Powershifting 101

[Dog427435]

[b] Remember back when, if you weren't shifting your own gears you weren't really driving? Back when
three on the tree with a nonsyncro first was better than any automatic.
Automatics were for Grandma............
Well, maybe your not that old.
But in the days before reverse valve bodies, air shifters, chips and all the other electronics
we have today, Powershifting was an art form.
An art form honed on the streets of Everytown USA.
Second gear rubber was always mandatory, but nothing felt better then powershifting at least second
and third!
So sit back, relax and get a little education - maybe you better get some spare syncros, gears
and shifter linkage ready also!!
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[TimG]

OK guys, I'm going to be honest here. I consider myself pretty proficient with a four speed shifter, but I've never power shifted or actually kept the accelerator all the way to the floor, depressed the clutch, and hit the next gear without lifting the accelerator. I know I'm not doing it any time soon on my big block Corvette, either. I may try this if I borrow one of Paul D's cars, (like the L88 or Hemi) but no way would I really trust myself to get it right at the expense of an engine.
How about all the other gear heads out there. Do any of you really shift without lifting???????????
I guess I need to trade my four speed cars in for automatics, I can live with that.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

[ QUOTE ]
.... How about all the other gear heads out there. Do any of you really shift without lifting???????????
.....

[/ QUOTE ]

Never!!

[Dog427435]

All the time - have faith!!
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[VintageMusclecar]

Done it more times than I can count! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

(although I would tend to be a little more cautious now that the cost of replacement parts has gone through the roof...can't exactly find those replacement Muncies for $300.00 anymore like we used to http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

Eric

[3macs1]

One of the best power shifers I have ever driven with is my wife. She has no appreciation for the replacements of parts and like she says you told me 25 years ago put the pedal to the floor and don't let up. I cannot change now just because parts are more expensive. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

[PeteLeathersac]

For even more excitement, ever try the modern era vehicle trick of the floored go pedal and clutchless shifting when the rev limiter cuts in...kind've an old Ronnie Sox type trick w/ a new twist!.
First make sure the vehicle actually has a rev limiter then try shifting at higher revs smoothly without the clutch a few times as some vehicles don't like that anyway...but if all seems Ok, bite your lip, hold the gas flat and get ready to bang 'er when the cut out happens...and shift hard and positive too or you may miss it!.
Don't show the kids this one (or Mac's wife?) and it's best saved for beaters or rental cars as it's no doubt risky...but saves on clutch wear?.
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif
~ Pete

[TXZS]

Pete, synchros are more expensive than clutches and a bigger pain to replace. Kinda like the best place for your swimming pool is in your neighbor's yard, this is best practiced on your neighbor's car!

[Salvatore]

Did it forever in the old days. NEVER let your right foot up! Problem is now if you have any older parts they are already metal fatigued so it is not worth the excitement. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

[budnate]

used to no problem....you cant miss the sound of a guy getting with it and shifting at 6500 without lifting.... freaks out the guy next to you to on the 1-2 shift if he is running with ya...to scared now to be honest, back then we drove the cars daily and like star wars was one with said car...been thinking hard on it agin but want the rev limitor in and set right... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[BBIGG BLOCK 396]

Well in the past it was not really a big problem if you tore something up! But with the money we have tied up in cars today it is wise to shift them differently! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif
Although I am currently working on a project to do just that! POWERSHIFT it till something breaks.Building a little 67 Dodge Dart with a 69 model 340 bored and stroked to a 416 C.I.,had my Trans Buddy build me a Chrysler A833 just for POWERSHIFTING and I always liked the pistol grip shifters so I am going to incoporate a pistol Grip handle onto a vertical gate shifter! SHOULD BE FUN! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif The little 416 C.I.Strokers put out TONS of TORQUE and a lot of HORSEPOWER depending on the heads used in the build.One thing I suggest to anyone trying the POWERSHIFTIN THING is that you get a good REV LIMITER installed to prevent a lot of problems! Forgot to mention it also has a 6" drop straight axle in front for that old GASSER look!

[Motion Camaro]

<font color="blue">Sounds very cool. Can't wait to see it. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif



My powershifting stories:

1) My 66 GTO I shifted sooo hard I ripped the shifter right off the transmission!
Ears were still attached to shifter.
I drove 2nd gear all the way home (about 10 miles).
http://ultimategto.com/1966/66rgoat.jpg

2a) My 65 Chevelle I shifted 3rd, slipped off the ball &amp; busted my knuckle on the radio! (radio didn't make it either).
2b) I put in a Hurst Super Shifter with a 'T' handle &amp; ripped the shifter off the mount! (jeez)
http://www.evanscooling.com/gallery/65ChevelleMalibuSS_2.jpg

3) Built a Hemi crashbox for my Vega with a Vertical Gate Shifter &amp; never had that problem again. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
http://www.hotrod.com/eventcoverage/p113872_small+Chevrolet_Vega+Passenger_Side_View_W heelie.jpg

The best person I ever saw powershifting was one of the Carbone Bros. in N.Y.
Richie had a Blk 70 Z28 with a 355 &amp; when he shifted the RPM change was not noticable &amp; the front end never dropped.
He would shift the Super Shifter mostly with his wrist (I used my whole body) &amp; never missed a gear or lost a race.
http://thumb2.webshots.net/t/60/60/4/94/95/2071494950010957762oJIZuk_th.jpg http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif </font>

[68l30]

Great article...I still have my copy! I really enjoied reading this mag esp the articles by Tony D....yeah they were a tad strange but each writer had his own voice....

