the car down in between runs
5. Let car get down to roughly 140' (this is the sweet spot for the SRT-8, so the 5.7 might be different)
6. Have 1/2 or a little more tank of gas in the car. This puts weight on the rear and keeps the tires from burning out off the line
7. Turn off ESP just before going around the water box or pull Fuse #17 from the engine compartment fuse box: see diagram on the lid of the fuse box. You can pull it as soon as you get to the track, but MAKE sure to put it back before leaving!!!
8. In the staging lanes and immedietely after a run pop the hood to let the fan run and to let the engine cool off faster. Dont leave the engine running, just start the car, give it a little gas, turn it off and put it in Nuetral while coasting to keep up with the movement of the stage lanes, or simply push it. (I push my car by myself and it is slow, but not harder than pushing the mower around. Don't push the car with the door closed or you might end up rear ending the car in front of you before you can open the door and jump in and apply the brake. You would think this was common sense, but I've seen this happen soo many times over the years, I figured it was worth mentioning)
9. Go around the water box (otherwise your street tire grooves will hold water and you'll end up burning out off the line from the tires being wet as the water drips out of the grooves, instead of the tires being just sticky. Leave it in Drive: I don't shift into 1st in the SRT-8 cause it will stay there, the 5.7's will shift up at Red line so this might work for you. Left foot on the brake right on the gas. Floor it to the burn out. Mine last about 5 seconds. Don't let the car start to roll or the computer will kick in and start to shut the engine down. When the brake is applied fully donw, the car is in non-managed torque mode anyway, with or without ESP off, but as soon as it starts to move, the torque management kicks right back in and screws up your burnout.
10. Pull up to the line until the top smaller yellow bulb lights up, then feather the brake until the bottom smaller bulb lights up just barely. This is called a "Shallow Stage". It will give a very small, but potentially important advantage on your 60' times.
11. The LX's have a lag at the line from the moment you drop the pedal to the floor. It is exactly the time it takes to go from the 2nd larger yellow light (NOT the two smaller staging lights at the top of the tree) down the tree, past the 3rd yellow light into the green. So as soon as the 2nd larger yellow lights up, just quickly blink your eyes (yes, actually do this) and then floor it.
12. Have fun!!! Swinger around and do another. With the 160' thermostat, and the 25 cent fan mod, you should be able to cool off in about 15-25 minutes in between runs.
