manually shifting an automatic??

nzelinsky · 08-15-2009, 04:00 PM

Hey just a question for the experienced racers w/ automatics:

If you are manually shifting what is the best RPM to hit the shifter?
I was practicing on a country road in prep for going to the track and it seems there is a delay between moving the shifter to 2nd and when it actually shifts...
needless to say i shifted pretty high RPM because I didnt realize they delay and thought it would shift immediately. any suggestions would be appreciated!

*ajcool2* · 08-15-2009, 05:22 PM

Its about a 2 second delay usually. You would really just need to practice until you get it perfectly. Its the same with my Z.

*Jime* · 08-15-2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nzelinsky

Hey just a question for the experienced racers w/ automatics:

If you are manually shifting what is the best RPM to hit the shifter?
I was practicing on a country road in prep for going to the track and it seems there is a delay between moving the shifter to 2nd and when it actually shifts...
needless to say i shifted pretty high RPM because I didnt realize they delay and thought it would shift immediately. any suggestions would be appreciated!

To hit the same rpm for the 1-2 and 2-3 you will have to shift sooner for the 2-3 because the shift takes longer than the 1-2. If you are insistent on doing this a shift light would be recommended.

Personally I tried manual shifting when i first started racing but found that I could never duplicate the same shift point. So I never shift manually. If you do want it to shift at a higher rpm than the stock shifts you might want to consider the Suprastick.

Grand_hustle17 · 08-16-2009, 10:39 AM

im a 5.5 and i shift 1st at 6200-6300 and 2nd at 6500

nzelinsky · 08-16-2009, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jime

Personally I tried manual shifting when i first started racing but found that I could never duplicate the same shift point. So I never shift manually. If you do want it to shift at a higher rpm than the stock shifts you might want to consider the Suprastick.

Is that a shift kit? Is it expensive/hard to install? Im gonna do some research right now. Is there any way to modify the ecu to adjust the shift point besides the TC ecu mod??

a33i30 · 08-17-2009, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grand_hustle17

im a 5.5 and i shift 1st at 6200-6300 and 2nd at 6500

+1, i tried it on my 3.0 today, shifted perfectly.

Grand_hustle17 · 08-18-2009, 09:03 PM

keep it up and practise, u can only get better...

nzelinsky · 08-21-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grand_hustle17

im a 5.5 and i shift 1st at 6200-6300 and 2nd at 6500

Im practicing these shifts on a country road as soon as I get off work... hopefully I can get this to work before the track opens.... But if it shifts faster for 1-2 than 2-3 should I try reversing these numbers - 1st at 6500 and 2nd at 6200-6300? what do you think?

Grand_hustle17 · 08-21-2009, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nzelinsky

Im practicing these shifts on a country road as soon as I get off work... hopefully I can get this to work before the track opens.... But if it shifts faster for 1-2 than 2-3 should I try reversing these numbers - 1st at 6500 and 2nd at 6200-6300? what do you think?

No... 1st gear is torqier and the Rpm climbs faster, when u shift at 6500 you will be miss shifting due to it taking that very slight delay, 2nd and 3rd isnt so bad, it wont climb as quick and the delay wont really matter

nzelinsky · 08-21-2009, 02:10 PM

oh okay, that makes sense. thanks for clearing that up.

nzelinsky · 08-21-2009, 09:52 PM

So I just got back from the track.... a little disappointing. I lost both races first an rx7 and then a suped up RAM 1500 (pretty sure he had forced induction). I ran 16.18 and 16.24...

The manual shifting didnt work out for me. I need to practice more before I go again. My 1-2 was right on but when I did the 2-3 it just didnt want to shift up... I was climbing too high in rpms for my comfort zone and just kept climbing... I had to let off the gas before the end of the run because I dont want to risk any damage to the car...

I will continue practicing as the manual shift run was the better of the two even though I let off early... I think I will benefit if I figure out how to make it shift were I want.

Does it sound weird that it didnt shift up? should I just let off the gas a tad to make it shift or something?

shadyonedeath · 08-21-2009, 10:18 PM

you won't do damage. Your car has a rev limiter. Sometimes, depending on throttle position, the ECU decides when its best to shift. Did you do the Drop resistor mod?

nzelinsky · 08-21-2009, 10:21 PM

no havent done drop resistor yet. I have to get a wot switch and figure out how to wire it in.

