When to shift
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 808
Likes: 286
From: Johns Creek, Georgia
When to shift
I am not a speed demon, I don't often drive hard off the line and rarely drive over 90. I am just wondering if I wanted to go 0 to 140 as fast as possible at what rpm would I shift at for each gear?
Do you racers out there get near red line for each gear? Curious to see what you guys think.
Do you racers out there get near red line for each gear? Curious to see what you guys think.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,241
Likes: 4,360
From: Chirper Island
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 146
From: Saint John's, Florida
I am not a speed demon, I don't often drive hard off the line and rarely drive over 90. I am just wondering if I wanted to go 0 to 140 as fast as possible at what rpm would I shift at for each gear?
Do you racers out there get near red line for each gear? Curious to see what you guys think.
Do you racers out there get near red line for each gear? Curious to see what you guys think.
Auto - Let it shift itself
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,311
Likes: 386
From: Toronto Ontario
my car doesnt shift well at high rpms, very difficult to get a smooth shift, i wonder if its clutch related
Im about 570 at the crank it drives smooth as butter during regular, or slightly spirited driving
Im about 570 at the crank it drives smooth as butter during regular, or slightly spirited driving
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 808
Likes: 286
From: Johns Creek, Georgia
I prefer cruising at high speed. I was on 85 south in North Carolina a few weeks back and a pick up, a C5 and me in my C6 were cruising 95 to 100 for about seventy five miles taking turns being the lead car. That was fun!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 26,430
Likes: 493
Max torque to rear wheels is achieved by going to redline in 1st and 2nd. To figure out this for yourself find torque curve for your engine, multiply torque by transmission gear multiplication, shift when torque is higher gear is higher than torque in lower gear.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 6,139
Likes: 1,962
From: Morris County New Jersey
.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 8,055
Likes: 2,694
From: New Mexico
2018 C6 of Year Finalist
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,631
I am not a speed demon, I don't often drive hard off the line and rarely drive over 90. I am just wondering if I wanted to go 0 to 140 as fast as possible at what rpm would I shift at for each gear?
Do you racers out there get near red line for each gear? Curious to see what you guys think.
Do you racers out there get near red line for each gear? Curious to see what you guys think.
What tune on the car?
If stock, then you notice that the motor will want to go flat around 5.5K, and the torque is dropping off around 5.4K as well.
So this would be your best shift points for shift, even on a stock LS7 motor. Hence the LS7 will rev out at 7K, but since it's going flat long before that, that extra RPM is really just a saver for when you are coming out of a corner and don't want to shift until your down with the corner instead.
On the other hand, if the motor has been tuned to pull hard all the way to red line, then it would be just before redline that you would want to shift instead.
As for 140 MPH, that only a few gears, since most C6's in 5th gear will take you up to 175mph before the motor rev's out in 5th.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 808
Likes: 286
From: Johns Creek, Georgia
What tune on the car?
If stock, then you notice that the motor will want to go flat around 5.5K, and the torque is dropping off around 5.4K as well.
So this would be your best shift points for shift, even on a stock LS7 motor. Hence the LS7 will rev out at 7K, but since it's going flat long before that, that extra RPM is really just a saver for when you are coming out of a corner and don't want to shift until your down with the corner instead.
On the other hand, if the motor has been tuned to pull hard all the way to red line, then it would be just before redline that you would want to shift instead.
As for 140 MPH, that only a few gears, since most C6's in 5th gear will take you up to 175mph before the motor rev's out in 5th.
If stock, then you notice that the motor will want to go flat around 5.5K, and the torque is dropping off around 5.4K as well.
So this would be your best shift points for shift, even on a stock LS7 motor. Hence the LS7 will rev out at 7K, but since it's going flat long before that, that extra RPM is really just a saver for when you are coming out of a corner and don't want to shift until your down with the corner instead.
On the other hand, if the motor has been tuned to pull hard all the way to red line, then it would be just before redline that you would want to shift instead.
As for 140 MPH, that only a few gears, since most C6's in 5th gear will take you up to 175mph before the motor rev's out in 5th.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 30,427
Likes: 1,609
From: Outside the Quick Stop N.J.
I get the feeling some don't think I know how to drive my car, I know how to stomp on it. I guess I was wondering if it is better getting into second gear at say 4500 rpms than going to red line, same thing for 2-3, 3-4 etc.
I prefer cruising at high speed. I was on 85 south in North Carolina a few weeks back and a pick up, a C5 and me in my C6 were cruising 95 to 100 for about seventy five miles taking turns being the lead car. That was fun!
I prefer cruising at high speed. I was on 85 south in North Carolina a few weeks back and a pick up, a C5 and me in my C6 were cruising 95 to 100 for about seventy five miles taking turns being the lead car. That was fun!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 8,055
Likes: 2,694
From: New Mexico
2018 C6 of Year Finalist
Sorry, my humor is very dry and my answers are full of snark, yet always based on facts.
Did you watch the video I posted?
Have you tried your 4500 rpm theory out and compared it to running up to 6500? Even the butt dyno will tell you the answer.
Mr. “Hence” knows his stuff when it comes to C6 repair, but he’s wrong on when to shift one.
Running on the expressway at 100 isn’t exactly extreme. Some people call that commuting. (**** I did it again, I can’t help myself)
Did you watch the video I posted?
Have you tried your 4500 rpm theory out and compared it to running up to 6500? Even the butt dyno will tell you the answer.
Mr. “Hence” knows his stuff when it comes to C6 repair, but he’s wrong on when to shift one.
Running on the expressway at 100 isn’t exactly extreme. Some people call that commuting. (**** I did it again, I can’t help myself)
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 808
Likes: 286
From: Johns Creek, Georgia
I had to recallibrate my entire driving style when I bought my GS. I came from a lifetime of muscle cars where the party was over by 4500 rpm max. With the LS3 that is when the fun is just beginning. I have my Dashlogic programmed to sound an alarm beep @ 6200k rpm, so I can shift just before redline.
I really was just being curious about shifting at what rpm's. I doubt I will ever run through the gears at red line. Does that get me kicked out of the Corvette family now?.