Agressive Shifting

BlackenedSVT · Sep 2, 2004

I just got my new 02GT and its my first manual, but my 3rd car. I've been taking it pretty easy, but its hard let me tell you I've opened up a few times, and launched once. (i've had the car for a week now).

I wanted to know what the car (your cars) feels like (or are SUPPOSED) to feel like when you guys aggressively shift gears. Sometimes my car JERKS me back with every gear shift, especially 2nd and 3rd. And sometimes i still have a good run down the highway/street and the shifts are nice and smooth. I want to know which of these methods makes faster ETs and/or are better for the car...

Now i realize that i'm still trying to get a feel for the car and the clutch, especially with racing shifting. But i want to know what the car is SUPPOSED to feel like when you get a GREAT launch from it.

Maybe you guys that have been to the track a lot can help me out...

Everytime i get in a car with one of my friends, no matter WHAT car he drives, whenever he races it, he always shifts gears so violently and every gear jerks you back in the seat...i mean it FEELS like there is a lot of power behind each shift, but is this the right way? Cause i think he is just letting the clutch out too fast like i've done a few times.

Dr GT · Sep 2, 2004

congrats on pickin up a gt. i just got a 5spd a week ago as well and i love it so much... i'm pretty use to it all ready, i have the 4.10 gears in it, and i've never driven a gt/manual car other than this with the 4.10s, but when i launch, my first gear is SUPER quick, im talkin like, seems like less than a second and im slammin that shifter to second and third.

your friend probably doesn't know how to shift well. i have friends that have gobs of driving experience (actual driving experience = 5/6spd gearboxes and track runs) and theres next to no jerking.

you gotta conform to the clutch with your gas pedal. just go into an empty parking lot and experiment, thats what i did. damn, i stalled so much when i got my pony. but now i'm pretty seamless when it comes to shifting.

i like to give it about 1/4 throttle when i let the clutch out 1/4, and then slam the gas and release the clutch..that applies to 2nd-5th, first i just drop it all the time, lol. i know i probably dont shift correctly, but it feels right to me.

practice makes perfect.

NicksBullitt · Sep 2, 2004

The quicker and harder you can accelerate without slipping the meats, the faster your gonna get where your going.
This includes shifting and launching, the quicker and harder you can dump,shift,etc. without slippin, the quicker you'll be.
Rpms and shift points are also important so be aware "takin her all the way to red line" is not always the fastest route from stoplight to stoplight.......I mean at the track.

Congrats.

BlackenedSVT · Sep 2, 2004

Yeah but like i was saying...to get the fastest/best performance out of the car...is it wrong to be slamming gears and jerking you back as you shift. Or is this wrong, because your letting the clutch out too fast or something...

I kind of just 'do it' and if it jerks it jerks and if its smooth its smooth, i kind of don't worry about it. But it got me thinking maybe its slower to do it one way...

Mustang5L5 · Sep 2, 2004

Well you kind of need to let the clutch out fast.

Are you talking about normal driving, or racing??

WHen racing, i kick the clutch in, bang the gears and let the clutch out fast. It's always a violent shift and i chirp the tires on the 1-2 and 2-3 shift all the time. Everyone who rides with me gets jerked on these hard shifts. You need to though. You can't ride the clutch out at 6000RPM between shifts. you'll smoke it.

But normal driving, i ride the clutch a bit between shifts. If i have a passenger, my goal is to make the shifts to that they don't feel it at all. Even if i get on it, say 50% throttle, you don't need to pop the clutch out on the shifts you can ease it out and then get on it.

When you get better at driving stick, you'll understand how to finagle the clutch to control the shifts and how comfortable they are.

I'm only been driving stick regularly now for 2 months. It took me about 1 month to get to the point where i could control the car easily and effortlessly and make for a smooth ride.

showstopper2 · Sep 2, 2004

the gas pedal should never leave the floor when upshifting IMO. I did this up until my blower install without problems. now my tranny will find the ground quick if I drive it like that. once I get a TKO 500 in her it'll be back to the powershifting if traction permits.

for daily driving I just granny each shift and slowly accelerate into the next. its all throttle control when you want a smooth ride.

