SocalChvy

Streets = 4th/5th gear
Highway above 65mph = 6th gear.

Mr. Jean

Pour a cup and have a read in the manual.

I've got the Mild to Wild setup on mine and run it open most of the time. Nice to be able to tone it down when needed too.

I run in 4th around town and 5th up to 70 and then 6th for me.

AzDave47

I enjoy cruising with the flaps open at 4800 RPM in 5th. The only problem with the C6 is that cruise control only works properly up to 157 MPH. At 158 and above, if you try to put it on cruise control, it just keeps climbing.

TXGS507

I guess i'm old... 80mph, 6th gear, 1800ish RPM's....

AzDave47

I'm just getting old faster

OP, much of the highway cruising out west is at 80 MPH in 6th gear ~ 1700-1800 rpm.

Indepth

Man, you guys are lucky, 1800 is typically ALWAYS out of a drone range (normally 1500-1700) so you can get whatever exhaust you guys want.

Out here if I do more than 5 over I'm toast. Ohio state troopers love to write tickets.

AzDave47

We are also lucky enough to get crap 91 octane premium as the only gas in most places.

Much of the west interstates are 75 limit with some 80 and one TX road at 85. CA is 70 though. More fun to run 90 miles on a closed two lane at 150, though.

My HCIE Fusion IIIs with flaps closed have light drone at 60-70, almost gone at 75 and entirely gone at 80, all in 6th. Open flaps around town is awesome!

Indepth

I was referencing exhaust's without the exhaust flaps.

It's 70 on the turnpike here.

The gas I'll concede to you though, I love our 93 up here.

DanMan35

lol thanks, I knew that. The Pontiac I had though was a 1970 Firebird and thinking back when I had it I doubt it had cruise control.

67 327/400

My 69 Firebird did and it was on the end of the turn indicator as well. Just looked different.

DanMan35

Stop making me look bad. I'm outta here

rev2000

Some say the drone is intolerable...and while I can appreciate on a long haul this may be the case, it is a virtue of the LS7. In simple terms, the drone is the sound of a caged beast, YOUR caged beast...and with a stab of the throttle, that beast comes alive and roars for all to fear...music to my ears!!!!!

COvert-red

Personally, I would love to see manifold pressure gauges back in performance cars. Speed and engine rpm directly relate to manifold pressure and it's this pressure value that drives drone (or lack thereof), fuel efficiency, and performance. Generally speaking, if you keep the car between 1800 and 2500 rpm while at a constant speed, your fuel efficiency and engine wear will be favorable. From this point, if you want more performance you need more rpm (keeping the manifold pressure relatively constant). If you want to maintain performance (constant speed) and reduce the drone (manifold pressure), increase the rpm (down shift).

The 1966 Grand Prix came from the factory with a big, round manifold pressure gauge mounted on the center console. In this case, the intent was to monitor fuel economy (9 mpg rather than 6 if you were leaning on it).

TXGS507

Thank goodness for 93 octane here in TX...

I too am going with H/C/I with the BB Fusion 3's.... CANNOT WAIT to install... Currently bone stock... ZERO drone..

AzDave47

Here is a link to my build:

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...sd-intake.html

Travlee

when i added headers is when my drone started, to me its not bad but the GF hates it, so to appease her i bought the BlockIt mat. seems to cut it down some

Indepth

Does this actually help? The gf is more accepting than I figured she might be but we all know she hates it deep down lol.

Travlee

It does cut it down, is it worth the $200....depends, i was being lazy and didnt want to pull all the carpet. I think if you pulled carpet and used sound deadening of your choice it would be as good or better

Indepth

I got the Corsa system installed with my header back catless exhaust setup and it drones from 1450-1750 RPM on the nose. Which is of course 66-77 mph and the speeds I could cruise at on the highways I typically run.

If the BlockIt mat works enough to take at least 50% of the edge of the drone off I may consider the cost.

"Blah blah Corsa doesn't drone yada yada."

Dirty Howie

I try and avoid low RPM as you are more likely to lug the motor and put undue load on the bearings. For this reason I always rev it out a little before switching gears. I never go past 4th gear unless on the freeway going over 65mph (used to do 157mph in 4th on track) and I never put it into 6th gear unless going over 80mph down hill or level. Doesn't help my gas mileage but my motor is happy (according to Blackstone) AND I don't deal with drone !!


DH