trans tuning.

[cleatus12r]

I would assume you'd like Bill to answer those questions but I can give some insight as a transmission tech.

Yes, you'd be switching tunes as you run down the track. One hand on the wheel, one on the hand throttle, and one on.......wait a minute!

Whether or not the converter is locked depends a lot on the truck itself. With a lower power rig or one with a huge, laggy turbocharger I can assume that having a locked converter (especially early in the pull) would be a detriment. Heat shouldn't be too much of an issue because you're not running for 15 minutes with an unlocked converter....more like 15 seconds. The problem lies in the torque multiplication characteristics of the torque converter. Once the input shaft speed gets closer to the engine speed, the torque multiplication factor goes away. Once you reach redline (not hard to do with an unlocked converter) and the torque multiplication goes away, the input torque to the transmission input shaft is very low.....and so is the power to the wheels at that point.

Your best bet is to try out Bill's suggestion and practice with shift/TC lock points.

[Power Hungry]

Yes, you could have the trans switched to third gear and start out in third. For a pulling truck this may, or may not, be a big deal.

My personal preference is to have the converter locked once the RPMs hit 2400-2500 and then keep it locked form there. Some folks prefer to start out in 1st, and some in 2nd. It seems a little easier to spool in first, but maybe that's just me.

Hope this helps.