Racing and Shifting tips

[Z28_SS]

I own a 98 camaro ss and i was looking for some tips when it came to shifting in a race.

[99zeetwentylate]

Seems I got better with experience, so get out there and look for some victims!

[redss454]

Don't miss. That's the best way.

When shifting 1-2, grab the shifter from teh side with your whole hand. Tuck your elbow into your side. When shift time comes, pull down with pressure to the left. For 2-3, give it pressure towards the right and up.

One thing that I have found is that a lot of guys will try and do it to fast at WOT and either hit the gate, or get it half way into gear and grind them. Make sure it's in gear when you pop the clutch back out. Practice "speed-shifting" at part throttle and gradually take it up from there.

I've always found "power-shifting" to be the fastest way. Takes a lot of practice, but once you figure it out, it's the best way to go, IMO. Gas to the floor, and when it comes time, shift without lifting. You can practice at part throttle before going WOT with it. Just remember that with a good powershift, the RPM will go up ~500 from where you started the shift. Factor that into your shift points.

Chris

[Z28_SS]

i raced my friends 2004 mustang gt when i first bought my car and he was right beside me the whole time. His car is completly stock and it was right behind me. there is no way that those cows can keep up and be so close to me. I know that it has a lot to do with how and when im shifting but i dont want to do to much experimenting with my car and then mess something up.

could you explain the power shifting in a little more detail. I want to go out and try it but im scared of trying to shift with out the cluth and then ultimatly grinding the gears. around what rpms should i shift for that. and also around what rpms do we get the most horse power and torque.

[silverz28camaro]

first power shift when the car is off, practice gettin it into gear fast and all the way , i noticed thta going into third you really dont have to push it to the right if you kinda just push forward it springs back to the nuetral position where third is right above that so alll ya gotta do is go straight up..... practice with car off first.

[Z28_SS]

is there certain rpms i should shift at?

[Y2KPewterSS]

Investing in a shift light and an aftermarktt shifter like a pro 5.0 or a Ripper is always a great idea to improve your shifting skills. Neither of them add the glamorous HP to a car, but they can sure improve you in other ways :D

[Z28_SS]

when i pull on the shifter, throwing it from first to second, without the clutch, will it grind gears at all. and do i need to let off the gas at all?

[Z28_SS]

just came back from trying to power shift and that was pretty cool, i did it from first all the way to fith. I would shift around 2 thousand each time and it would go in real smooth. the only time i had trouble was trying to go from first to second and power shift at about 4500 rpms. do i have to really pull on it because it felt like i was hitting a wall or something

[9T8W66]

Try applying pressure on the shifter then quickly kick the clutch it should go right into gear. And theres nothing wrong with lifting slightly. Stock car you should be shifting around 54-5500rpm.

[7camaro7]

first power shift when the car is off, practice gettin it into gear fast and all the way , i noticed thta going into third you really dont have to push it to the right if you kinda just push forward it springs back to the nuetral position where third is right above that so alll ya gotta do is go straight up..... practice with car off first.

only if you've got a hurst shifter or something like it.

[7camaro7]

i raced my friends 2004 mustang gt when i first bought my car and he was right beside me the whole time. His car is completly stock and it was right behind me. there is no way that those cows can keep up and be so close to me. I know that it has a lot to do with how and when im shifting but i dont want to do to much experimenting with my car and then mess something up.

could you explain the power shifting in a little more detail. I want to go out and try it but im scared of trying to shift with out the cluth and then ultimatly grinding the gears. around what rpms should i shift for that. and also around what rpms do we get the most horse power and torque.

my girl has a 2000 gt stang and the same thing happened to me the first night I had mine back in town except she jumped without giving me a warning and she held a fender on me.

Do not worry my man, you've just got to get more experience with the car and get comfortable with it. You've definitely got more power than those mustangs. Have fun but stay safe.

oh and I shift at 5600 because I looked at my dyno sheet and the peak hp is at 5400-5500 and right at 56 is when it starts to drop and I figure I'll use up those 54-5500rpms and shift on the 56 to make sure I get more out of peak hp instead of shifting on top of it

[Z28_SS]

i just raced a 350z and beat that thing by a lot, at least by 6-8 car lengths. those long tube headers really helped. once i get the power shifting thing down i will try it again and see how it goes. Dont our SS's come with and upgraded shifter?

