How do you use your 4+3?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: How do you use your 4+3? (3j)
I turn it on when I'm on the freeway, and off when I hit the offramp. It's useless for me around town.... or else you really get a surprise when you start from a stop and run it quick through 1st and then bog it down into 2nd overdrive inadvertently.
If I'm in traffic on the freeway, say 50 mph, I would use 3rd-OD rather than 4th-regular. That way if I get a chance to pass, all I have to do is gun it. I typically only use the OD as a passing gear, and on occasion as a PO'd gear. If I'm making a triple-digit run, I don't turn it on until after 100 mph. :steering:
From my experience, the OD doesn't function like an automatic transmission. It seems to always want to run in OD unless you stomp on it... I'm not sure if this is how it was designed or not.
If I'm in traffic on the freeway, say 50 mph, I would use 3rd-OD rather than 4th-regular. That way if I get a chance to pass, all I have to do is gun it. I typically only use the OD as a passing gear, and on occasion as a PO'd gear. If I'm making a triple-digit run, I don't turn it on until after 100 mph. :steering:
From my experience, the OD doesn't function like an automatic transmission. It seems to always want to run in OD unless you stomp on it... I'm not sure if this is how it was designed or not.
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 3
From: Hazel Park MI
Re: How do you use your 4+3? (3j)
The owners manual says to drive with it on, regardless of city or highway driving. Of course that 2nd gear overdrive bog is suppose to give you better gas mileage, which it does through my own testing with the OD unit on/off. But in any circumstances I feel max torque necessary, the OD is off! :steering: :seeya
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 12,968
Likes: 0
Re: How do you use your 4+3? (3j)
my unit is pretty f'd up so i leave it off and use the tranny just like a conventional 4 speed, the only time that i turn it on is when im on the highway and need another gear( just like an O.D.) :steering:
Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 515
Likes: 0
From: Everett WA
Re: How do you use your 4+3? (atotalnincompoop)
lets see... the button.. it says off till i start needing to lower rpms. like when im at 45 to 50 and just normal driving, it goes into 3rd and OD. and of corse, if i wanna gun it, it goes off. but, around here theres lots of long long stretches of slow (35mph) zones of no stopping, so a 2 or 3rd and OD works fine for cruzin around.
i try to stay around 15 rpms, then upshift.
Cruzin, w/ stopin. Cruzin, w/o stopin
25mph -> 3rd 25mph -> 2nd+OD
35mph -> 4th 35mph -> 3rd+OD
45mph -> 3rd+OD 45mph+ -> 4th+OD
50mph+-> 4th+OD
something like that. and to hell with gas mileage, i turn that part of the dash off. screw it, if i wanted to worry about gas, i wouldnt have this car.
i try to stay around 15 rpms, then upshift.
Cruzin, w/ stopin. Cruzin, w/o stopin
25mph -> 3rd 25mph -> 2nd+OD
35mph -> 4th 35mph -> 3rd+OD
45mph -> 3rd+OD 45mph+ -> 4th+OD
50mph+-> 4th+OD
something like that. and to hell with gas mileage, i turn that part of the dash off. screw it, if i wanted to worry about gas, i wouldnt have this car.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: How do you use your 4+3? (NightRyder)
to hell with gas mileage, i turn that part of the dash off. screw it, if i wanted to worry about gas, i wouldnt have this car.
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 190
Likes: 0
Re: How do you use your 4+3? (Light84vette)
I reveal my age here. Back when the C4 was introduced, the 4+3 was viewed as an obvious end run around the CAFE and gas guzzler tax restrictions. It's a handy 5th gear though. I use the clutch to go in and out and use it only when I can maintain rpm's of 2000 or above. Even with just the 4 speed we get twice the gas mileage of most SUV's! My '78 had a 3.70:1 rear so I was pretty happy to have the 4+3:steering:
Another legal end run was on my '83 Z28. It had a double sided speedo needle that neatly got around the 85mph speedometer requirement.
Another legal end run was on my '83 Z28. It had a double sided speedo needle that neatly got around the 85mph speedometer requirement.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
Re: How do you use your 4+3? (3j)
I use the OD all the time - local and highway. I treat it like a 5 speed. You need to get used to how it works so you don't get stuck in 1st OD :eek: or in low RPM 2nd gear turns. I like it a lot! It's unique. :yesnod: