Manual Transmission T56 | T5 | MN12 | Clutches | Hydraulics | Shifters

Shifting without the clutch.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 14, 2008 | 10:06 PM
  #1  
LS1vazquez's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 530
Likes: 0
Default Shifting without the clutch.

Well guys, I was bored tonight so I took the Camaro around the block and lo and behold, guess what I figured out.

I learned how to shift the car without using the clutch. So now my question is, is this something I can do for a prolonged period without using the clutch, or does it hurt the car if I shift without using the clutch pedal.

1st, 2nd, and 3rd I can use without the clutch. 3rd to 4th needs a clutch, and 4th to 5th I can do clutchless. It seems easy enough on the drivetrain to tool around the streets with, so is there any prolonged damaged that can happen not using the clutch?
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2008 | 10:15 PM
  #2  
Black02SLPSS's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,485
Likes: 1
From: Owasso, Ok
Default

Your syncros will not like you. I had a friend who has an 03 cobra, he did that for awhile and ended up having to get his tranny rebuilt because he killed his syncros doing it. Use the clutch, thats what its there for. Only time i would ever do that is if i lost the clutch completely, and that would be just to get it home.
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2008 | 10:19 PM
  #3  
LS1vazquez's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 530
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Black02SLPSS
Your syncros will not like you. I had a friend who has an 03 cobra, he did that for awhile and ended up having to get his tranny rebuilt because he killed his syncros doing it. Use the clutch, thats what its there for. Only time i would ever do that is if i lost the clutch completely, and that would be just to get it home.
Really? But I wasn't forcing it into gear. I sure didn't feel like I was stressing out any internals.

This was through a pro 5.0, btw.

The only time I felt like I was forcing it was the 3rd to 4th shift, where I wound up using the clutch because I couldn't time it right.

Every other gear slips in like butter.
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2008 | 10:30 PM
  #4  
ae13291's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,093
Likes: 1
From: san fernando valley, california
Default

so so whats the secret on how to do it? i never tried this in my car!!
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2008 | 10:39 PM
  #5  
fccs's Avatar
12 Second Club
15 Year Member
iTrader: (26)
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,373
Likes: 3
From: PA
Default

Going from 1st to 2nd and 3rd to 4th is fine, IF! your rev matching. If your matching the rpms up it should just slide right down easier then turning ur windshield wipers on. If your stressing it or it feels like ur ripping it out of gear then your doing it wrong and shouldn't be done. Same goes for going from 2nd to 3rd it gets hard going up and isn't wise to practice that. You should still use your clutch though..lol
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2008 | 10:41 PM
  #6  
LS1vazquez's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 530
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by ae13291
so so whats the secret on how to do it? i never tried this in my car!!
No secret. It's really easy.

Just let off from the light in 1st gear real easy (using clutch).

Take it up to about 2000 RPM then let off the gas. At the same time, hold slight (real little, like hardly any) pressure on the gear shift. At 2000 RPM, the shifter should just slide out of its notch and then hold slight pressure against the 2nd gear gate while the motor revs down. Around 1700 or 1600 RPM, the gear should just slide into 2nd without any resistance. Accelerate back to about 2000, take foot of gas, and repeat, holding slight pressure on third and it should slide it with no resistance.

I couldn't match the 3rd to 4th shift, so I used the clutch on that.

4th will pop out at 2000 RPM, but it won't go into 5th until the motor drops down to 1500 RPM.

Like I said, I wasn't going all that fast and the gears were sliding in like butter. Any real speed then I would probably just use the clutch.
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2008 | 10:46 PM
  #7  
LS1vazquez's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 530
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by fccs
Going from 1st to 2nd and 3rd to 4th is fine, IF! your rev matching. If your matching the rpms up it should just slide right down easier then turning ur windshield wipers on. If your stressing it or it feels like ur ripping it out of gear then your doing it wrong and shouldn't be done. Same goes for going from 2nd to 3rd it gets hard going up and isn't wise to practice that. You should still use your clutch though..lol
Nah, I wasn't forcing it, but then again I wasn't going all that fast.

