Mastering the 6speed, need tips
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,376
Likes: 21
From: Traverse City MI
Mastering the 6speed, need tips
Well, as some of you know I sold my much adored 92 LT1 auto a few weeks ago. Thursday I picked up my new 91 black ZR-1. However I could use some tips in the shifting area. I can drive a stick OK, but I'd like to be able to get the most out of the manual in terms of performance and longevity.
Basically here is what I am doing now, get the RPM up to about 1500 and let the cluth up smoothly until the car starts moving, then I let the clutch all the way up. Then just give it gas to get things moving. I have stalled it a few times trying to get going at a lower RPM, 1500 seems to work pretty good.
On shifting I get her up to the desired RPM and let up on the gas, press the clutch in, shift to the next gear and press the gas again. Do I want to try to match the engine RPM to the gear/speed I am going to be in? Or just let up off the gas shift and go? Seems like it gets a bit jerky at times shifting thru the gears, accel/decel sort of thing.
Any tips / instructions would be appreciated :cheers:
Basically here is what I am doing now, get the RPM up to about 1500 and let the cluth up smoothly until the car starts moving, then I let the clutch all the way up. Then just give it gas to get things moving. I have stalled it a few times trying to get going at a lower RPM, 1500 seems to work pretty good.
On shifting I get her up to the desired RPM and let up on the gas, press the clutch in, shift to the next gear and press the gas again. Do I want to try to match the engine RPM to the gear/speed I am going to be in? Or just let up off the gas shift and go? Seems like it gets a bit jerky at times shifting thru the gears, accel/decel sort of thing.
Any tips / instructions would be appreciated :cheers:
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Re: Mastering the 6speed, need tips (Aaron71771)
Watch this video(in my car)
I can explain more later, I have to go do something right now.
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c4/mrm...ovspanuzzo.wmv
I can explain more later, I have to go do something right now.
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c4/mrm...ovspanuzzo.wmv
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Re: Mastering the 6speed, need tips (Mr Mojo)
Oh, and that's the way the car should be driven all the time-WIDE OPEN THROTTLE! Yeah baby!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,198
Likes: 2
From: Northern CA
Re: Mastering the 6speed, need tips (Aaron71771)
1500rpm to get the car moving is OK for a beginner, eventually you want to keep it below 1000 rpms or so.
Just practice being smooth, practice practice practice and it will come. It's all in the timing; granny-shifting tends to make the car jerk because the rpms will fall to much.
Just practice being smooth, practice practice practice and it will come. It's all in the timing; granny-shifting tends to make the car jerk because the rpms will fall to much.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,238
Likes: 0
From: walled lake MI
Re: Mastering the 6speed, need tips (Aaron71771)
daily driving i do upshifts as you describe - let the rpms fall a bit before letting the clutch back in. if i want to go fast, i shift as fast as possible, but i try to modulate the clutch on engage (gas depressed) so i don't get as big as a shock. i find that i lose a lot of time waiting for the 5.7L to rev down on its own.
downshifts i always double clutch. slight modification to scorp's method. press clutch in - shift to N - let clutch out - blip throttle - let clutch in - shift to lower gear - let clutch out. shifting to N with the blip spins the mainshaft of the tranny as well as bringing engine revs up. i think it feels smoother. getting used to this takes a bit of practice but once you get the hang of it you will find that you will never downshift any other way.
i also do this while braking. the vette's pedals are close enough where i can use the left edge of my shoe to brake, and use the right edge to blip. not exactly "heel-toe" but the same idea.
oh, also take it easy with letting out the clutch on the 1-2 shift. i think that the 1-2 upshift is the hardest do smoothly.
practice, and have fun!!! :cheers:
[Modified by tempest, 9:20 PM 6/4/2002]
downshifts i always double clutch. slight modification to scorp's method. press clutch in - shift to N - let clutch out - blip throttle - let clutch in - shift to lower gear - let clutch out. shifting to N with the blip spins the mainshaft of the tranny as well as bringing engine revs up. i think it feels smoother. getting used to this takes a bit of practice but once you get the hang of it you will find that you will never downshift any other way.
i also do this while braking. the vette's pedals are close enough where i can use the left edge of my shoe to brake, and use the right edge to blip. not exactly "heel-toe" but the same idea.
oh, also take it easy with letting out the clutch on the 1-2 shift. i think that the 1-2 upshift is the hardest do smoothly.
practice, and have fun!!! :cheers:
[Modified by tempest, 9:20 PM 6/4/2002]
Racer
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 490
Likes: 0
From: Methuen Ma
Re: Mastering the 6speed, need tips (JasonL)
1500rpm to get the car moving is OK for a beginner, eventually you want to keep it below 1000 rpms or so.
