HARDVIPER
Enthusiast
Does Anyone With 3.55 Gears Start In Second?? It seems first goes by pretty fast...But will it Fry my Clutch?? 
Does Anyone With 3.55 Gears Start In Second??
- Thread starter HARDVIPER
- Start date
Newport Viper
Enthusiast
I do it unknowingly now and then 
rcdice
Enthusiast
Hardviper, 3:55's are one of the mods I have planned but haven't done yet. Are you having traction problems (who isn't?) or are you talking about your shift point just comes so fast that you start it second? Overall, are you happy with the switch?
Thanks,
Thanks,
Andrew2KRT10
Enthusiast
I try not to. I still feel like I have to start off in first. I don't mind the quicker shifting, that's why I have a manual tranny.
I will roll start in second, at a stop sign or yeild sign.
AC
I will roll start in second, at a stop sign or yeild sign.
AC
RedEnuf93
Enthusiast
I took off yesterday on the 3rd gear...
Just like my Caddy's 1st gear!
I like the gears in town, you'll be able to dust just about anything.
I have no traction problems with Pilots, unless I want to.
Just like my Caddy's 1st gear!
I like the gears in town, you'll be able to dust just about anything.
I have no traction problems with Pilots, unless I want to.
AG98RT10
Viper Owner
Nope, but first and second go by in a blur. 
Advice: if you change the rear, better get Kumhos on there. Unless you like going sideways shifting into third!
Advice: if you change the rear, better get Kumhos on there. Unless you like going sideways shifting into third!
joe117
Enthusiast
With a 3.55 rear your overall ratio in first is,
9.44:1
With a 3.55 rear your overall ratio in second is,
6.31:1
So, if you start in second with a 3.55 rear, your overall gear ratio will be the same as if you were starting in first with a 2.37:1 rear.
I don't believe that this would be a good thing to do under any conditions.
Dumping the clutch in a standing start second gear launch will only cause the engine to bog or the clutch to burn.
9.44:1
With a 3.55 rear your overall ratio in second is,
6.31:1
So, if you start in second with a 3.55 rear, your overall gear ratio will be the same as if you were starting in first with a 2.37:1 rear.
I don't believe that this would be a good thing to do under any conditions.
Dumping the clutch in a standing start second gear launch will only cause the engine to bog or the clutch to burn.
HARDVIPER
Enthusiast
The shift just comes quick, I'm not complaining, I was just wondering. I dig these Hot Gears and would recommend to all Vipers.
JC
JC
1TONY1
Enthusiast
I don't think it would be a good idea at the drag strip, but at the autocross I start out in 2nd at least 50% of the time. It depends on starting line traction. The Roe blower sees to it that the power is there This also save what little time would be lost in the one shift.
This also save what little time would be lost in the one shift.HARDVIPER
Enthusiast
I hear it's not a good idea to go Roe Super with 3.55 gears, is there trouble there??????????????Because that is my next move,.
Thanks
Thanks
phiebert
Enthusiast
I've got Nitrous and 3.55s. Works great for me. Haven't done a 1/4 mile since the switch to 3.55s though so I don't know if the time will be slower. I've heard it is a little slower but I would have thought the better control off the line would make up for a potential extra shift.
Like someone above said, you might as well stay with the stock rear end if you are going to start in 2nd. If you could get a decent launch and avoid the extra shift, that would be great, but I think you'd lose a lot in the 60 foot times trying to get out of the hole consistently in 2nd.
The seat of the pants feel and normal driving sure is nice with 3.55s though!
Like someone above said, you might as well stay with the stock rear end if you are going to start in 2nd. If you could get a decent launch and avoid the extra shift, that would be great, but I think you'd lose a lot in the 60 foot times trying to get out of the hole consistently in 2nd.
The seat of the pants feel and normal driving sure is nice with 3.55s though!
Snakester
Enthusiast
I've done a bunch of street starts from 2nd and 3rd with the 3.55 gears and the car takes off fine. Potentially you could drive around at all legal speeds just using 2nd gear, and the Viper wouldn't sweat it a bit.
