DóòD

I was on my way home 2day (off early today)..
and some nut in a caviliar tried to pass me..
I downshifted to 1st (A4) not knowing i was over 50 and hit the Rev limiter.
She sputtered, I corrected and put em in his place.

This prompted this post...

Anyway..This has always bugged me....
I've done this quite a bit(not necessarily hitting the RL)..and have never really felt uncomfortable doing this...
Normally I would shift to first manually around 30mph (no more than 45)to get that extra bang when I need it.
I've heard both sides as to whether or not this 'permissable' as far as capabilities vs wear 'n tear.
Why the hell not?! You can be in first after a hard launch max out before the 1-2 shift, so why not do it manually?

I was told by a GM tech (Howard pontiac) one day after I told em of my 'discovery' regarding the drop to first at a high MPH.
He said, "Yup..the birds can do that, we just dont encourage it..but the car will handle it with no problems."...
Note that, for instance, a grand prix is electronically locked out from doing this.
If you were to do the sam in a GP, it simply wont go.

Does anybody do this as a common way of getting more power or is it just me?

[ February 01, 2002: Message edited by: DóòD ]</p>

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Shifted into 1st from what gear Jim? <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">

At 50mph around town I'd probably be rolling around in 3rd and let it down shift to 2nd. I can grab 1st but I can't hook it.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

I go back to first often. But in my 2000 car, it locks me out past 37mph. 38 or higher and it won’t go back.

I’m always just careful to not let the trans get much above 200. Stock trans is still doing fine, but I’m getting a built trans in March or April anyway to handle all the new power that’s getting installed at the same time. <img src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" border="0">

DóòD

John.. Shifting from 3rd (I'm manually in 3 around town to keep from flipping int OD all the time)
And ya...Mashing it will kick down to second, but sometimes 1st is the place to be <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0">
I've shifted to 2nd just to be able to manually hold it there just long enough to keep it from shiftin on its own..

RPM...Locked out past 37?!?! That seems odd.
Could that be a PCM change?
OR..could it have something to do with a shiftkit that allows it?
(Thinking about it..i was able to do it before the SK)..

I have the '02 on order.. I'd be REAL curious if i'll be locked out of first at ANY speed.

Could it be a quirk of the 98's??

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

‘00s also have a second gear start feature that the previous years didn’t have. I once tried to go back to first just a hair above 37 and it didn’t work. The car only went back to second. Once it slowed down to 36/37 in went back to first just fine.

Do you have 2.73s? I have 3.23s. That would explain the difference.

DóòD

2.73's...

STOP LAUGHING!!! <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0">

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

[quote]Originally posted by DóòD:
<strong>2.73's...

STOP LAUGHING!!! <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0"> </strong><hr></blockquote>

No laughing here...

Actually, every time I race someone from a 40mph roll I wish I had 2.73s <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0"> 3.23 cars have a real dead spot around 35 to 45 unless the ‘verter is a really big one (4000+). 2.73s let you go back to first at much higer speeds, as you already know.

DóòD

Oh...just to add to this...

Last summer I raced some old school drop top on 59..
We punched it from a roll. Of course I grabbed first at about 30 mph or so..
Car jumped and I ran w/em...
This SOB LIFTED THE CAR AT THE SAME SPEED!! <img src="graemlins/gr_hail.gif" border="0" alt="[hail]" />
So yup.. He smoked me.. I kept up thru 1st and most of 2nd but then he pulled BIGTIME.

We pulled over and chatted.
He said he was smokin SS's all day, but I was his best run all weekend. I had to face it..the guy was built out bigtime, but he was very cool about it.

Point being... I luv dumpin' it like that and it does offer real gains at a roll...

Angus

iTrader: (2)

i just leave my tranny in drive and don't mess with manually shifting it. i let the converter do the work.

DóòD

[quote]Originally posted by RPM WS6:
<strong>

No laughing here...

Actually, every time I race someone from a 40mph roll I wish I had 2.73s <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0"> 3.23 cars have a real dead spot around 35 to 45 unless the ‘verter is a really big one (4000+). 2.73s let you go back to first at much higer speeds, as you already know.</strong><hr></blockquote>


Hmmm..then that leads me to question why I'm able to drop to 1st at 50mph+ and hit the Rev limiter...
I've never dropped it and NOT gone into 1st..
(I actually did it once on 294 and chirped the tires! <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0"> .. but I think I was just touching 50 if I recall correctly..)

