Quick shifting tips?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 526
Likes: 18
From: Michigan
Quick shifting tips?
Just picked up an 08 z51 car with the manual trans and was wondering if anyone had some tips for learning to shift quicker in this car. I've owned a zf6 6 speed duramax but that is like shifting a semi compared to the vette. I have no issues driving the manual but just want the smoothest and fastest shifts posssible so figured I'd ask others for some advice
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,501
Likes: 3,627
The MGW shifter will shorten the throws, and even give a more precise shifts, but the trans can only be shifted so fast, until you are forcing it in gear (sling shot shifting for drag racing). Hence destroying not only the transmission synchro's, but the shifter fork pad and shifter assembly in the trans by not allowing the syncro's enough time to match the gears speeds until they engage each other.
You want to sling shot the trans from gear to gear, then it time to step up to a Sequential or seamless transmission; neither on which you need to come off the gas on up shifts.
Simply put, your Z51 can set up for autocross work, and the trans shifts faster enough for that (without having to be forced into gears).
If you wanted a drag car, then you should have gotten a car with an auto transmission instead (and something else than a vet that has a drive line that can take a lot more punishment).
You want to sling shot the trans from gear to gear, then it time to step up to a Sequential or seamless transmission; neither on which you need to come off the gas on up shifts.
Simply put, your Z51 can set up for autocross work, and the trans shifts faster enough for that (without having to be forced into gears).
If you wanted a drag car, then you should have gotten a car with an auto transmission instead (and something else than a vet that has a drive line that can take a lot more punishment).
Pro
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 731
Likes: 154
From: New Albany Indiana
This is really simple no matter what equipment you have...PRACTICE...PRACTICE...PRACTICE... and then what are you going to do with your tached out screaming machine after you make those nano second shifts... PRACTICE.... PRACTICE... PRACTICE.....then PRACTICE so more...
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 526
Likes: 18
From: Michigan
The MGW shifter will shorten the throws, and even give a more precise shifts, but the trans can only be shifted so fast, until you are forcing it in gear (sling shot shifting for drag racing). Hence destroying not only the transmission synchro's, but the shifter fork pad and shifter assembly in the trans by not allowing the syncro's enough time to match the gears speeds until they engage each other.
You want to sling shot the trans from gear to gear, then it time to step up to a Sequential or seamless transmission; neither on which you need to come off the gas on up shifts.
Simply put, your Z51 can set up for autocross work, and the trans shifts faster enough for that (without having to be forced into gears).
If you wanted a drag car, then you should have gotten a car with an auto transmission instead (and something else than a vet that has a drive line that can take a lot more punishment).
You want to sling shot the trans from gear to gear, then it time to step up to a Sequential or seamless transmission; neither on which you need to come off the gas on up shifts.
Simply put, your Z51 can set up for autocross work, and the trans shifts faster enough for that (without having to be forced into gears).
If you wanted a drag car, then you should have gotten a car with an auto transmission instead (and something else than a vet that has a drive line that can take a lot more punishment).
I am not going to abuse the car by sling shorting the trans, I was more looking for things like how far you guys engage the clutch and stuff like that. To me it's a little difficult to tell when the clutch completely engages in the vette but that may be due to my lack of seat time.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2014
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 420
Likes: 63
From: Earth
I installed the MGW and it's great. It's definitely a shorter throw than stock but the clutch pedal has a pretty long travel which slows you down anyway.
When driving normally you kind of lift a bit off the gas, push the clutch and them move the shifter but I find that if as soon as you start pushing on the clutch and you simultaneously pull/push the shifter, that shortens the transition time between gears. Then let the clutch out as quickly as your foot/leg will allow.
So you want to try to depress the clutch and move the shifter at the same time regardless of gas pedal. That works for me.
When driving normally you kind of lift a bit off the gas, push the clutch and them move the shifter but I find that if as soon as you start pushing on the clutch and you simultaneously pull/push the shifter, that shortens the transition time between gears. Then let the clutch out as quickly as your foot/leg will allow.
So you want to try to depress the clutch and move the shifter at the same time regardless of gas pedal. That works for me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,187
Likes: 1,215
From: Las Vegas Nevada
The diff, of course, is that we did not have any safety features built in, and generally blew up the trans after maybe 50 runs with speed-shifting.
Soooo...is it true that "No-lift shift" features are built into the C6? If so, starting when?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 30,427
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From: Outside the Quick Stop N.J.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 526
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From: Michigan
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 4,138
Likes: 171
From: Missouri
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
Best way to shift more quickly is to practice. Mechanical parts can only help so much. Guaranteed I shift faster stock than most people with an aftermarket shifter, and it took thousands of attempts to master.
Edit: thousands of attempts and a new transmission.
Edit: thousands of attempts and a new transmission.
Last edited by ProfessorDeath; Jan 9, 2017 at 12:05 AM.