What's the best RPM to shift at?

[Landman]

What\'s the best RPM to shift at?

What RPM do you shift at. Base this question on a stock internal motor with exhaust and roller rockers. I've heard 5,500 and also 6,000. Just curious what the optimum is for the best performance.

 

[Schulmann]

Re: What\'s the best RPM to shift at?

On stock engin don't push to higher the rpms. You will end up with floating valves then with burned valves, especially true if you are using a too thick oil (15W50). The best is to shift right at 5500rpm. For a street user the gain is minimal compared to the risk that you take.

Some even say, that for the longevity of your engin it is better to shift at 5000rpm.

For a racer it is a different matter, but usually those guys modify the valve system and can allow to shift at 6000-6500rpm.

 

[Eagle]

Re: What\'s the best RPM to shift at?

Had best luck shifting as high as you can without hitting the rev limiter (about 58-5900). Eagle

 

[Landman]

Re: What\'s the best RPM to shift at?

O.K. If you were going to get into a close race that you may lose if you don't drive perfectly, what RPM then? I'm asking this question for a reason. I have an 11.0 Comaro ss wanting to take on the Viper.

 

[Eagle]

Re: What\'s the best RPM to shift at?

I would shift when you see the tach hit 5500 and by the time you shift you should be about 5700, i think that should be good enough vs. hitting the rev limiter. Eagle

 

[GR8_ASP]

Re: What\'s the best RPM to shift at?

With a Gen II I would recommend 5600 - 5700. Gen I 5200 - 5400 and Gen III 5900 - 6000.

 

[-FROG-]

Re: What\'s the best RPM to shift at?

Yea, I was just gonna say... according to my Dyno sheets, I set my Raptor Shift Light to go off at about 5300 in my 94' RT/10 (near stock). Actually I think I set it to go off at about 5,250. Power starts dropping off on my car at about 5300. I used to shift at redline when I first got the car and when I ran it at the track. When I started to shift lower, I noticed the wheel spin was a little more aggressive and I was getting more 3rd gear scratches. I remember running a nice C5 Z06 (heard he had heads and mods after I ran him) and it was a close race, but he pulled me at the top end right before I shifted. when I shifted, he had already gained half a car on me. My buddy was saying, I should have shifted sooner and I agreed. I was shifting a hair before 6K in that run. so according to my experiments and dyno sheet, I set my light to remind me to shift at 5,300 I believe.