[ February 01, 2002: Message edited by: DóòD ]</p>

DóòD

[quote]Originally posted by Chicken Hawk:
<strong>i just leave my tranny in drive and don't mess with manually shifting it. i let the converter do the work.</strong><hr></blockquote>

But I have a vig3200... dropping to first pushes the rpm's hence elminating any slippage around any 'dead spots'...
I luv A4's but at the same time, I like to manually grab a higher RPM when needed.
So far, the '98 allows me to do this and for me, its the best of both worlds...

Raven

I used to drive around in "3" all the time (except on the highway). But since I went to a 3.73 rear end I pretty much leave it in "D".

I have never manually downshifted from 3-1 (or from 3-2 for that matter). I always just let the tranny do it by itself.

I have noticed that at certain speeds sometimes it is better (quicker) not to just "punch" the accelerator to the floor because the transmission appears to not to always kickdown to another gear until some momentum (speed) has been gained.Sometimes it is better (quicker) to more "slowly" press the pedal down (about 75% as opposed to jumping on it) and then standing on it as the transmission shifts down. This is no lie (and I'm not trying to bragg), but I have chirped the tires on the highway on a couple of occasions by NOT just mashing the throttle through the floorboards while passing ignorant SUV drivers.

Sorry for such a long post (you can tell It's been a slow day at the office) <img src="graemlins/gr_zzz.gif" border="0" alt="[boring]" />

Anyway, that's my story <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[Burnout]" />

-Brad

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Around town I drive in D at pretty much any speed below 45-50mph. I have a big converter and I have autotapped the slippage and the heat that it generates. I find that driving around in D keeps the tranny temps down.

That lockout feature is probably a good thing since it would save you from an overrev and floating the valves.

I have done that too Jim/Dood, only I hit the rev limiter at 6800 and 7000 doh.

DóòD

Well...aside from your Franken-car ride ( <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0"> )
I can understand your shifting habits.
But I'm internally stock with no programming.
So beating on the tranny occasionally shouldnt be an issue.
(Thoughts??)

Also, because of my stock PCM, the Rev limiter is a 'good' thing. I wouldnt expect any engine damage hitting the stock Rev. (I hope!)

The Guy in MY 99TA

Dropping back to 1rst at 50????????? At 50 mph in second my car is turning about 4000 rpm if i remeber correctly .... its been a while since i have tried it .... but going to first at 50 mph is insane with any gear .... forgot to mention my car has 3.23's but the 3.73's are in the closet <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0">

DóòD

[quote]Originally posted by The Guy in MY 99TA:
<strong>.... but going to first at 50 mph is insane with any gear .... </strong><hr></blockquote>

Believe or not... I've done it...
And I LIKE IT! <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0">
'Course today it was an instant hit on the rev limiter...
Yet...'I was able to do it' without any lockout.

ChrisB

From what I understand manually downshifting the tranny is not a good idea (hard on the sprag's) - upshifting is fine. (This is of course with the understanding you don't have a fully manual valvebody, etc.).

Chris

Ragtop 99

iTrader: (7)

I will manually downshift in advance of when I need the power like if I'm waiting to pass a truck on a 2 lane highway. I think Chris is right that it is hard on the tranny to manually downshift and mash the gas simultanously.

I won't try to grab first on the street; just a waste of time; I go up in smoke then shift into second anyways. Better for me to grab 2nd (wish I had second gear hold) and let my converter do the work.

Like PSJ said, I generally like to keep it in D around town under 40 mph.

PSJ: how can you grab 50 mph in 1st gear with 4.10s? Are you running some big meats on the street?

Black Sunshine/ 00SS

iTrader: (1)

I leave it in OD, all the time! But I did have it reprogramed to kick into a lower gear sooner, when I hammer it. It works great. I hammer it & it automatically takes me to a lower gear with a high enough RPM's to get me going quick. 74 passes & still going good. Leave it in D or OD, or you wont have that tranny for very long. If you had a trans temp guage, you would have seen the temp skyrocket! Not a good thing.

DóòD

[quote]Originally posted by Black Sunshine/ 00SS:
<strong>I leave it in OD, all the time! But I did have it reprogramed to kick into a lower gear sooner, when I hammer it. It works great. I hammer it & it automatically takes me to a lower gear with a high enough RPM's to get me going quick. 74 passes & still going good. Leave it in D or OD, or you wont have that tranny for very long. If you had a trans temp guage, you would have seen the temp skyrocket! Not a good thing.</strong><hr></blockquote>


I have no trans temp guage...
But I do have a B&M 19K super cooler...
I would 'think' that any heat generation would be quickly dissipated with the cooler...