Manual shifts.

[Rockettman]

Is it a bad thing to manual shift through the gears on a stock '04 trans?
My "old school" learning says it is bad - without a shift kit; but what about the Marauders?

[fastblackmerc]

Is it a bad thing to manual shift through the gears on a stock '04 trans?
My "old school" learning says it is bad - without a shift kit; but what about the Marauders?

Don't do it!

There are some tranny's that have been destroyed by manual shifting.

[MrBluGruv]

Personally, I think if done right you shouldn't have a problem. But, I also had to deal with a blown trans (stub shaft shattered). I have a hard time believing you'd kill it with a manual shift if it wasn't under load, but factor in you're probably playing with fire if you're under load and dealing with the O/D band in any way manually with your trans. Best solution, in my opinion: learn how to drive well around the fact that it's an automatic.

[Egon Spengler]

I wouldn't do it. The only time I go past drive is when I shift down in to 2nd gear in the winter time to get a little more grab and go from a stop on snow covered roads

[4play]

I don't see what the big difference would be once you put a tune in it shifts hard enough from 1st to 2nd to chirp the tires. How would shifting manually wreck anything.

[LANDY]

just put it in drive and let it rip.

[RR|Suki]

I don't see what the big difference would be once you put a tune in it shifts hard enough from 1st to 2nd to chirp the tires. How would shifting manually wreck anything.

because when you have the lever in 2 the OD band is engaged, no matter if you have the OD button on or off. Not good for the trans.

[musclemerc]

We recently had this discussion and I believe it was Zack that said the OD is automatically enguaged whenever a gear is manualy changed. Unless you have time to shift from 3rd, wait a second, turn the OD off, then shift to 2nd your damaging the trans. I believe it was in one of MrBluGruv's thread's.
I would'nt do it unless you can handle the consequence's

[MrBluGruv]

We recently had this discussion and I believe it was Zack that said the OD is automatically enguaged whenever a gear is manualy changed. Unless you have time to shift from 3rd, wait a second, turn the OD off, then shift to 2nd your damaging the trans. I believe it was in one of MrBluGruv's thread's.
I would'nt do it unless you can handle the consequence's

Couldn't have said it better. That's what I meant above, like I do it myself but at the same time I'd highly recommend not doing it. The safest "manual" shift I could possibly imagine, sometimes I'll leave the car in 1 to do a roll from low speeds, once I get rolling at WOT I'll push it up very quickly into D, as it has a lockout gate between D and N and if you go fast enough it won't register you hitting 2 so it won't force it out of 1 into 2 and it *shouldn't* engage the O/D band like it would putting it into 2.

This is by no means definitive advice though.

[fastblackmerc]

I don't see what the big difference would be once you put a tune in it shifts hard enough from 1st to 2nd to chirp the tires. How would shifting manually wreck anything.

That has nothing to do with manual shifting.

Actually the harder shifts are better for your trans, less slippage.

[Juice]

What about downshifting when slowing down? I have a habit (I try not to) of downshifting from D to 2 when slowing down to let the compression slow the car a bit before I get on the brakes. How nasty is that for the tranny? I'm usually pretty good about it, but sometimes I do it instinctively.

[Rockettman]

Thanks for the input guys.
Glad I didn't do the wrong way of finding things out!
Cheers!

[breeze]

how does it hurt the trans if u hit the shift points on time? manu shifting it had a slpit second delay then shifts, you have a tach. everytime my brother drives my car he shifts manu and bangs gears.

[RR|Suki]

how does it hurt the trans if u hit the shift points on time? manu shifting it had a slpit second delay then shifts, you have a tach. everytime my brother drives my car he shifts manu and bangs gears.

Read the replies above. When you manually shift the car the OD band is engaged in 2, even when you click the button to turn OD off. Trans doesn't like that very much.

[fastblackmerc]

how does it hurt the trans if u hit the shift points on time? manu shifting it had a slpit second delay then shifts, you have a tach. everytime my brother drives my car he shifts manu and bangs gears.

It WILL break... just a matter of time. Hope he's going to foot the bill for repairs!

[DTUB]

Sometimes I like to row thru the gears with normal throttle but upshift at a higher mph, is this also bad?

[musclemerc]

The answer is the same DTUB

[fastblackmerc]

Sometimes I like to row thru the gears with normal throttle but upshift at a higher mph, is this also bad?

How many times do we have to say it??????

What don't you understand?

If you want a large repair bill to fix your tranny then manual shift it.

If you don't want a larger repair bill to fox your tranny DON'T shift it manually!

The Motorhead350 syndrome must be spreading.............

BTW... take the OD off when you punch it at speed......

[DTUB]

The answer is the same DTUB
:( Well that sure takes the fun out of it. Maybe Darrin at BCA could figure out how to correct these issues so we can upshift however we like and not have to remember to turn the OD off all the time.

[Juice]

Sorry to ask what's probably a stupid question, but I don't know the inner workings of a transmission... But does this also apply to what I asked about a few posts up?

Thanks :)

[LANDY]

i actually like the fact that if you just live in drive it does its own job. ( there is no room for errors) as long as your shift points are correct.
the only down side i see is, when racing against a manual car, especially with nitrous.

[RR|Suki]

i actually like the fact that if you just live in drive it does its own job. ( there is no room for errors) as long as your shift points are correct.
the only down side i see is, when racing against a manual car, especially with nitrous.

If the shifts are tuned right there is no way you can shift faster than the auto.

[musclemerc]

IDK Juice, when you get to the stop do you start out in drive? I would direct that question to Darrin
I don't understand why you would need to downshift while braking.


Sorry to ask what's probably a stupid question, but I don't know the inner workings of a transmission... But does this also apply to what I asked about a few posts up?

Thanks :)

[Juice]

Once I come to a stop I put it back in D, and I don't down shift to 1st, just come to a stop in 2nd. I don't have to do it, but it's become a bit of a habit. If you come to a long coasting stop the car will down shift itself automatically, so I just saw it as using the compression to slow the car, a common practice in manual trans cars.

My usual sequence of events is to star slowing down, once I get to ~40mph I down shift to 2nd, then come to a complete stop. Once stopped, I put it in D and take off normally.

None of it is necessary, I was just wondering how much of an effect it has on trans life.

[musclemerc]

IDK Juice, maybe consider kicking those old habits just to be safe.

[LANDY]

If the shifts are tuned right there is no way you can shift faster than the auto.
i know, but the last sentence applied to a race from a roll.
for example my friend's 94 trans am with a 100 shot from a 20mph roll leaves me behind by easily 2 or 3 car lenghts, i actually start passing him around 110mph.
point is, he is already locked in gear, my car has to downshift.

[RR|Suki]

race from a roll.

There's the problem right there, roll racing is lame :P

[-Matt-]

Manual valve body ftw

[Motorhead350]

The Motorhead350 syndrome must be spreading.............



I was hoping to meet more people like myself.

BTW I used to manually shift but only when the car was N/A.

I haven't done it since then nor will I ever again. Just O/D off and enjoy, that's it.

[AConvertedChevy]

I used to manual shift every once in awhile. now I dont because it just feels like my trans is gona explode

however for all you 2-1 manual shifters out there theres a sweet spot where you can revmatch if your good. i guess its just between gears because it revs like its in neutral..... ive done this many times and it never felt and diffrent then any other car you'd do it in.... cept for the noise that is :banana2:

[Rockettman]

I gotta say that my Dodge Magnum has the Auto/Shift transmission.
That makes driving alot more fun as I have the option of how I'd like to drive.
Sitting in traffic I can leave it alone; or, if I want to have some fun, I can shift manually.