Thats why I was wondering if it was hard on anything.
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2008 | 11:02 PM
  #8  
YellowB4Z's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
Default

I used to do it if i was steering with my knee while doing something in my car. But after I put over a grand in my transmission I dont do stuff like that anymore. The WOT shifts are hard enough on it. No need for added wear

Jeremy
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-8

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 14, 2008 | 11:04 PM
  #9  
LS1vazquez's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 530
Likes: 0
Default

So I take it no clutchless shifting then, eh?
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2008 | 11:05 PM
  #10  
YellowB4Z's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
Default

Originally Posted by LS1vazquez
So I take it no clutchless shifting then, eh?
I wouldnt recommend it. Its kinda pointless wear on your trans. Save the wear and tear for things like this....

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/1...ns-T_60656.htm

I sure miss my B4C
Reply
Old Mar 14, 2008 | 11:39 PM
  #11  
SladeX's Avatar
TECH Addict
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,379
Likes: 2
Default

you are putting undue stress on your syncros. Even if you don't hear or feel it, the tips of the syncros will touch causing it to wear somewhat.

If your clutch works, use it. Only wear on the syncros if your clutch is dying and you need to limp it home.
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2008 | 12:56 AM
  #12  
SSCamaro2000's Avatar
On The Tree
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
From: Victoria, TX.
Default

I heard about rev matching and shifting without using the clutch, I think as long as you do it correctly it doesnt hurt anything...
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2008 | 12:57 AM
  #13  
YellowB4Z's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
Default

Originally Posted by SSCamaro2000
I heard about rev matching and shifting without using the clutch, I think as long as you do it correctly it doesnt hurt anything...
No matter how "correct" you do it, it still wears the synchros... The dogs on them get knocked off and they dont engauge smoothly as they should/could.
Reply
Old Mar 15, 2008 | 05:12 AM
  #14  
99z28monster's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 868
Likes: 0
From: Northern NY
Default

I do it all the time, but that might be why I have a new trans being built.
Reply
Old Mar 16, 2008 | 01:15 PM
  #15  
Cumbias's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 522
Likes: 1
From: San Bernardino, CA
Default

As long as you don't force it. Just little pressure on the shifter until it pops-out and the same to pop-it in. My uncle has shifter like this for years on his cars and no major problems have happened.
Reply
Old Mar 16, 2008 | 03:00 PM
  #16  
murph6908's Avatar
Teching In
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Default

To shift without the clutch you have to "preload" the shifter at the gate. In theory shifting without the clutch if done properly should not wear the transmission at all, however the chance of someone driving without the clutch for prolonged periods without a slipup is slight. I see it as this; they put three pedals in the car for a reason, use the clutch otherwise you could end up replacing alot of **** more **** than your clutch.
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2008 | 03:59 PM
  #17  
Chris Gage's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 627
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota & Lee County
Default

wanna shift without the clutch? Get a pro-shifted tranny. Have fun with that on the streets!!!
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2008 | 04:46 PM
  #18  
PewterScreaminMach's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (7)
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,628
Likes: 2
From: Austin, TX
Default

Originally Posted by YellowB4Z
I wouldnt recommend it. Its kinda pointless wear on your trans. Save the wear and tear for things like this....

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/1...ns-T_60656.htm

I sure miss my B4C
Is that you in the video? What clutch and tranny are you running? No tranny I've ever driven has shifted that smoothly. Smooth? Yes. That smooth? No.
Reply
Old Mar 20, 2008 | 12:51 AM
  #19  
89Formulaws6's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (52)
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 699
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Default

trying to be a truck driver?

my teacher down at my auto and diesel college in ohio says its fine and does it no prob, as long as its not grinding
Reply
Old Mar 20, 2008 | 12:51 AM
  #20  
89Formulaws6's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (52)
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 699
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Default

trying to be a truck driver?

my teacher down at my auto and diesel college in ohio says its fine and does it no prob, as long as its not grinding
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:06 AM.

story-0
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-1
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-3
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-5
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-8
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-9
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE