• Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

whats the difference between power shifting and just shifting fast?

  • Thread starter Thread starter DerekStangGT
  • Start date Start date Jan 12, 2004
Prev
  • 1
  • 2
First Prev 2 of 2
2

2002BLGT

Well-Known Member
Dec 18, 2003
2,945
4
59
Bedford VA
Jan 13, 2004
#21
  • Jan 13, 2004
  • #21
TeknoMage said:
It's easy as hell.
I nailed it on the first try.
It kicked out the @$$ end when I hit 3rd, and that was on a 03 GT with only a Tri-Ax. (no other mods)
Click to expand...


now go blow the doors off somebody that cant drive
 
2

2002BLGT

Well-Known Member
Dec 18, 2003
2,945
4
59
Bedford VA
Jan 13, 2004
#22
  • Jan 13, 2004
  • #22
TeknoMage said:
It's easy as hell.
I nailed it on the first try.
It kicked out the @$$ end when I hit 3rd, and that was on a 03 GT with only a Tri-Ax. (no other mods)
Click to expand...

Longtubes are a pain , be careful bending the dipstick when you put it back in , have a tube bender and a vise near by if you are doing it yourself , and once you get those on watch the powershifting , traction will be a major issue because of the crap load more torque .
 

Snarf

New Member
Dec 24, 2003
237
1
0
Lexington, KY
Jan 13, 2004
#23
  • Jan 13, 2004
  • #23
Simply, Powershifting = shifting with ZERO clutch.

Not a very good idea imo, but alot of guys do it. Prolly alot of the same guys who have trashed 3650s, hehe.

Im never in such a hurry as to not use the clutch.. 186K mi on my original plates
 

StngStr

Member
Jun 24, 2003
616
0
17
Central Florida
Jan 13, 2004
#24
  • Jan 13, 2004
  • #24
Snarf said:
Simply, Powershifting = shifting with ZERO clutch.

Not a very good idea imo, but alot of guys do it. Prolly alot of the same guys who have trashed 3650s, hehe.

Im never in such a hurry as to not use the clutch.. 186K mi on my original plates
Click to expand...

Nope. Wrong man. Powershifting is holding the gas pedal to the floor, stabbing the clutch (in-out<--as fast as you can) and ripping the shifter into the new gear as you stab the clutch. It's basically popping the clutch just super super fast. In the split second it takes you to stab and release the clutch you have to have changed gears. You've gotta make sure you do it fast enough, otherwise you'll hit the rev limiter. If you have 186k mi on your original clutch plates then you've never correctly powershifted. I don't powershift first to second because I'll just spin, but I do from 2nd to 3rd at the track. I've missed a few times and it just bounces off the rev limiter and makes me look really stupid.
 
2

2002BLGT

Well-Known Member
Dec 18, 2003
2,945
4
59
Bedford VA
Jan 13, 2004
#25
  • Jan 13, 2004
  • #25
StngStr said:
Nope. Wrong man. Powershifting is holding the gas pedal to the floor, stabbing the clutch (in-out<--as fast as you can) and ripping the shifter into the new gear as you stab the clutch. It's basically popping the clutch just super super fast. You've gotta make sure you do it fast enough, otherwise you'll hit the rev limiter. If you have 186k mi on your original clutch plates then you've never correctly powershifted. I don't powershift first to second because I'll just spin, but I do from 2nd to 3rd at the track. I've missed a few times and it just bounces off the rev limiter and makes me look really stupid.
Click to expand...

NOW WE ARE TALKING somebody that knows how to drive

I went to great links to type it all out i guess he didnt read it . LOL my trick is to pull like hell on the shifter while you are accelerating that way when you do stab the clutch in , you will pull it into gear without even thinking about it because you are already pulling back on it or pushing up and over if you are trying to hit third . Ive been known to bang it all the way thru 5th in a close street race .
 

4.6MustangSteve

New Member
Jun 13, 2003
219
0
0
Northern VA, USA
Jan 13, 2004
#26
  • Jan 13, 2004
  • #26
If you've got stock tires I would advise against powershifting into 2nd. You probably lose some time because of all the spin into 2nd.

When I powershift I like to hover my foot over the clutch and then mash it like I'm trying to put a dent in the floorboard. I pre-load the shifter like alot of the other guys are talking about and as I start to mash the clutch I pull back or push foward (whichever gear i'm shifting to) and that works well. Very fast.

I wish I knew how to do that when I went to the track, my 2-3 shifts sucked horribly back then... of course I barely had any experience driving a 5spd.

Just a tip for quick shifting: If you are one that leaves your heel on the floor when you work the clutch, don't do that when you're trying to shift fast. It's alot faster if you hover your foot over the cluch and just mash it all the way down. It's alot faster than leaving your heel on the floor board. You've got more power to mash the clutch in as fast as you can.

