Powershifting 101

[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?.

~ 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.

[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...

[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!
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! 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.



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).


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)


3) Built a Hemi crashbox for my Vega with a Vertical Gate Shifter &amp; never had that problem again.


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.
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[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!"


Steve

[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.

[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.

PJ

[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.