My first drag race is this weekend with this truck since 2010. I built a stock 360 with a big cam and can only foot brake the trans 2500 Rpms. In the meanwhile of the truck being parked for 4 years and not running my line lock solenoid [censored] the bed before even being used, so I will be brake standing her for the first race to burnout. I've done some test passes on the vacant street across from the house and cannot get a good second gear burnout. I've tried just a couple times with water and have to start in first gear to get them spinning and every time I try to hit second the tires come to a dead stop. This cannot be good for the trans. What can I do in such short time? Buying a new solenoid or not going is not an option.

Just do a first gear burn out. No rule says you have to use second. If they heat up in first, you're good to go.

Been reading the horror stories of 727s blowing up from first gear burnouts and would rather not have it happen to me

I think third gear burnouts are the bigger problem, when they get into the overrunning clutch. Besides, I don't think your engine is going to make enough power to hurt the trans if you can't keep the tires spinning in second gear.

Years ago I would start my burnouts in first before I realized the damage it can do to the overrunning clutch (sprag) as I would hit the gas and then instantly shift into second and then third. I got away with it years ago but as I said as soon as I hit the gas I would shift right into second right away. Its not recomended but many did it for years and if you have to do it if you cant get them to spin even in water then shift right into second right away. But I would think in water you should be able to get them to spin in second. You want to be careful if you start the burnout in first as you dont want to damage the sprag and cause a problem where the drum can spin at high rpm and blow apart if you run a stock drum in the trans. Ron

you dont want to come out of the water in 1st gear in a 727...and let it hit dry pavement...boom...

Step on it harder wile in 2nd gear. Don't ease into it.

You have a non LBA valve body?

If he has a stock trans it is a LBA.. if you start
in the water(right at the front edge of the water
and your sifter is in second it is still starting
in first gear... if you pull it into low your appling
the sprag also.. as soon as they start spinning shift to
second... first/low is when you can have issues... DONT
spin it then let off and hit it again.. thats when you
break the sprag.. it rolls back then when you hit it again
that extra travel/distance will SLAM the sprag and break it..
if you spin off the line DONT pedal it.. shift out of low
also you have to set the sprag.. when you pull up
to the line.. have it in low and roll for about 4'
to set it.. if you back up make sure you have at
least that 4' going forward inlow

Thanks for the tips guys. My trans is complete stock rebuild with a TF 3 shift kit biggest problem is the 3.23 gears doesn't match my cam and not having the line lock adds that much more drag right on the top

To be honest you said you have a big cam,stock trans,3.23 gears, heavy truck you probably don't even need to do a burn out. it probably wont even spin the tires with a sticky track with big cam that wont make any low end torque. just saying.

Very true.. might be better off driving around the
water box.... at least try it once to see

This right here........Stock 360, big cam, stock trans, heavy truck, no gear.........Drive around the water and stage it

Well drove through the water got them spinning in 1st gear and shifted to second not an issue unless i didn't get fresh water

are you using slicks or street tires? street tires do not need a burnout, all they do is drag water to starting line and you will spin!! can try going around water box and do dry hops to clean tires off. that works with street tires or slicks!!!!

As mentioned, the stock valve body uses the low band apply when shifted into manual low. It only uses the sprag in low gear if you leave the car in Drive.

Manual second gear seems to be a good choice if you have the power to do a second gear burnout.

I think the origin of the no burnout in low, only second gear, was from the instructions from some of the old manual reverse or trans brake valve bodies that may not of had low band apply?

I am running slicks. Not sure how that rumor got started but I've also heard that low band apply isn't quite enough to save the drum. And I've also heard that The drum won't explode at speeds less than 6000 Rpms which is 12k Rpms for the drum.