Advanced Engineering Tech For the more hardcore LS1TECH residents

Continuously Variable Trannys for drag racing

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-23-2006, 03:59 PM
  #1  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
3.4camaro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Galveston, TX
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Continuously Variable Trannys for drag racing

CVT for short. These little puppies have no shift shock and no real gears. I think they are pretty cool. I was thinking the other day, if you could program one to stay at the peak torque RPM, could you hypothetically shave alot of time off the 1/4?

This means keeping the engine at 3500 rpm or whatever the dyno graph says, and having the tranny do the accelerating. Good idea? Thoughts? Questions? Comments?
Old 12-23-2006, 04:57 PM
  #2  
TECH Fanatic
 
ringram's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Sunny London, UK
Posts: 1,690
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Currently I don't believe that the designs on the market allow for much torque. They are usually in small engined cars.

Here is a quote from Mr Wiki "CVT torque handling capability is limited by the strength of their belt or chain, and by their ability to withstand friction wear between torque source and transmission medium for friction-driven CVTs. CVTs in production prior to 2005 are predominantly belt or chain driven and therefore typically limited to low powered cars and other light duty applications."

Looks like there is another trans called an IVT though which handles more torque.
Old 12-23-2006, 05:44 PM
  #3  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (6)
 
P Mack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 2,382
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by 3.4camaro
if you could program one to stay at the peak torque RPM, could you hypothetically shave alot of time off the 1/4?
You would want it to stay at peak power rpm, not torque.
Old 12-23-2006, 06:30 PM
  #4  
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
 
JAY ROD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: ontario CANADA
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

it would be boring don't ya think?
Old 12-23-2006, 06:48 PM
  #5  
11 Second Club
iTrader: (5)
 
chris93266's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

It would be like broooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooo
Old 12-23-2006, 07:22 PM
  #6  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (10)
 
NHRATA01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Dutchess, New York
Posts: 1,797
Received 27 Likes on 22 Posts

Default

Yeah, if they could build one that can handle that kind of power, it would work well for drag racing. If they run sleds at your strip, thats the trans every sled has, and some of those things run pretty damn quick (10s/11s isn't uncommon).
Old 12-23-2006, 07:52 PM
  #7  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
3.4camaro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Galveston, TX
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

it definitly would be boring.

my question was hypothetical and i know the CVT currently sucks. i just wanted some opinions from the greatest minds on the net
Old 12-23-2006, 08:38 PM
  #8  
TECH Fanatic
 
gun5l1ng3r's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Laguna Niguel, CA
Posts: 1,017
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by NHRATA01
If they run sleds at your strip, thats the trans every sled has, and some of those things run pretty damn quick (10s/11s isn't uncommon).
First time I saw one of those things at Pomona, I was like damn, they are even faster than street bikes!!

They all clicked off times in the 10's. Simply amazing!!!

I think those things are one of the cheapest ways to get into the 10's. They have a low Cg and a lot of traction.
Old 12-23-2006, 08:41 PM
  #9  
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (19)
 
2002_Z28_Six_Speed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Wash, DC
Posts: 4,539
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

What is funny is that some of the first cars even built had one. The design goes back before the turn of the century.
Old 12-23-2006, 10:23 PM
  #10  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
3.4camaro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Galveston, TX
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

the design goes back to leonardo da vinci
Old 12-24-2006, 12:57 AM
  #11  
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (1)
 
partyhardoo69's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Orland Park, Illinois
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Yeah, if they could build one that can handle that kind of power, it would work well for drag racing. If they run sleds at your strip, thats the trans every sled has, and some of those things run pretty damn quick (10s/11s isn't uncommon).
our old sled ran 9.0's n/a. we never could get it dialed in right. one problem after another. motor made 250hp...3 cylinders. motor blew......and we decided to get a dragster.
Old 12-24-2006, 01:18 AM
  #12  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
black_knight's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,377
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

If you look at a diagram of what a CVT is, you'll see there is a limit to what it can handle in terms of stress. Imagine moving your whole car with the belt drive from a supercharger. It's sorta like that. It works fine for low power cars or really lightweight stuff like bikes and snowmobiles, but I doubt it could ever work for drag racing with cars.
Old 12-24-2006, 08:12 AM
  #13  
10 Second Club + 14 Second Truck Club
iTrader: (3)
 
antz01ta's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Ne Pa
Posts: 493
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

my mom has a Nissan Murano and it has a transmission like that, they call it their Xtronic CVT. It doesnt shift at all. If you stand on it from a stop the rpm goes up to redline and it just keeps accelerating. If feels kinda wierd, but it runs good for an SUV.
Old 12-24-2006, 10:52 AM
  #14  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (2)
 
