I have an 83 Trans Am. It's an automatic with a slap stick shifter. I was talking to a friend about shifting my car manually. I told him that when I race I usually shift around 3000-3250 RPM's. He said I was a complete idiot because I shifted too early. He claims that I should wait until the redline or just before to shift (redline is 4500). I tend to baby my car and chicken out and shift early. Then I talk to my other friend who owns a stick and he says that I am shifting fine and that if I wait till the redline, I am losing horsepower. I don't know who to believe.

Should I wait until the redline before shifting or should I continue to shift how I am shifting???? Am I robbing myself of tons of horsepower by shifting early or is my friend full of crap??? Thanks!

Steve

 

Well, if you're at the track try it both ways. That way you will actually know from experience rather then word of mouth. But I would wait till you get near the redline to shift.

 

my shift light is set at 5700. i have it set so that the drop in RPM's is equal over peak power. i think that made sense. wait. try this.

peak power seems to be around 5200, done on the butt dyno

5700 - 1st gear - 500 over peak
shift
4700 - 2nd gear - 500 below peak

see what i'm sayin? (numbers are not accurate)

just try what works best for you. i think you're shifting low though.

ohh! have you hit the funny button yet?

 

thanks for the info. No i haven't hit the funny button yet. I am still waiting on the nitrous spacer plate, its on month back order. I plan to hit it right after i get it on. I'll let you know. Thanks again.

Steve