[7camaro7]

some of them, not all. you got an "H" on your shifter? if you do then you've got a hurst shifter and that is good.

[patsy1]

i got a b&m shifter 100 dollers shiped let me know

[Z28_SS]

i dont think that i have a "h" on my shifter. where would i find that

[7camaro7]

on top of the shift knobhttp://www.slponline.com/img/part_img/60081-1.jpg
Don't get caught up in the shift knob. it is a complete shifting peice but the knob is how to know you've got one factory in the car(most likely). If you can push the shifter to the left or right and as soon as you let go it bounces back to middle then you've got it

[Wesman]

i dont think that i have a "h" on my shifter. where would i find that

Uhhh....:umm:

Your shift knob would have a huge "H" right on the top of it, where you rest your hand. If you don't have a leather shift knob with an "H" stamped into it, you more than likely don't have a Hurst shifter.

The stock (non Hurst) shifter really sucks, so if thats the one you have, you're in for a surprise when you try a B&M or Pro 5.0 :yup:

[Ls1Phillip]

i have a stock hurts shifter my shift points are at 5900 rpm

[Ls1Phillip]

well not stock but the ss package

[Wesman]

on top of the shift knob
Don't get caught up in the shift knob. it is a complete shifting peice but the knob is how to know you've got one factory in the car(most likely). If you can push the shifter to the left or right and as soon as you let go it bounces back to middle then you've got it

The stock (Non-Hurst) shifters didn't have neutral return springs??

Its amazing how shitty those things are, sounds like a dump truck shifter :ughlaugh:

[7camaro7]

I test drove a modded SS in nashville like last year it was supercharged. It wasn't hurst equipped and it was just a loose shifter. Shit it still wasn't bad, that was a supercharged SS 6spd! hahaha

[01SOMSS!]

when I race I noticed that on first gear from 3500-5000 rpm I here a soft ticking noise...it kinda scared at first so I go easy on first, but so far nothing has happened. it only happends on first gear. I race alot so I just roll my window up to keep me undistracted.is that normal. I mean car runs strong. someone told me maybe it was a manifold going bad.

[Ripper415]

power shifting is bad for the car. you can do it once or twice w/o probs but it's like russian roulette, tempt fate enough and you're in trouble. but hey, if you think the price of a new transmission is worth the tenth of a second not using the clutch saves you then by all means keep powershifting.

[7camaro7]

know how they say z28s and ss's have been hitting 12.9s and 12.8s? Well I bet they were power shifting. I also don't recommend doing it unless you've got cash to blow.

[Z28_SS]

thats awsome if our cars could do a 12.8 stock, but idk about that with my shifting. but maybe since i got the headers on my car i can do it. idk what to do next performance wise to it. think maybe im going to put leather interior in it then sell it so i can buy the new camaro.

[ATCharming]

i just taught my girlfriend how to powershift lol.

[Hot Black Trans-Am]

WOW, your asking for trouble with that!

[ATCharming]

lmao. she only drives an eclipse tho. when i buy my camaro or t/a, ill kick her ass. its not even a gt or modded lol, but its a fun drive for now.

[MyCamaroSS]

when i pull on the shifter, throwing it from first to second, without the clutch, will it grind gears at all. and do i need to let off the gas at all?

no what you do is keep your foot on the accelerator and push in the clutch and shift...... ok so im flooring it right now....5500rpms..keep your foot on the accelerator and push in the clutch and changed gears

[SSwt00SS]

advice, don't powershift into 5th gear, there is no need for it. at that speed, that's a lot of stress on the tranny and shift fork for no reason or benefit. powershifting is really for 1-2, 2-3. really no need to powershift into 4th gear because that's about 100mph (using 3.42 gears), that using the clutch to shift is a good idea. powershifting means you use no clutch period. foot is on the gas the whole time. you powershift from 2nd to 5th (missing 3rd gear) too many times and you will have a 3400lb paper weight...

now, go out and drive it like you stole it...