A-man930's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 546
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

by "sleds" do you mean snowmobiles?
Old 12-24-2006, 04:34 PM
  #15  
TECH Resident
iTrader: (1)
 
Okie5.3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 871
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

my polaris scrambler had the same type setup. these systems are completely tuneable, in that the engagement rpm, shift speed, more/less aggressive acceleration rate, more/less rpm on top end, etc...are adjustable. the launch can even be setup to hit pretty hard by notching the flyweights. non-linear progressive rate roller helix cams for the secondary clutch can make the acceleration rates on these light weight machines unbelievable.
Old 12-24-2006, 05:38 PM
  #16  
TECH Fanatic
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
3.4camaro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Galveston, TX
Posts: 1,202
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by black_knight
If you look at a diagram of what a CVT is, you'll see there is a limit to what it can handle in terms of stress. Imagine moving your whole car with the belt drive from a supercharger. It's sorta like that. It works fine for low power cars or really lightweight stuff like bikes and snowmobiles, but I doubt it could ever work for drag racing with cars.

im aware that in their current state they blow ***. i know a guy with a Saturn Vue that has gone through 3 of em. but if they could be improved with some kind of steel belt or made of more sturdy materials, i think they would be really quick trannys(pun intended)
Old 12-24-2006, 11:29 PM
  #17  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (10)
 
NHRATA01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Dutchess, New York
Posts: 1,797
Received 27 Likes on 22 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by A-man930
by "sleds" do you mean snowmobiles?
Yah. When you live in snow country, the sled-lovers need to get their fill in the warm weather so they just put wheeled skiis on the fronts and take it to the track.
Old 12-25-2006, 09:14 AM
  #18  
Teching In
iTrader: (5)
 
ssmr0501's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Berwick, PA
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

CVT are used quite often in extremely large tractors (lots of torque). I believe it will only be a matter of time. Though it would get rather boring racing one.
Old 12-25-2006, 06:00 PM
  #19  
LS1 Tech Administrator
iTrader: (14)
 
Patrick G's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Victoria, TX
Posts: 8,244
Likes: 0
Received 31 Likes on 27 Posts

Default

The slider clutches in Top Fuel dragsters and funny cars keep the rpm around the same level for the entire run. They are kinda like a CVT that handles over 6000 hp.

For us sportman racers, a 2 speed Powerglide tranny does a pretty good impression of a CVT when it has the right converter.
__________________

2013 Corvette Grand Sport A6 LME forged 416, Greg Good ported TFS 255 LS3 heads, 222/242 .629"/.604" 121LSA Pat G blower cam, ARH 1 7/8" headers, ESC Novi 1500 Supercharger w/8 rib direct drive conversion, 747rwhp/709rwtq on 93 octane, 801rwhp/735rwtq on race fuel, 10.1 @ 147.25mph 1/4 mile, 174.7mph Half Mile.
2016 Corvette Z51 M7 Magnuson Heartbeat 2300 supercharger, TSP LT headers, Pat G tuned, 667rwhp, 662rwtq, 191mph TX Mile.
2009.5 Pontiac G8 GT 6.0L, A6, AFR 230v2 heads. 506rwhp/442rwtq. 11.413 @ 121.29mph 1/4 mile, 168.7mph TX Mile
2000 Pewter Ram Air Trans Am M6 heads/cam 508 rwhp/445 rwtq SAE, 183.092 TX Mile
2018 Cadillac Escalade 6.2L A10 Pat G tuned.
LS1,LS2,LS3,LS7,LT1 Custom Camshaft Specialist For custom camshaft help press here.
Custom LSX tuning in person or via email press here.
Old 12-25-2006, 06:46 PM
  #20  
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (19)
 
2002_Z28_Six_Speed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Wash, DC
Posts: 4,539
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

What car are we working on today, Patrick?? Does the sig reflect the most recent purchase?


Quick Reply: Continuously Variable Trannys for drag racing



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:22 AM.