Question on shifting a 6 speed
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Bel Air Md
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Los Angeles California
That shouldn't be too fast, no. I think second gear takes you past 60... I know that on my Z06, 1st gets me up to about 38-ish... So 2nd HAS to take me past 60. I don't know if you have a M6 or M12, but if you have the M6, your gears are a little taller so you should be just fine at 60... Make sure you rev-match before you down shift or else you WILL hurt your transmission. Also, don't use your trans to break/slow down. Brakes are meant for slowing down, transmission is meant to put power to the wheels.
Stock transmissions have slant cut gears and are meant to have power transfer one way, input shaft to output shaft. Down shifting while slowing down will likely kill the life of your transmission very quickly, especially if you don't rev-match.
Stock transmissions have slant cut gears and are meant to have power transfer one way, input shaft to output shaft. Down shifting while slowing down will likely kill the life of your transmission very quickly, especially if you don't rev-match.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 251
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From: S/W Illinois
This is covered in my 2001 Owner's Manual, which apparently most people don't bother to read, on page 2-34. It says do not downshift at a speed greater than 50 in first, 74 in second, 101 in third and 130 in fourth. There is some pretty interesting stuff in the Owner's Manual! I always figured when I buy a $50000 car, it might be a good idea to read it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Belleville Il
I have not actually watched the speed/RPM when shifting near red line,,but at the track I was trapping between 107 and 110,,and I was just shifting into 4th very shortly before the line,, so I would estimate 6k in 3rd would be quite close to 100. Just guessing,,there is probably around a 500 to 700 RPM split between 3rd and 4th, so unless you are really running it out in 4th you can drop to 3rd no problem!! You are going to be WELL over any posted speed limits at 6,000 in 3rd
!!
!!
Team Owner
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From: Columbus Ohio
CI 3-4, 8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10
For what it's worth I'd say right around 100 if slowing down.
Car and Driver article on the C5 and top speed in each gear:
1st 50mph @ 6,000rpm
2nd 75mph @ 6,000rpm
3rd 103mph @ 6,000rpm
4th 134mph @ 6,000rpm
5th 172mph @ 5,700rpm
6th 172mph @ 3,850rpm
1st 50mph @ 6,000rpm
2nd 75mph @ 6,000rpm
3rd 103mph @ 6,000rpm
4th 134mph @ 6,000rpm
5th 172mph @ 5,700rpm
6th 172mph @ 3,850rpm
Team Owner
Joined: May 1999
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From: Columbus Ohio
CI 3-4, 8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10
This is covered in my 2001 Owner's Manual, which apparently most people don't bother to read, on page 2-34. It says do not downshift at a speed greater than 50 in first, 74 in second, 101 in third and 130 in fourth. There is some pretty interesting stuff in the Owner's Manual! I always figured when I buy a $50000 car, it might be a good idea to read it.
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 251
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From: S/W Illinois
I think it means don't go into first gear from any higher gear at a speed greater than 50. If the OP is interested in racing (which I'm not into) it probably doesn't make sense to downshift to first at 50 because there is going to be very little left in engine rpm's for acceleration. Second would be a better choice. These speeds in the manual were probably calculated not to over-rev the engine on a downshift, not to give street racing advice.
Last edited by Geno94; Aug 1, 2009 at 08:43 PM. Reason: added info
Race Director
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From: Whippany NJ
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Learn different speeds and RPMs for 2nd, 3rd. (I.E. if 3rd gear at 65mph is 4k rpm, then that is where you need to blip the throttle to if you were in 4th gear cruising at 1800 rpm so when you release the clutch, theres no shock to the driveline.) The game is to be able to downshift, rev match and dump the clutch all in one motion without having the RPMs drop so that the car just takes off. It takes practice
Last edited by Ikester; Aug 1, 2009 at 08:59 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Use your brakes to slow the car, not the transmission.
I down shift from 4th to third at about 60 mph, under hard braking
remember when you downshift you need to blip the throttle to up the rpms by 1500 to rev match.
most ppl drive a vette in too low of a gear to begin with.. ppl should stop trying to drive at 1500-2000 rpms and get the engine up to 4000 to 5500 were it belongs
Team Owner
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From: Columbus Ohio
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St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10
Use your brakes to slow the car, not the transmission.
I down shift from 4th to third at about 60 mph, under hard braking
remember when you downshift you need to blip the throttle to up the rpms by 1500 to rev match.
most ppl drive a vette in too low of a gear to begin with.. ppl should stop trying to drive at 1500-2000 rpms and get the engine up to 4000 to 5500 were it belongs
So you do all your freeway roads trips in second gear?
Le Mans Master
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On my way home from work this morning I went WOT from a 60mph roll just to have a little fun, downshifted to third, rev matched at around 65mph.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Rochester Hills MI
shouldnt it depend on what differential you have?? im sure the numbers are pretty different for the 2.91 than the 3.42. it can be really tricky though. it depends on how much gained hp u get by raising the rpms in comparison to how long ur gonna be in that gear. if ur only gonna be in the gear for a very short amount of time, u will get worse acceleration due to the fact the you have lost time due to the extra shift.
Last edited by SaberD; Aug 1, 2009 at 10:32 PM.
Team Owner
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From: Columbus Ohio
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St. Jude Donor '06-'08-'10
shouldnt it depend on what differential you have?? im sure the numbers are pretty different for the 2.91 than the 3.42. it can be really tricky though. it depends on how much gained hp u get by raising the rpms in comparison to how long ur gonna be in that gear. if ur only gonna be in the gear for a very short amount of time, u will get worse acceleration due to the fact the you have lost time due to the extra shift.
Last edited by Blue 92; Aug 1, 2009 at 10:47 PM.
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that anything less than 100 you could shift down to 3rd.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
third. 80 mph 4400 rpms 
so at 70 mph try running in 4th gear ~ 3000 rpms. You will be suppressed how well your car runs. and after a while, they will be no carbon build up.
so at 70 mph try running in 4th gear ~ 3000 rpms. You will be suppressed how well your car runs. and after a while, they will be no carbon build up.
Last edited by AU N EGL; Aug 2, 2009 at 03:47 PM.
Burning Brakes
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From: Nouvelle Ecosse
I get it sideways all the time in 2nd.