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Old Feb 17, 2006 | 05:24 PM
  #1  
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Default Test Drive Advice

A friend of mine is going test-driving next Friday (seven days). The target is a C5 and the lot he is going to has many used models to pick from.

My question is about the powerband and shift-points. Where do you guys find the powerband in the manual C5's? In my Mach, the HP really kicks in b/t 3200 and 5800RPM, racing below that or above that is wasting time. Do these motors have the same characteristic, or are they strong throughout?

The shift-point is obviously gonna be where the power drops off. If these motors do that, what RPM would that be?

Thanks in advance to your replies and please advise on any models which came from the factory hot (that's for me, BTW ).
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Old Feb 17, 2006 | 06:16 PM
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The LS1/LS6 engine is strong right off idle all the way to redline. My auto at WOT shifts at 52 mph or so. I would think the 6 speed you would have to shift a 45 or so. Someone with a 6 speed could let you know. I dove several c5 (6sp and auto) and i picked the auto due to it being a year newer than the rest, garage queen, low miles, lots of extras and 4 years left on the ext. warrantee. Drive several of them before you make your choice. I didn’t care for two of the autos but this one I bought shifted smoother and had the 3.15 rear end. Good luck and enjoy.
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Old Feb 17, 2006 | 06:26 PM
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MIne's pretty consistant until 4000rpm's then it get's a surge. 6 speed by the way. And the power doesn't really drop off until after the redline. About 6000 rpm's.
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Old Feb 17, 2006 | 06:31 PM
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If the car has HUD there is a shift light that comes on a couple hundred RPMs before redline.
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Old Feb 17, 2006 | 11:27 PM
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Originally Posted by shakainc
MIne's pretty consistant until 4000rpm's then it get's a surge. 6 speed by the way. And the power doesn't really drop off until after the redline. About 6000 rpm's.
THX Shak, that's what I am looking for. All good motors seem to "surge" at some RPM. My strategy is to keep my shifts in that "surge" without dropping below that, or going above that which it drops out of the surge. I'm willing to sacrifice redline RPM's for digging out accelleration with superior HP by grabbing another gear.

Now, what RPM do you guys shift to keep the motor at or above 4000RPM?

I'm guessing redline, 4000RPM is pretty steep. Unless I see otherwise, I'm advising my friend to redline every gear, with a power shift no doubt, T/C OFF
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Old Feb 17, 2006 | 11:36 PM
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With my cam i get excellent pull from 3200 till when the computer shifts at 6600rpm.
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Old Feb 17, 2006 | 11:39 PM
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Originally Posted by BlownV6
With my cam i get excellent pull from 3200 till when the computer shifts at 6600rpm.
Cams are good, but I'm curious about stock. Mods come later
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Old Feb 17, 2006 | 11:40 PM
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I have a stock 2001 Coupe and it feels like the power starts to come on at about 2000-2500 rpm and progressively gets stronger until you get to the high rpm range (close to 6000) which is where you have to shift... Great midrange torque from 2500-4500...
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Old Feb 17, 2006 | 11:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Paras
I have a stock 2001 Coupe and it feels like the power starts to come on at about 2000-2500 rpm and progressively gets stronger until you get to the high rpm range (close to 6000) which is where you have to shift... Great midrange torque from 2500-4500...
OK, we're getting closer now. So it seems that a power-shift around 5800-ish will keep you in the powerband. Am I correct?
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Old Feb 17, 2006 | 11:57 PM
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Did you say "test drive"????

Your friend is going to a used car lot to take out cars and redline them through the gears?

Wow, remind me to NEVER sell this guy a car!

Hope it all works out for you guys...



.
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Old Feb 18, 2006 | 12:21 AM
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never power shift during a test drive. most likely it will only **** of the salesman and if he misses the gear he might be looking at buying a set of valves for a car he doesn't even own yet. not worth it at all. getting on it some is one thing (it's is a high performance sports car after all) but abuse is a whole different animal. hope he has fun test driving and finds the perfect vette he's looking for.
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Old Feb 18, 2006 | 01:22 AM
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Originally Posted by BuckyBoy
Did you say "test drive"????

Your friend is going to a used car lot to take out cars and redline them through the gears?

Wow, remind me to NEVER sell this guy a car!

Hope it all works out for you guys...



.
Don't test drive us, sell us, or buy from us. Hot rods are meant to be reamed. Make no mistake, Corvettes are the ultimate hot rod. There will be no granny-shifting here. If that offends you, look away. There will be Vette-thrashing come Friday.

DO NOT misunderstand, he is gonna buy one, no doubt. This isn't rental abuse. He just wants to make sure the ride can take it. Mine does, daily, and likes it. The warrantee is only good for what the aftermarket can't make faster, right?! If you have to baby it, you might as well buy a Mustang, they can take it.

Last edited by BurlyStang; Feb 18, 2006 at 01:28 AM.
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