Shifting tips

[viperct2001]

Ok, I need some shifting tips.

Here's how I shift when driving fast.

1) Forgetting the launch- which is a science all by itself- I keep it in 1st gear (gas pedal mashed) until around 4800-5000RPMs
2) I "completely" remove my foot from the gas pedal (RPMs go down) and at same time put clutch in
3) I shift into next gear
4) I release/dump clutch and immediately stomp on gas again until next shift point.

Here's my question:
Question #1) By releasing the gas pedal completely before engaging clutch and then shifting, the RPMs go down drastically - am I losing power/acceleration by doing this?

I've tried keeping the pedal to the floor and engaging the clutch, but then the RPMs shoot way too high. In fact, I've tested my shifting techniques on my 3000GT and I've had the clutch slip on me when I dumped the clutch at high RPMs.

So then I tried just releasing the pedal just a "little bit", engaging clutch and then shifting. Seems to keep the RPMs high, but not too high. On the 3000GT, it does seem to help, but sometimes it's seems to hurt. Sometimes when I dump the clutch at fairly high RPMS, it seems like it takes the car a split second to "catch" the gear and accelerate. Maybe I'm doing more harm than good?

Question #2) So is giving "some gas" (keeping RPMs up) the proper way to shift when trying for maximum acceleration?

Question #3) Also, does keeping the RPMs high when shifting hurt the Viper's clutch? Maybe the Viper can handle dumping the clutch at higher RPMs more so than a 3000GT, but I'd rather not try until the VCA members give me the go ahead.

Question #4) What about "power shifting"? I also "tested" this on my 3000GT. I tried jamming it from 1st to 2nd with no clutch and the **** thing keeps going into neutral not 2nd. Maybe I need to shift earlier or later in the RPM cycle. Let me know how bad "power shifting" is on a stock Viper clutch and the proper technique.

again, I'm not messing with my baby till you fellas give me the go ahead!

 

[genXgts]

Not sure why no one has responded to you on this yet, checked my calender and it's not April 1st, so:

Jam that thing into the next gear as quickly as you can, if your not comfortable leaving your foot in the gas to the floor, let up a touch, do not let off, and then get back into it. Over time this will reduce until you slam each gear with your foot solidly in the carpet.......depending on surface things could get squirrly on the 1-2 shift, back off a touch for that one if need be, best of luck, going out to practice it right now.

There is talk of too much pressure on the shifter on the slam doing some damage to the shifter forks, so watch that if possible.

Oh, and 4800 to 5500 is too low, hit 6000 in first before the slam!!!

 

[2BADD 4U]

The short throw shifters have the most damaging effect on the tranny forks, Also when going for 4th gear....ALWAYS hold the shifter......with your palm facing out...towards the passenger......and thumb down...you don't want to hit 2nd gear going for 4th...it has happened to the best of them. This will prevent that .

Thanks, Dave

 

[MES]

Great questions viperct2001 I hope someone answers your questions because I want to know the answers to. One thing you can try is shift by lightly touching the throttle, once you get the feel for that go 1/4 throttle, 1/3, 1/2, 3/4 etc. To me it seems best to hold maybe 1/3 to 1/2 throttle while shifting to maintain your RPM then shift and go WOT. Letting completely off jerks the car from a deceleration to full throttle, which would seem to me to be bad for the car, don't know.

Also if you want max acceleration don't shift so early, 5,500 minimum shift point with a stock car, closer to 6K seems to get the best times. Don't worry about babying your engine, it can take 6K shifts no problem.

 

[Mike Brunton]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by viperct2001:
Ok, I need some shifting tips.
Here's my question:
Question #1) By releasing the gas pedal completely before engaging clutch and then shifting, the RPMs go down drastically - am I losing power/acceleration by doing this?

Question #2) So is giving "some gas" (keeping RPMs up) the proper way to shift when trying for maximum acceleration?

Question #3) Also, does keeping the RPMs high when shifting hurt the Viper's clutch? Maybe the Viper can handle dumping the clutch at higher RPMs more so than a 3000GT, but I'd rather not try until the VCA members give me the go ahead.

Question #4) What about "power shifting"? I also "tested" this on my 3000GT. I tried jamming it from 1st to 2nd with no clutch and the **** thing keeps going into neutral not 2nd. Maybe I need to shift earlier or later in the RPM cycle. Let me know how bad "power shifting" is on a stock Viper clutch and the proper technique.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Answers...

1) YES!!!!!
2) YES!!!!!!!!! (only let off maybe 5-10%)
3) Viper has an ENORMOUS beefy clutch... I had ~300+ passes on my car - HARD launch, no clutch problems.
4) Not necessary! You WILL hurt your tranny doing this!

Regarding keeping the gas floored - when you put the clutch in, the engine will rev freely, and the whole motor and transmission will torque to one side, making it HIGHLY likely you will miss a shift. It's not a good idea. Shift FAST, VERY VERY VERY fast, but let off the gas just a hair - enough to stop you RPM's from falling.

I started by doing what you are doing (letting off), then started doing what I am saying to do... 1/4 times went from low 12's to high 11's, with the occasional mid 11!

 

[shifter]

If you get good at it, you can shift without lifting. I do all the time, but I have dragged a few cars in my past so shifting comes sort of naturally to me. I don't lift shifting from 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd or 3rd to 4th. I do struggle, at times, keeping the car straight after powershifting to 2nd as it is easy to break the rear end loose doing that. As a matter of fact, if the track is loose or slick, sometimes I won't powershift 2nd to control wheelspin.

The rev limiter will protect the engine. Your only mechanical concern, as noted in posts above, is the shift fork. If you are powershifting and not lifting and you don't get the gear the first time, drop everything. Get off the gas and coast across the line. Trying to force the shifter into gear is how the shift fork gets bent, especially if your revs are way up it's tough getting it to synch, regardless if the clutch is to the floor.


Short throw shifter... takes a lot of leverage out of the shift handle and requires a more precise placement of the handle to engage the gear. It's much easier to miss a shift with a short handle due to the lack of play and lack of leverage, in my opinion. Quicker shifts, but more missed shifts for beginners.

When a seasoned drag racer took me out for a spin in my car to show shift skill, I was blown away. I thought I was pretty good, but this guy would shift so fast and smooth, you couldn't tell he was using the clutch. The car never dipped in momentum. He didn't lift at all but rather he feathered the clutch out in second to control wheelspin and kept the engine revs up.

 

[viperct2001]

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated.

I always thought keeping WOT when shifting was bad if you released the clutch while WOT. I thought if the gear "teeth" engaged while at a high RPM, that would be bad for the car.

Don't get me wrong, I have kept it WOT and pressed clutch (to prevent deceleration) - but typically I'd let up on the gas before releasing the clutch. But now I know I can keep my foot on the gas.

I'll practice WOT, 90% WOT, 75% WOT, etc, etc.

Still don't know how to powershift, but I'll try again on my 3000GT.