Slow Z28

iTrader: (19)

I have seen some people do it, and I have heard people obviously doing it both ways. When I raced my old '93 Z 6speed, i would toss it into neutral. The auto in my '98 Z i wouldn't do it though.

So what do you guys do?

I was thinking about a person with a TH400 reverse manual valve body. wouldn't they have to go back down through 2 and 1 to get to neutral then.

Just wondering, Thanks.

jd13

iTrader: (3)

I've got an M6 now. I usually throw it into 5th and use the engine to help brake.

When I drove the auto, I'd just leave it in D.

Tom the roofer

iTrader: (9)

If I threw mine into neutral I'd be in the sand at some tracks.

Coach 02 A3 Z/28

iTrader: (10)

I go from 3rd, right into nuetral after the finish line.

Coach

DERTY

With a M6, absolutely. With a A3 or A4, absolutely not, ever! Putting the car in neutral will prevent the oil from being circulated through the transmission at high speeds. Even though the oil pump is spinning with the engine, the valve body is not allowing oil to circulate into the areas of the transmission that are still rotating. This will seriously harm the transmission over time.

Also, do not kill the engine. The lack of engine RPM's will obviously be zero and that will result in not circulating any oil through the trans oil cooler to cool it down. You'll also boil the oil in the converter and that will have an adverse effect on the transmission seals.

With a TH400 just leave it in third. You don't want to attempt to climb back up to neutral with it after finishing a pass.

CHRISPY

I shift to neutral and do a blip of the throttle to make sure the engine is clean and not at risk of stalling

Big Rick

iTrader: (1)

You're supposed to shift into nuetral. But do not kill the egine. Derty as long as the motor is spinning the pump is supplying oil to all areas of the tranny. Keeping a motor in gear and reving down slow is a big NO NO to the egines, it really hurts them. It puts a tremendous amount of vacuum on the rings.

Big Mike

iTrader: (4)

I actually throw mine in Park after I cross the traps. It helps slow the car down tremendously?

Just joking. I'm running a TH350 and after the traps I leave it in 3rd and let the car pull itself down as well as applying the footbrake. This year I look forward to letting the chute do its job!

The Juggernaut

iTrader: (7)

Put the car in neutral, do NOT turn it off.

FYI on a reverse manual valvebody(TH400), if you go into second from third, it is neutral.
As soon as I cross the traps,I put it in second and coast.

Someone told me that, i tried it,it worked,and have been doing it ever since.

BLK02WS6

iTrader: (2)

With my A4, I race in 3rd and when I cross the traps I just let off the gas and click it into OD - lets the engine RPMs come down to a reasonable level while I slow down. I don't like letting the engine brake the car by leaving it in 3rd.

DERTY

A TH400 reverse manual with a banded 2nd gear drum will not go into neutral. It'll grab second and bring it up to RPM. I believe Rossler is the only one that offers that option, at least from what I've seen. Another reason why I just leave mine in gear.

Other TH400's have a freespinning drum which allows it to free-rev until the engine RPM is brought to a level where the drum matches the output speed. Until then the output shaft just spins faster. That's the major difference. The band allows you to downshift without slapping the drum into the shaft. Works better on the street.

SilverGhost

iTrader: (53)

hmm, good topic. i just leave the car in 4th and let the rpm's wind down while braking till about 4 grand or so and then stick the clutch in and coast the rest of the way.

been doint that for years, so its better to stick the clutch in right away?

Big Rick

iTrader: (1)

DO NOT ENGINE BREAK!!! If you have a free spooling transmission that's fine, cause your RPMs will go down when you let off. We don't have Diesels.

theblur98ss

iTrader: (71)

I also have a Rossler banded 2nd gear with a reverse valve body. I have to leave it in 3rd. It does seem hard on the engine compared to when I was a 6 speed and could just push the clutch in.

BIGBOS

I always leave the TH400 in 3rd coasting, then when I get to a stop I'll click back to 1st, 2nd isn't netural....

Also, is it bad to downshift the tranny hard on the street from like 3-2 for the quick jump?

hellbents10

iTrader: (10)

Its hard on the rings when you make the motor do the stopping or slowing. It is usually better to put into neutral after the finish line. Thats what I do with Gramps TH350 and my 4l60e. Allthough if you don't have the brakes to slow you down I would choose leaving it in gear or probibly just get better brakes!

Slow Z28

iTrader: (19)

ok, so then if it's better to toss it into neutral, why wouldn't a forward pattern A3 be used more often so you could just click it right up into neutral?

Didn't realize this post would get so informative

Villain281H

iTrader: (5)

Most people I bracket race with leaves theirs in gear, especially with a TH350. Fluid will not be circulated if you put it in neutral, and personally I'd rather have the engine helping me slow the car down instead of "freewheeling" past the stripe. Definately gives it a more controlled feel. Just my $.02

Derek

Outlaw

I have a Mikes Transmission Ultimate vasco Power glide in my car. I asked this very question of Mike and he said you have two choices. 1 is if you feel comfortable leaving your motor on as you slow down you can leave it in high gear and NEVER down shift the tranny. Or you can click it in to neutral and shut the motor off.
So here is my take.. about 1200 feet on the run I pull my chute and then once the car has the chute open, I put the car in natural and shut the motor off and cost off the track. Now keep in mind this is a 170+ Mph car and im using a chute and I have a dry sump oil pump. I think every combo is different but the key in my book is being safe. If you have control of the car and can safely have the motor off and in neutral, that’s what I would do. I know a lot of F-body’s have locking steering, so if you do shut the motor off, make sure you have disabled the steering lock.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

I have been leaving the A3 in 3rd and have been coasting but not in a hard way on the engine.