I'm new to a 6-speed. Plz Help

Hi, i have recently purchased a 1999 WS-6 Trans Am with a 6 speed manual. I was wondering since i am new to the 6 speed found on the trans am, at what RPMs should i shift to get the most power out of each gear while i'm racing WITHOUT damaging my engine or putting it under too much stress? I know for each car the redlines and power ranges are different so i was wondering about the pontiac. Thank you for your help.

During your racing sessions, as long as you don't exceed the redline you should be fine. The engine will make good power right up to the redline, and Pontiac is probably being slightly conservative on the maximum RPM the engine will live at. Proper servicing of the car is just as important (on time maintenance such as oil changes etc.). Driving technique is an important factor too - for instance I have always thought that power shifting (holding the throttle to the floor while doing a quick shift up) is very dangerous without a rev limiter, because if you miss a gear and you were at redline, you could cook the engine.

During your racing sessions, as long as you don't exceed the redline you should be fine. The engine will make good power right up to the redline, and Pontiac is probably being slightly conservative on the maximum RPM the engine will live at. Proper servicing of the car is just as important (on time maintenance such as oil changes etc.). Driving technique is an important factor too - for instance I have always thought that power shifting (holding the throttle to the floor while doing a quick shift up) is very dangerous without a rev limiter, because if you miss a gear and you were at redline, you could cook the engine.

So maybe shifting at about 65 RPMs is about right? I mean redline isn't taking it to the max RPMs on your Tach is it?

So maybe shifting at about 65 RPMs is about right? I mean redline isn't taking it to the max RPMs on your Tach is it?


Redline refers to the red area that is on a tach face at the position the manufacturer decided they wanted to be the maximum RPM for the engine. Sometimes there is a yellow area when you get close to the red area. So as the tach needle sweeps up to higher RPM, it enters the yellow zone (if it has one) then the red zone. To be safe, do not allow the pointer to enter the red zone, under any condition. If your tach has a red area starting at 6500 RPM, then you should shift before it enters that red area.

there's no reason to redline in a race. usually, max hp is reached before the redline, somewhere around 5800 rpms..??? i guess if u keep up the maintenance w/ the car, it'd be alright, but wouldn't suggest redlining.

Thank you for your help. So if my Tach redlines at about 78 rpms and the yellow zone is at about 70 or 73 then that is a good point to shift? All i know is that all cars are different. I could have a trans am that redlines at 7 and a mazda that redlines at 7 but isn't it true that the power bands are different? I am just trying to get as much power out of each gear as possible with out over reving.

you dont have to worry about shifting ur transmission at 78000 rpm b/c ur engine would have died before it got there. A redline is the point where the manufacturer says if u rev beyond this point we cannot be sure of what happens. The engine was not designed to opperate beyond that rpm. You could go over redline a little if you wanted, but i would not risk it. There is no bennifit the max hp is usually around 4 and 5000 rpm max tourqe is like 3000 something rpm. The trans Ams redline at 6000 rpm if iam not mistaken.