Power/Speed Shifting Techniques - What's Yours?

[Carlwalski]

If you don't know I recently purchased a 2002 T3 TS50 Ford about 3 weeks ago. 5.6L (347ci) 370hp (310rwhp).
It's a Tremac 3650 5-Speed and sounds pure bad arse. It's based on the V8 Supercar series from down under.

Anyhow, it's nice to have a stick in hand again and all I can say is the only auto I'll drive is Lucy. The 'Cuda will be a 5-Speed Keisler. Went out for a nice long drive today to speed shift and was wondering what are your techniques. No matter who you are all tips and styles help, unless you're Landy or Mr Sox (RIP).

Power shifting (to me) is too dangerous, or puts unwanted stress on the engine and trans, unless it's called for in drag racing or what-not, daily/street driver, IMO, not needed. I've tried lifting the gas to about 3/4 throttle while "kicking" the clutch and it went perfectly, though, I have heard even with perfect shifts after time things will happen. Not what I want. So for now I am "Speed shifting" letting off the gas (not 100% off, about 0-10% on) and shifting as fast as I can. I've also been using the "pop" style clutch job or "side stepping" where you bang the clutch down and slip off to the side which seems to be working nicely, a couple of jerky shifts but that's to be expected.

Anyhow, I'd be interested in hearing your techniques and input in the matter of fast shifting. Oh, as far as I'm aware: Power Shifting = gas engaged. Speed Shifting = gas disengaged but fast as possible. Yes? No?


Cheers,
Carl

[Chryco Psycho]

My style has always been to put as much pressure on the shifter as possible while kicking the clutch 1/2 way down & rolling of the side of the pedal , to a bystander ti should sound like an Automatic   

[Carlwalski]

Cool, sounds like what I've been doing. Do you lift of the throttle any? Or stay partially on?






 

[Chryco Psycho]

with my Duster I had a rev limiter so I never lifted , with a customer car I always lift & tell them what I will be doing as welll

[Carlwalski]

Ah, I see. Rev limiters are a good thing then huh.  For the first few times in this car I've been letting off till about 3/4 throttle, WOT is something I'm not sure I want to do yet, for the engine/transmissions sake.


Anyone else? 

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Don't know if I could do it "lefty"   

[Carlwalski]

Don't know if I could do it "lefty"   

Tell me about it! I'm going to find it awkward at first with my right hand. I think it will be easier right hand. Quite a bit easier. Because the slowest shift (in hindsight), 2nd to 3rd, is pushing away from me, not toward me like LHD car. So it will be easy to flow, like a RWD vs FWD car, RHD is pushing where as LHD is pulling. If that makes sense.

Same with down changing, be good to have them both under the belt. At first I'll probably swap cars and muck a few things up. As it is, indicating to turn is awkward enough, use to it now but at first I kept putting my wipers on in my RHD cars where Lucy's & the Cuda's indicators are. lol

 

[sadil340]

Regarding the strain on the drivetrain - this is a Mopar we're talking here!  . My 340 Cuda has 180,000 miles on it and I power-shifted it for the first 150,000 or so and still on the original trans and SureGrip. These things are bulletproof! The only reason I stopped doing it is because I really slowed down on the amount I drove it after 150,000 so I felt I had too little practice and didn't want to start missing shifts.

That being said, I think the only time you need to power-shift (which to me means keeping the throttle floored while stabbing the clutch) is in drag racing where you need millisecond shift times. Otherwise it's just showing off  but still lots of fun!

[nivvy]

My crazy dad in his 440 superbee would never let of the gas when shifting..always held the gas pedal to the floor... 

[Mr. 440SixPack]

Offtopic: I tried to power shift with Renault 5...50 horsepower. I almost blew up that little engine while looking for third gear I will never do that again in Europe boxes.

Mopars were made for hard driving so you can power shift with no problems. Ofcourse in a street race you don't need all perfect shifts so you can let of the gas while shifting gear. But on a dragstrip where every milisecond is important you must keep it to the floor for the win.

[EVIL72]

 I wouldn't own a manual tranny without a rev limiter, sooner or later while having fun your going to miss a shift. it's just good insurance.

[Carlwalski]

How much do rev limiters cost and what are the better brands? Not worried about price, just want the best.
So I'm guessing they work like: You set it up at say 6,200rpm if your cars making peak hp/T at 5,900rpm and if you do mistime or leave it later than expected does the engine hold at 6,200rpm and go no further or? 

sadil340 - Don't mean to sound rude mate but sounds a little suspect those figures and story. Yes Mopar are usually strong, "best in the world" yadda yadda yadda...lol But power shifting 150,000 miles stock everything? Maybe you weren't shifting it correctly? I've seen transmissions (V8, Ford, Chev, Mopar) in pieces from a few seasons of track racing, the cars weren't super stockers, just mild/hot street cars. Even when power shifting properly it puts a strain on your components. Well, this is what I have see online, heard and talked about with other drivers.

Here's a ink to a Mustang site: http://www.moddedmustangs.com/forums/power-shifting-101-vt1519.html
Have a read, good thread and some decent damage to his gear box.

[Chryco Psycho]

I have used the MSD rev limiter which requires chips , basically it will drop cylinders out of the firing order to keep the engine from going past any given rpm , it will still fire the odd cylinder to keep the mufflers from loading with fuel & blowing apart with the next hit of hot exhaust 

[74 340 4speed]

Here is a thread I found a while back on LS1 tech.  It has quite a few in car videos of guys pounding on their LS1 Camaros/Trans Ams.  There are a few stangs in the thread as well.  I thought it may give you a few ideas.

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=593573

[Carlwalski]

Here is a thread I found a while back on LS1 tech.  It has quite a few in car videos of guys pounding on their LS1 Camaros/Trans Ams.  There are a few stangs in the thread as well.  I thought it may give you a few ideas.

http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=593573

Thanks for the link mate, some super slick shifting there! 
I love the in-car stuff........thanks for the explanation Chryco.