Does anybody know what the rev limiter is set for on a 5.5? (02 SE)

a33i30 · 08-22-2009, 02:30 AM

i think its 6600, damn only if there was a way to take it up a little.

Grand_hustle17 · 08-22-2009, 07:55 AM

^^^ for you it will be an emanage or Utec, for us 5.5 its Technosquare... nzelinksy doesnt matter how far up in the RPM you go, if its too far up you will just hit your rev limiter (basically miss shifting), no damage will be done, if 6500 didnt do it for ya, try 6400 IIRC 5.5's have a 300rpm error, so even shifting at certain RPMs it would go the extra 300rpm (IDK if its all 5.5's) but keep on the gas bro... seems like you could've broke 15's on the runs... whats the 60'?

tookrzy4u192 · 08-22-2009, 11:55 AM

have you grounded the knock sensor? that made a huge difference for me.. haven't been to the track after i grounded it but hoping to go within the next couple of weeks, just waiting for better weather

Grand_hustle17 · 08-22-2009, 01:51 PM

^^^ what was ur times before???

nzelinsky · 08-22-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grand_hustle17

^^^ for you it will be an emanage or Utec, for us 5.5 its Technosquare... nzelinksy doesnt matter how far up in the RPM you go, if its too far up you will just hit your rev limiter (basically miss shifting), no damage will be done, if 6500 didnt do it for ya, try 6400 IIRC 5.5's have a 300rpm error, so even shifting at certain RPMs it would go the extra 300rpm (IDK if its all 5.5's) but keep on the gas bro... seems like you could've broke 15's on the runs... whats the 60'?

Y do you think it didnt shift though? 60' was 2.5 on the first run... What happens if you hit rev limiter in gear?

Quote:

Originally Posted by tookrzy4u192

have you grounded the knock sensor? that made a huge difference for me.. haven't been to the track after i grounded it but hoping to go within the next couple of weeks, just waiting for better weather

no I havent done anything except my intake.... Does the stilling grounding kit do the knock sensor? or can I just buy some regular wire and do it myself? what would you reccomend?

nzelinsky · 08-22-2009, 02:21 PM

could I be running 16's with a bad MAF? I mean the car doesnt feel slow but compared to other 5.5's I guess it is... Should I try the CNC cleaner or replace it?

Do you guys know anything about using a bigger MAF?

Grand_hustle17 · 08-22-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nzelinsky

Y do you think it didnt shift though? 60' was 2.5 on the first run... What happens if you hit rev limiter in gear?

no I havent done anything except my intake.... Does the stilling grounding kit do the knock sensor? or can I just buy some regular wire and do it myself? what would you reccomend?

nothing it just means get out of the gear the car will just stay at the same speed... 2.5 60' is waaaaay below average, what type of tires are u using and what condition?

nzelinsky · 08-22-2009, 08:31 PM

tires are a big problem for me right now... I have Nokian winter tires. They are pretty much brand new I have about 70% left on front and 90% on the rear. I think I might try using the traction control it might help my launch, Im just worried that it will cut too much power and make me slower.

We have snow on the ground for usually 7-8 months a year and it gets pretty bad. Im waiting till next spring to buy rims and better tires since the seasons almost over now Im not spending the money...

wyche89 · 08-22-2009, 09:13 PM

your times are so high because your 60 ft. is so high.. you need to be down to to 2.2 at MOST to see a decent time.. how fast you get off the line is key to your quarter mile time

Grand_hustle17 · 08-23-2009, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nzelinsky

tires are a big problem for me right now... I have Nokian winter tires. They are pretty much brand new I have about 70% left on front and 90% on the rear. I think I might try using the traction control it might help my launch, Im just worried that it will cut too much power and make me slower.

