Power Shifting

[turbomangt]

Can someone tell me what power shifting is all about? I think it involves NOT using the clutch, but I can't believe this won't harm the components. Gary [:I]

[CREWZIN]

Gary,

Your takin me back to my shiftin days. The way I was taught (maybe there's more than one way) is that after you take off from the start, you push the shifter towards 2nd gear (it won't go), then at the correct speed/RPM, you let off the throttle just a little bit and then the shifter will be able to ram into the next gear as you go back to full throttle. No clutch is used. Hard on the running gear...if it's done absolutely correct, a little, but I wouldn't try it with the trans our little PT's have.

[quicksilverdon]

Yup, I agree with Crewzin. Done it many times on motorcycles. Who needs a clutch???[:I]

[MichaelDay]

I takes practice to power shift quickly and smoothly. Once you get the hang of it, it isn't too bad on the transmission. The learning period can play heck with the tranny. I found it really came in handy back in the late 60's when the clutch cable on my 4-speed snapped. I was able to get back home (50+ miles) with little problem (other than Stop lights).

[westgate]

Now that is something i have not done in years. Carey is right on target with the info.

[JPMS GT]

I learned the same way Michael did. The cable on my Mini Cooperbroke in the hills of central New York and I had to learn how to shift w/o clutch. When I got it fixed I still didn't use it! Now with the Autostick its easy to power shift but learning how to heel and toe has been a little tricky! [8)]

John

[amazingarthur]

Gentleman,

I am fairly certain that powershifting means not letting off the gas at all, while you are pushing in the clutch. I'm not sure of course.

[Sci-Fi]

From 10W40:

Powershifting is effectively shifting without fully releasing the clutch. You keep the gas pedal down while you only use about half the clutch travel to shift hard and fast. This is incredibly hard on a transmission, and in fact simply will not work on most transmissions. Without fully pushing in the clutch on most cars, you can neither pull the shifter out of gear nor put it into a new one (and it will grind as you try).

From LS1.com:

Question 1-10: What is powershifting?

Answer: Powershifting is when you leave the gas pedal all the way to the floor and quickly move the shifter and work the clutch while racing. This allows a continuous application of power with no lag, and is typically good for a tenth or two improvement in the quarter mile times. It does not seem to cause any extra wear on the transmission either, the T56 transmission can take a lot of abuse.

http://www.zr1.net/ZR1_powershifting.html

IMHO, shifting without using the clutch, especially on a cable operated shifting transmission is not a good idea. Might be ok when selecting a lower gear at the correct or matching rpms, but it is very hard on your synchos if you constantly jam/force it into gear at the wrong rpms. You would need to modify the synchos, like grinding off every other tooth or finding somebody that can make up some racing synchos for you, to give you some margin for error. Otherwise you just might find yourself with a non-syncho transmission, or only a few working gears, with broken syncho parts floating around inside and learning on the fly how to double clutch just to get home.

[turbomangt]

I think I'll stick with using the clutch

[CREWZIN]

quote:Originally posted by turbomangt

I think I'll stick with using the clutch

Good Idea