Down Shifting
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,346
Likes: 5
From: Mustang OK
Following from the 2003 Corvette Owner's Manual, Section 2, Features and Controls > Starting and Operating Your Vehicle, page 2-29:
Downshifting (Manual Transmission)
If your vehicle is a coupe or convertible, do not downshift into the gear shown below at a speed greater than shown in the table:
If your vehicle is a coupe or convertible, do not downshift into the gear shown below at a speed greater than shown in the table:
FIRST (1): 50 mph (80 km/h)
SECOND (2): 74 mph (119 km/h)
THIRD (3): 101 mph (163 km/h)
FOURTH (4): 130 mph (209 km/h)
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
we tend to use 106 mph as the max speed to downshift from 5th to 4th. However, in most cases on the track we are well below those speeds to down shift.
ALmost never use 2nd or 5th gear on the track. Most road racing tracks use only 3th and 4th. 3rd gear from 45 mph up to 110-120 mph then shift to 4th. 4th up to 140-150 mph. Seldom at sustained speeds above 150, if we do it would be useing 5th gear.
I down shift under at the end of a hard braking zone, just before a corner from 4th to 3rd. Speeds are after I have slowed from 100+ mph down to 50 or so then blip the throttle ( heel-n-toe*) and down shift to 3rd.
* heel-n-toe is not useing the heel and your toes, but the inside and outside of your right foot. Inside of your right foot is hard an the brake peddle and the outside of your right foot ( with an ankle roll) quickly presses the thottle or blips to get the RPMS up to match the engine revs, then the downshift.
ALmost never use 2nd or 5th gear on the track. Most road racing tracks use only 3th and 4th. 3rd gear from 45 mph up to 110-120 mph then shift to 4th. 4th up to 140-150 mph. Seldom at sustained speeds above 150, if we do it would be useing 5th gear.
I down shift under at the end of a hard braking zone, just before a corner from 4th to 3rd. Speeds are after I have slowed from 100+ mph down to 50 or so then blip the throttle ( heel-n-toe*) and down shift to 3rd.
* heel-n-toe is not useing the heel and your toes, but the inside and outside of your right foot. Inside of your right foot is hard an the brake peddle and the outside of your right foot ( with an ankle roll) quickly presses the thottle or blips to get the RPMS up to match the engine revs, then the downshift.
Last edited by AU N EGL; Dec 13, 2005 at 09:13 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,884
Likes: 2
From: Walnut CA
Originally Posted by GrayC5
Following from the 2003 Corvette Owner's Manual, Section 2, Features and Controls > Starting and Operating Your Vehicle, page 2-29:
Downshifting (Manual Transmission)
If your vehicle is a coupe or convertible, do not downshift into the gear shown below at a speed greater than shown in the table:
FIRST (1): 50 mph (80 km/h)
SECOND (2): 74 mph (119 km/h)
THIRD (3): 101 mph (163 km/h)
FOURTH (4): 130 mph (209 km/h)
Downshifting (Manual Transmission)
If your vehicle is a coupe or convertible, do not downshift into the gear shown below at a speed greater than shown in the table:
FIRST (1): 50 mph (80 km/h)
SECOND (2): 74 mph (119 km/h)
THIRD (3): 101 mph (163 km/h)
FOURTH (4): 130 mph (209 km/h)
Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 658
Likes: 0
From: Toronto Ontario
Originally Posted by Paras
These are the max speeds--I'd try and stay substantially below those speeds when downshifting--I think it would be quite difficult to rev match when downshifting if you're at those speeds.
MAX speeds for sure, way too high for everyday "normal" driving. 
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 310
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From: St.Louis Missouri
Thanks guys!No way I would want to push it that hard.Was thinking more on the lines of 25-30 1st,40-45 2nd,70-75 3rd and 95-100 4th.Does that sound safe?Sounds like it's best to keep the rpms up when letting out on the clutch.Do I understand that right?Only sticks I've had before were trucks.Thanks!
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I downshift at speeds lower than that shown in the manual, but that is just my preference. No sense cutting it too close.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,884
Likes: 2
From: Walnut CA
Originally Posted by bobbss
Thanks guys!No way I would want to push it that hard.Was thinking more on the lines of 25-30 1st,40-45 2nd,70-75 3rd and 95-100 4th.Does that sound safe?Sounds like it's best to keep the rpms up when letting out on the clutch.Do I understand that right?Only sticks I've had before were trucks.Thanks!
Just work on rev matching and it will make your downshifts feel and be smoother...
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Whippany NJ
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I love dropping down to 2nd gear at 65mph right before I pull on a modded Supra or something. 
Then say bye bye!!! 
ps- always rev-match before engaging..your tranny and clutch will love you for it!
Then say bye bye!!! ps- always rev-match before engaging..your tranny and clutch will love you for it!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,353
Likes: 0
From: Richmond Hill Ontario
Valve springs on a stock C5 are quite weak. GM gets a lot of warranty claims around bent valves due to downshifting. My buddy who works for GM say's they call it driver error but in a number of cases repair it ..
Be very careful when downshifting, it is a sure fire way to mess up your car real bad
Tino
Be very careful when downshifting, it is a sure fire way to mess up your car real bad
Tino
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Shifting is fun, but but not really faster. In High Performance Drivers Events we teach drivers to shift less. and they actully go faster. The corvette is torque monster, it has great torque starting at low rmps, so use it. Not like a porsche which needs high rmps to stay in its power / torque range and needs to shift often to have the power it needs.
IMHO never down shift into first unless stopped, there is no need.
Ideally the best place to shift is 1500 rpms above peak HP, so that when you do make that gear change the rpms naturall drops to the peak HP. However, this is not really practical for street driving.
Practice shifting is also a great time to practice your heel-n-toe down shifting. Heel-n-toe is not using your heel and toe but the inside and outside of your right foot. The inside of your right foot is firm on the brake peddle slowing the car down quickly and the out side of the right foot will blip, or quickly depress the throttle ( with an ankle roll ) to increase rmps by 1000-1200, then depress the clutch with left foot and downshift.
Lots going on with heel-n-toe downshifting so it takes lots of practice.
IMHO never down shift into first unless stopped, there is no need.
Ideally the best place to shift is 1500 rpms above peak HP, so that when you do make that gear change the rpms naturall drops to the peak HP. However, this is not really practical for street driving.
Practice shifting is also a great time to practice your heel-n-toe down shifting. Heel-n-toe is not using your heel and toe but the inside and outside of your right foot. The inside of your right foot is firm on the brake peddle slowing the car down quickly and the out side of the right foot will blip, or quickly depress the throttle ( with an ankle roll ) to increase rmps by 1000-1200, then depress the clutch with left foot and downshift.
Lots going on with heel-n-toe downshifting so it takes lots of practice.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,770
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From: Sahuarita AZ
I never shift into 1st unless I'm completely stopped. In fact, if I'm coming up to a stoplight or stop sign, I won't even downshift into 2nd. I generally keep it into 3rd, then shift into neutral and roll up to the white line, then engage the gear when appropriate.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Vancouver
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Originally Posted by sdnet
I never shift into 1st unless I'm completely stopped. In fact, if I'm coming up to a stoplight or stop sign, I won't even downshift into 2nd. I generally keep it into 3rd, then shift into neutral and roll up to the white line, then engage the gear when appropriate.
The brakes should be used to stop you not the tranny. Engines are a lot more expensive than brake pads.