shift points on f-body

[z28 boy]

What are the best shift points while racing a 2000 z28 camaro?

[z28 boy]

when should I shift while racing my 2000 z28

[hot_red_z28]

If it's a stick you should shift at like 5900ish, if it is an auto, just put it in D and stomp it to the floor until you are done racing...

[Genopsyde]

that's right

[BadAzz240]

actually if its an auto. I would stick it in the 3rd so there is no chance of it goin in overdrive. And I wouldnt neccesarily stomp on the gas or your not gonna go anywhere. But yea you will get the hang of it...its all practice. And as for the 6 speed just go to redline or lil past and practice your speed shifting.

[Chevyracincamaro]

if its an auto you hold down the brake while its in drive, rev the engine to wherever you wont spin the tires, and then release the brake. for a stick, wouldnt he want to shift before 5900, like more around 5100. max horsepower on the z28 ls1 was at 5200, if he waits until 59 he's not gonna get anymore power and he'll just tear up his motor.

[z28 boy]

thanks guys. Its a n a4 but I have a flowmaster in it 80 series and hypertech programmer with 160 degree stat. sorry that i didn't tell its just that i am new to this AF thing. I meant where should i program my shift points to. When I race it now I cant stall it over 1000 rpms or I will start to fish tail on the take off. Even if i smoke the tires before. so far i haven't lost but i have to play catch up. I do the 1-2 shift at 5000 rpm and the car shifts at about 6200. It breaks loose every time there. The2-3 shift comes at 4500 rpm and the car again shifts at 6200 and some times breaks loose. Also I was wondering what kind of gears would be the best for my car. I am also told that since my rear tires are smaller than normal that I should have an advantage on the take off. They say that i make good gear ratio this way. But isn't an overall disadvantage to me.

[BadAzz240]

I wouldnt go anymore than 3.42 depending on what your planning on doin. Cuz if u think u have traction problems now...

[Chevyracincamaro]

indeed...

[FormulaLT1]

Gears would be the worst thing you could get right now if you have limited traction, some nicely placed suspension pieces might help you with your traction problem, improve handling and tighten up your your car for less power loss through the chassis. I read a article in which they took a 2002 Z28 made nothing but suspension mods and dropped 6 tenths , Also the best way to race is to find your cars G spot. Another words drive your car at every speed from 10 MPH to 60 MPH and floor it see at which point it won't break the rear loose then you know to give your car partial throttle til you reach that speed and then drop the hammer, Also smoken the tires rite before you take off heats up the rubber and makes if stick to the road better but will eat your tires. Also that trick where you hold the brake rev to just where the car won't break the rear loose is a great way to get a jump on the other guy.

[z28 boy]

thanks formula lt1 but the thing is that it starts to fishtale right after 1000 rpms even after smoking the tires.

[FormulaLT1]

Look I have some mods done to my car I'm probably making about 330 at the flywheel somewhere around 270 -280 at the rear wheels with about 330 lbs of torque, That somewhere in the area that your in (you actually have about 25 - 40 Horse Gain on me but anyway) The rear in these cars are very tempermental. What I started doing with mine is testing the car to see how much throttle I can give her without making her break loose and at certain points I can give her full throttle and then back off at the shift point's, If your breaking the wheels loose at wide open throttles then back off the car or modify the suspension so you have more downforce

[hot_red_z28]

Originally Posted by BadAzz240

actually if its an auto. I would stick it in the 3rd so there is no chance of it goin in overdrive. And I wouldnt neccesarily stomp on the gas or your not gonna go anywhere. But yea you will get the hang of it...its all practice. And as for the 6 speed just go to redline or lil past and practice your speed shifting.

D is 3rd in an auto...

Originally Posted by Chevyracincamaro

if its an auto you hold down the brake while its in drive, rev the engine to wherever you wont spin the tires, and then release the brake. for a stick, wouldnt he want to shift before 5900, like more around 5100. max horsepower on the z28 ls1 was at 5200, if he waits until 59 he's not gonna get anymore power and he'll just tear up his motor.

Well first of all, if his max is at 5200, why in hell would ya wanna shift before that. You'd never be using your max power. Also, you have to realize that a torque curve is like a rainbow, it's not just a cliff. That means you'll be making ROUGHLY the same amount of power at 5900 (= max rpm + 700rpms) as you would be at 4500 (= max rpm - 700rpms).


I was saying to start at 5900, because then you can powershift without really worrying about bouncing off the limiter since you have a few hundred rpms cushion. If you are at like 6100-6200 when you start a power shift, you may bang the limiter.