Can't stop'em from spinning....

[sikryd]

Loose the leaf springs, and install a set of ladder bars, and get a tire with some kind of a sidewall. The 540 is putting out a crap load of torque, so try not to have such a heavy foot off this line. I find with a standard trans the best thing to do is don't rev it to much before letting off the clutch. Leave the line like you were leaving a stop sign (well...a little harder than that), then roll on the throttle. You will never hook up a 540 BBC with manual trans if your side stepping the cluch at 3,000 rpm. Unless you have a 10.5 in slick under it, and then your gonna bust that trans wide open.
I got my former 88 mustang with a 460 and a top loader to do mid 11's with no slicks. I would leave the line at a little over 2000 rpm, then roll onto the throttle as fast as the tires would let me.

Also, as the others said, practice, practice, practice.......