But I'm not so sure about trying to run the 1/4 mile starting from 2nd, as it would put a LOT more stress on the clutch.
On street tires, I actually don't have as much problem spinning in 1st gear (revving to around 1500 RPM and feeding in the clutch), but I have more traction problems shifting from 1st to 2nd, and I've gotten better times just short shifting to 2nd at around 4500RPM to reduce wheelspin when using nitrous (about 5000 RPM N/A).
-Dean.
But I'm not so sure about trying to run the 1/4 mile starting from 2nd, as it would put a LOT more stress on the clutch.
On street tires, I actually don't have as much problem spinning in 1st gear (revving to around 1500 RPM and feeding in the clutch), but I have more traction problems shifting from 1st to 2nd, and I've gotten better times just short shifting to 2nd at around 4500RPM to reduce wheelspin when using nitrous (about 5000 RPM N/A).
-Dean.
1TONY1
Enthusiast
Play with your 3.55's for a while after you get the s/c. You need better rear tires with either gear. I have 3.55s.
VIPR GTS
Viper Owner
OK, so I'm the guilty party here, it was suggested by Larry Macedo and others at Bowling Green this year for me to start out is second gear. My times came down some and my MPH went up a little. I have 3:55's, Roe SC and motor by Macedo, stock tires. I am new to this and have terrible 60 foot times but the second gear start works well with the torque and has not seemd to hurt the clutch (stock with aluminum FW). 134 MPH but only 11:50 times but both are better than starting in first gear. Try it, I think several of the people at V10 Nats have done it.
joe117
Enthusiast
"has not seemd to hurt the clutch"
I don't have an sc so I can't say that I know exactly what's happening when you start in second but I can guess.
You get less wheelspin. Since you are in second, your gears are trying to move you at a higher mph than if you were in first at the same off the line rpm.
So, something has got to be slipping and if it isn't the tires spinning I think it must be the clutch.
I just don't see any way that the second gear start isn't going to be harder on the clutch.
Of course, when you are racing the clutch is just another expendable component.
I don't have an sc so I can't say that I know exactly what's happening when you start in second but I can guess.
You get less wheelspin. Since you are in second, your gears are trying to move you at a higher mph than if you were in first at the same off the line rpm.
So, something has got to be slipping and if it isn't the tires spinning I think it must be the clutch.
I just don't see any way that the second gear start isn't going to be harder on the clutch.
Of course, when you are racing the clutch is just another expendable component.
JKVIPER
Enthusiast
I've had my 2001 Viper for about a month(which I'm lovin more and more) that came modified with the 3.55 rear in it. My first impression was that first gear went by a little quick and felt awkward on the street. But I soon got used to it and find the gearing well suited for cruising on the street. Hence, I don't start it in second gear.
Plus, with the 3.55 I can make more use of 6th gear and from what I understand with the standard rear, you have to be going significantly above highway speed to want to stay in 6th!
Plus, with the 3.55 I can make more use of 6th gear and from what I understand with the standard rear, you have to be going significantly above highway speed to want to stay in 6th!
VIPR GTS
Viper Owner
Joe117, I didn't say I dont spin the tires, second gear can still smike them all you want, it is just a little more controlable. I know that many of the seasoned drag racers here don't have that problem, but for us newer guys, it seems to help. I know that at Norwalk last year myself and many others burned a lot of clutchs up with first gear starts so I don't see a major dissadvantage here.
JKViper, you are correct, I have felt that my 3:55 gears were much better for the street, more useable alaround, but I am going to try the old 3:07's again with the horsepower and torque that I am running and see if they have become more user friendly in the day to day world.
JKViper, you are correct, I have felt that my 3:55 gears were much better for the street, more useable alaround, but I am going to try the old 3:07's again with the horsepower and torque that I am running and see if they have become more user friendly in the day to day world.
Similar threads