"Put your right foot flat to the floor....If you can't ..your a wimp....Go get an automatic!" http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif


Steve http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[TC]

Hmmmm.....how about side steppin?

The art of speed shifting.....plus slipping your foot off the side of the clutch peddle to shave some time off a shift!

I remember as a kid doing that in a 66' Impala 2 door coupe,327/275 hp three on the tree.
I was pretty sucsessful for quite a while,till'....my foot was quicker than my hand,and first and second gear climbed on top of each other......and broke my (well...mom and dads) transmission case all up! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headbang.gif



Tom

[Chris396]

I have power shifted the following. My old 1969 Chevelle SS 396, 1974 Superbeetle, and my 1995 Geo Metro. I don't do it anymore.

[olredalert]

-------Learned to drive when I was around twelve or thirteen. We lived in the country and nobody really cared. My trainer was a 1948 Jeepster and its sitting at the transmission shop as I type this. At about 15 I had heard about powershifting and gave it a try with the COLUMN shifter. Seemed easy enough at the time and I started doing it just about all the time, except when Dad was around. I pretty generally did nothing but abuse that poor jeep for about 4 years until I could afford a real car (in my mind). My Dad got his revenge when I turned 40 as he gave it to me for my fortieth birthday. He knew Id restore it and correct all the damage I had done in my teens. Been powershifting ever since but at a vastly lesser rate than I used to. Powershifting a 1966 425hp Corvette at the ripe age of 19 the first time was an experience I will never forget!!!!.......Bill S

[ORIGLS6]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Ah yes! 1-2 &amp; 3-4 shifts in my '57, my '68 Chevelle and my '68 Corvette. 2-3 in the '57 could happen too with the Hurst Comp+, but was a definite No-No with the other two and their factory linkage.
2-3 shifts in the Chevelle could be timed with a calendar. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif

We also damaged a couple of T-10 crash boxes. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

God, to think about the stuff we trashed back then................. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif Today, it's not just about the $$$, it's also about the scarcity of those parts.

[Kim_Howie]

I had a 55 chevy 2dr post in high school 283+125. 301 built it in shop class. I couldn't afford a 4-speed. Broke a ton of three speeds. I put them in with only 2 bolts across from each other made them alot easier to get out when broken. I had a mystery shifter 1st to 2nd was 50/50 chance powershifting it. Had a lot of good times in that car!!! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[mockingbird812]

Terrific topic. Cool article. Sounds like there were quite a few PSers out there. Done it myself a few times in various rides. Very dangerous practice if you or the car hiccup. All I can say is, not certain how it happened, but I sure am happy so many (most) of todays muscle cars still have their original engines and transmissions. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

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[P.J.]

Power shifted all the time. Both with the club car 56 Pontiac. Ate the competition.I hole shot the competition a car length out of the hole and GIVE ER IN ALL 4 GEARS.
MY 66 CHEVELLE SS I put 70 thousand miles of mostly power shifting.Ate all the automatics I ever ran. When I slip my foot off the clutch sideways the dash would almost come off
from the clutch hitting the stop on the dash, missed a few shifts at first and then I perswaded the gears to go in, or else. .BANG BANG BANG . Never broke a trany M21 in all those years.I had to change clutches because my wife was abusing the car when she went shopping. Parts cost big bucks back then too.Loved it, now however it only happens once in a while.
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif
PJ
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

[TimG]

Well, I'm put to shame. The four speed cars are for sale before they are get confiscated by the "power shifting police".
I'm relegated to the automatic cars from now on. How about a '70 Z28 with an LT1 and M40, or an L88 with an automatic?
This could be good.

[Dusk Blue Z]

Years ago when I was drag racing I was talking to a local guy who successfully ran a SS/H 67 Camaro (won a national event) about what RPM he left the line at. His response was "First yellow on the floor, third yellow let the clutch fly, the valve springs will keep it at the right RPM". Now days in a sea of automatics I'll still wait to watch a stick car head down the track. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/3gears.gif

Mike

[Stefano]

You can usually hear/tell the Guys who are power shifting at the SCRs as the cars sounds like an automatic. The quicker you make the shift the less the RPMs increase and drop.

I'll usually power shift 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd and then granny shift 3rd to 4th.

[Xplantdad]

[ QUOTE ]
You can usually hear/tell the Guys who are power shifting at the SCRs as the cars sounds like an automatic. The quicker you make the shift the less the RPMs increase and drop.

I'll usually power shift 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd and then granny shift 3rd to 4th.

[/ QUOTE ]

Stefano is one of the guys that sounds like he's driving an automatic... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

I'm thinking that there is some serious "street" activity in Stefano's past http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/headbang.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[x Baldwin Motion]

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the ultra rare, one of one "post" camaro http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[GRB]

The devil would have to be chasing me!

[P.J.]

[ QUOTE ]
You can usually hear/tell the Guys who are power shifting at the SCRs as the cars sounds like an automatic. The quicker you make the shift the less the RPMs increase and drop.

I'll usually power shift 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd and then granny shift 3rd to 4th.

[/ QUOTE ]

Only if you are 1 1/2 car lenghts ahead of the competition.
PJ