 

matty50racer

Founding Member
Nov 8, 2002
242
0
16
Pennsylvania
Jan 13, 2004
#27
  • Jan 13, 2004
  • #27
Yes powershifting will beat up your trans and clutch.

NO I will never stop powershifting my car every time I get on it.

I exploded my stock clutch 2,000 miles after I bought my car at maple grove because I powershifted 5 runs in a row in 20 min. Another 2,000 miles later I just replaced the 3-4 shift fork I busted and replaced the used FMS heavy duty clutch I had in my car (got it for $50 just so I could drive) with a new King cobra and resurfaced the beat flywheel.

I learned how to powershift in my 5.0 and people would ask me all the time if it was automatic. I don't even notice the rpms rise when I power shift 1-2 and 3-4. 2-3 I notice a 100 or 200 rpm spike but since I shift right before the rev limitier it can't go much higher anyway.
 

Steeda Cheeta

Founding Member
Apr 28, 2002
380
0
0
Mass
Jan 13, 2004
#28
  • Jan 13, 2004
  • #28
I can powershift faster than any auto I have ever been in. Powershifting IS when you you are WOT and just stab the clutch, If anything you will beat the clutch as the stock clutch is the fuse (weak link) between the engine and the tranny. I broke traction going into 4th on my way back from a small road trip and a member on this site was with me Bottom line, as long as you shift with confidence you can do it easily, just don't get too carried away or you will be putting in a clutch
 

merc123

Active Member
Jan 27, 2003
420
2
39
North GA
Jan 13, 2004
#29
  • Jan 13, 2004
  • #29
2002BLGT said:
powershifting , helpful hint on how to do it right , old school style , when you start to take off in first , do this , grab the shifter while you have the pedal floored , if you have a decent clutch it shouldnt come out of gear as long as you are HARD on the throttle , pull back like you are trying to rip it out of the floor , when you get the revs about 200 to 500 rpms from where you wanna shift , stomp on the clutch pedal has hard and as fast as you can without letting off the gas , keep the gas DOWN , snap the clutch in and out bam bam , dont hesitate with it or you will MISS , your pulling back will pull it into second without even thinking about it , if none of you have been doing this try it tomorrow and let me know how it works for you , some people can do it some cant , seems to be a thing that just comes to you . Do third gear the same way but be very very careful , if you arent sure about your skills dont do it , ive seen to many people that thought they could drive a car slam one back into first , done it myself when i was mad at my girl , isnt good on the car , just push up and over to third while you are accelerating thru second gear , same process , 200 to 500 rpms shy of shift point , BAM in and out with the clutch pedal as fast as you can smack it down with your foot let off , some people side step it sometimes called , they kick it down and slide their foot off the left side of the pedal to make it even quicker , dont do this until you got the basics down of proper power shifting , alot of the older guys wont tell the younger guys how to do this properly because it does give you an edge if the other guy granny shifts or just shifts fast . do fourth the same way , hopefully by then you are smoking the other guy . and DONT LET OFF THE GAS

Good luck
Click to expand...


This is how my dad explained it to me. He used to race a Ford Torrino in his younger days. He did it in a 96 V6 stang I was looking at buying before getting my Cougar and it was nice. I wouldn't try it myself though.
 

Teen'93stang5.0

Founding Member
May 26, 2002
3,560
5
78
813
Jan 13, 2004
#30
  • Jan 13, 2004
  • #30
TeknoMage said:
It's easy as hell.
I nailed it on the first try.
It kicked out the @$$ end when I hit 3rd, and that was on a 03 GT with only a Tri-Ax. (no other mods)
Click to expand...


watch out at the track then, i thought it was crazy that id spin into third on the street and at the track i kicked the ass out of the car in second and nearly wrecked.............the track can get "dusty" after the 60ft mark for some reason, so just be careful and get out of it if you start to spin
 
Prev
  • 1
  • 2
First Prev 2 of 2
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
Shift light
  • Jfriedrich
  • Jun 22, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
1
Views
197
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Dec 29, 2025
dirk shorter
D
E
Serpentine ac bracket differences
  • EspaceF1Fan
  • Apr 1, 2026
  • 2.3L (N/A & Turbo) Tech
Replies
1
Views
124
2.3L (N/A & Turbo) Tech Apr 1, 2026
OX1
O
K
TKX Transmission Shifting Problem
  • KWC156
  • Jun 23, 2025
  • Other Auto Tech
  • 2
Replies
21
Views
3K
Other Auto Tech Jun 13, 2026
427nostang
4
J
Rear alignment issues
  • Jayjay001
  • May 27, 2026
  • 2015 - 2023 (S550) Mustang -General/Talk
Replies
1
Views
90
2015 - 2023 (S550) Mustang -General/Talk May 27, 2026
Noobz347
Fuel pressure regulator differences
  • dan50
  • Mar 26, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
0
Views
66
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Mar 26, 2026
dan50
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?