Avenger · Sep 3, 2004

showstopper2 said:
the gas pedal should never leave the floor when racing IMO.

Word

BlackenedSVT · Sep 3, 2004

Mustang5L5 said:
Well you kind of need to let the clutch out fast.

Are you talking about normal driving, or racing??

WHen racing, i kick the clutch in, bang the gears and let the clutch out fast. It's always a violent shift and i chirp the tires on the 1-2 and 2-3 shift all the time. Everyone who rides with me gets jerked on these hard shifts. You need to though. You can't ride the clutch out at 6000RPM between shifts. you'll smoke it.

But normal driving, i ride the clutch a bit between shifts. If i have a passenger, my goal is to make the shifts to that they don't feel it at all. Even if i get on it, say 50% throttle, you don't need to pop the clutch out on the shifts you can ease it out and then get on it.

When you get better at driving stick, you'll understand how to finagle the clutch to control the shifts and how comfortable they are.

I'm only been driving stick regularly now for 2 months. It took me about 1 month to get to the point where i could control the car easily and effortlessly and make for a smooth ride.

This is EXACTLY what i do under both driving conditions...so i guess i'm set... I've had the car for a week and a half now, and i pretty much got it down

BlackenedSVT · Sep 3, 2004

showstopper2 said:
the gas pedal should never leave the floor when upshifting IMO. I did this up until my blower install without problems. now my tranny will find the ground quick if I drive it like that.

yeah, well that WILL get you the fastest ET's, but that will also be the fastest route to the mechanics too

I haven't done this method yet, and probably will stray from it, because if i were to ever miss a gear *BOOM!!!* Goodbye trans

Premium Speed · Sep 3, 2004

under WOT my passengers heads snap back when i shift...smooth shifting at WOT isn't going to win races. just my .02

mrpositraction · Sep 3, 2004

Agree, when at the track I shift my car like it's not mine. When cruisin thru town it shift and feel no jerk as if it was on continuous gear. I learned how to drive with granny low, heavy duty 4 spd. But shifting like you are at the track will get you into the garage. Unless you are built for it

BlackenedSVT · Sep 3, 2004

But shifting like you are at the track will get you into the garage. Unless you are built for it

^^ What the hell does that mean? lol

wesl56 · Sep 3, 2004

UDTBadkarma said:
^^ What the hell does that mean? lol

you will break something lol

mrpositraction · Sep 3, 2004

Thanks wesl56.

BlackenedSVT · Sep 5, 2004

thats what i thought you meant

damacman · Sep 5, 2004

UDTBadkarma said:
yeah, well that WILL get you the fastest ET's, but that will also be the fastest route to the mechanics too

I haven't done this method yet, and probably will stray from it, because if i were to ever miss a gear *BOOM!!!* Goodbye trans

Untrue, I've missed alot of gears power-shifting over the years (it happens) without damage to the trans. . . .

UVBNHAD · Sep 5, 2004

Before you start really pounding gears, especially since this is your first manual, I would invest in a short throw shifter.

It's pretty much a toss-up around here as which one to go with, whether it be a Pro 5.0 or Steeda Tri-Ax (or a combination Pro 5.0 with Tri-Ax handle). It's a relatively inexpensive and extremely easy upgrade; in fact I did the swap five minutes after I bought my first shifter in their parking lot.

And yes, the difference between a stock shifter and an aftermarket well...there is no way to describe it other than night and day.

Ruckus46Gt · Sep 5, 2004

i just shift idk i dont even think about it....the 1-2 shift always chirps 2-3 most of the time does i hate when it doesnt because you hear that belt noise that sounds like a slip. when i have a passanger i normally still shift hard and that just to throw them back its all about the experience of driving in the car lol unless its my gf then i shift nice and easy until she is like get on it. unless your truely stupid your not going to mess it up. oh yea and if you start spinning 1st through 4th 100 percent of the time your not spinning the tires thats the clutch your burning i did that in my v6 camaro in the rain even got 5th gear to spin i thought lol

BlackenedSVT · Sep 5, 2004

:OT: Ruckus46Gt you're only running a 13.9 with those mods???

Agressive Shifting

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