We have snow on the ground for usually 7-8 months a year and it gets pretty bad. Im waiting till next spring to buy rims and better tires since the seasons almost over now Im not spending the money...

with the winter tires i dont think its too much u can do to help... 2.5 is below avg, some better tires would help... what about getting all season tires???

nzelinsky · 08-23-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grand_hustle17

with the winter tires i dont think its too much u can do to help... 2.5 is below avg, some better tires would help... what about getting all season tires???

haha no all seasons are no good here. If you dont have winter tires you will crash your car... the roads get extremely icey and deep snow. its just gonna have to wait for next year.... I cant afford headers/exhaust AND tires so Im goin with h/e Its my best choice for right now.

do you think traction control will help my launch? I've been turning it off all the time

Grand_hustle17 · 08-23-2009, 06:27 PM

honestly, that one u got me beat... never owned a car with traction control ever... try it... go and get as much runs in... keep the engine cool... might wanna look into some spacers, my auto stays hot

nzelinsky · 08-23-2009, 06:56 PM

the nwp spacers?

Grand_hustle17 · 08-23-2009, 07:01 PM

yes... more tq and it keeps the engine 40* cooler, a definate plus...

nzelinsky · 08-23-2009, 10:49 PM

hmmm sounds decent. I can't afford that right now either though...
I was thinking of replacing my thermostat with one that has a cooler temp so the fan comes on sooner. That or hooking up a switch to turn it on manually... what you think?

Grand_hustle17 · 08-24-2009, 06:53 AM

ur car bro... it can be done, idk how that affects anything in that i personally never tried it nor seen it

*ajcool2* · 08-24-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nzelinsky

hmmm sounds decent. I can't afford that right now either though...
I was thinking of replacing my thermostat with one that has a cooler temp so the fan comes on sooner. That or hooking up a switch to turn it on manually... what you think?

Hook up the switch. Thats what I have. It helps alot with cooling the car off.

*ajcool2* · 08-24-2009, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nzelinsky

hmmm sounds decent. I can't afford that right now either though...
I was thinking of replacing my thermostat with one that has a cooler temp so the fan comes on sooner. That or hooking up a switch to turn it on manually... what you think?

You dont have to buy a thermostat you can mod the one you have by adding a spacer to it. Check JIME's website for the how-to.

*Scottwax* · 08-27-2009, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grand_hustle17

im a 5.5 and i shift 1st at 6200-6300 and 2nd at 6500

Same here. 6500 rpm on the 2-3 seems to make a noticably difference in how the car pulls in 3rd, since our 3rd gear is so long. If I let the car shift for itself, sometimes it short shifts into 2nd at 5800 rpms.

*Scottwax* · 08-27-2009, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nzelinsky

could I be running 16's with a bad MAF? I mean the car doesnt feel slow but compared to other 5.5's I guess it is... Should I try the CNC cleaner or replace it?

Do you guys know anything about using a bigger MAF?

What was your trap speed? If it was in the upper 80s you are definitely not making the power you should be. If it was around 93-94, then your problem is your launch.

Bad MAF means no power above 2500 rpm, you probably couldn't crack the 18s with a bad MAF.

nzelinsky · 08-27-2009, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottwax

What was your trap speed? If it was in the upper 80s you are definitely not making the power you should be. If it was around 93-94, then your problem is your launch.

Bad MAF means no power above 2500 rpm, you probably couldn't crack the 18s with a bad MAF.

My best trap was 87mph... I have power, its just not enough

any suggestions?

*321VQ35MAX* · 08-27-2009, 11:51 AM

More mods...... I need them as well...... May do my 3" exhaust in about 2 or 3 weeks, want to trap closer to 98 mph....

nzelinsky · 08-27-2009, 02:20 PM

Ya, I just ordered obx header, megan catback, nwp vais block plate... right now Im in the classifieds trying to dig up a decent used zex kit

*321VQ35MAX* · 08-27-2009, 02:22 PM

Well then you should shave quite a bit of time off....... Low 14's????

Grand_hustle17 · 08-27-2009, 03:49 PM

if u dont run it, i sure will lol, just got my obx headers

Grand_hustle17 · 08-27-2009, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 321VQ35MAX

More mods...... I need them as well...... May do my 3" exhaust in about 2 or 3 weeks, want to trap closer to 98 mph....

shoo you should be lookin forwad to 100mph or 101... im gonna be looking for 98mph with my auto

*Scottwax* · 08-27-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nzelinsky

My best trap was 87mph... I have power, its just not enough

any suggestions?

87 mph? Something is definitely wrong. Bad spark plugs can hurt performance but probably not that much. Could be clogged cats, problem with the throttle body not opening fully, bad knock sensor pulling timing back too far.