Just practice being smooth, practice practice practice and it will come. It's all in the timing; granny-shifting tends to make the car jerk because the rpms will fall to much.
Just practice being smooth, practice practice practice and it will come. It's all in the timing; granny-shifting tends to make the car jerk because the rpms will fall to much.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 6,376
Likes: 21
From: Traverse City MI
Re: Mastering the 6speed, need tips (Mr Mojo)
Oh, and that's the way the car should be driven all the time-WIDE OPEN THROTTLE! Yeah baby!
:cheers: :cool:
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Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Re: Mastering the 6speed, need tips (Aaron71771)
STOP= Spin Tires On Pavement!
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: wilmington de
Re: Mastering the 6speed, need tips (Aaron71771)
Your doing too much thinking! Just get the feel of the car and what it likes and doesn't. You will get the hang of it after a couple day trips and then you will be a pro. And I wouldn't suggest you do a burn out at every stop but maybe every other. Enjoy the 6sp I sure do.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 6,694
Likes: 1
From: Gurnee IL
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Mastering the 6speed, need tips (scorp508)
Turn on the radio, look straight ahead out the windshield and don't think about it.
It'll come naturally. There is no "formula" or "method".
Eventually you accelerate smoothly, and you'll notice your passenger is no longer hitting his/her head on the dashboard and head rest.
It'll come naturally. There is no "formula" or "method".
Eventually you accelerate smoothly, and you'll notice your passenger is no longer hitting his/her head on the dashboard and head rest.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,238
Likes: 0
From: walled lake MI
Re: Mastering the 6speed, need tips (scorp508)
No need. That was in the days of non-synchro trannies.
plus, i think it's more fun!!!
[Modified by tempest, 10:18 PM 6/4/2002]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,238
Likes: 0
From: walled lake MI
Re: Mastering the 6speed, need tips (Patrick96LT4)
Eventually you accelerate smoothly, and you'll notice your passenger is no longer hitting his/her head on the dashboard and head rest.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,198
Likes: 2
From: Northern CA
Re: Mastering the 6speed, need tips (Patrick96LT4)
Turn on the radio, look straight ahead out the windshield and don't think about it.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Cary NC
Re: Mastering the 6speed, need tips (Patrick96LT4)
Turn on the radio, look straight ahead out the windshield and don't think about it.
It'll come naturally. There is no "formula" or "method".
Eventually you accelerate smoothly, and you'll notice your passenger is no longer hitting his/her head on the dashboard and head rest.
It'll come naturally. There is no "formula" or "method".
Eventually you accelerate smoothly, and you'll notice your passenger is no longer hitting his/her head on the dashboard and head rest.
:yesnod:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 5,297
Likes: 0
From: Stamford VT
Re: Mastering the 6speed, need tips (tempest)
No need. That was in the days of non-synchro trannies.
i agree. maybe it's just an ego trip to say "i don't need no stinkin' synchros!" :smash:
plus, i think it's more fun!!!
[Modified by tempest, 10:18 PM 6/4/2002]
i agree. maybe it's just an ego trip to say "i don't need no stinkin' synchros!" :smash:
plus, i think it's more fun!!!
[Modified by tempest, 10:18 PM 6/4/2002]
[Modified by Jim85IROC, 7:11 AM 6/5/2002]
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,444
Likes: 2
From: lakeview new york
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: Mastering the 6speed, need tips (Aaron71771)
It's hard to explain. It's more a matter of feel than anything to get it smooth. Don't even look at the tach. Just listen. Some more time behind the wheel and before you know it you'll be a pro and you won't even think about it anymore. :yesnod: