black02z28

Hey guys I have an A4 my question is for street racing with street tires which is the best gear to be in off the line I always went off the line in overdrive,but is there a better gear to be in for more power off the line thanks guys...

TedH

My limited understanding of the stock transmission is that with your foot to the floor the entire time that leaving it in either OD or D does not matter.

black02z28

what about first or second gear off the line any difference?

TedH

I have found that simply putting the stock transmission in either drive or overdrive works best in terms of consistency. From what I have seen and heard there is no real difference between trying to force the shifts yourself and letting the transmission do the work, except that letting the transmission work itself is generally more consistent.

Now on the new Mustang 6 cylinder convertible rental car from Hertz that I had at Orlando Speed World last August, if I launched in anything other than first gear it bogged. When I raced a 2005 Monte Carlo last summer, it worked best if I launched in third because it would actually launch in 1st, then shift automatically to second and third. The Mustang however.... If I launched in third it really was in third and would not shift down by itself into first for the launch.

Capn Pete

Don't start in 2nd!! It's REALLY starting in 2nd!!!

3rd gear is typically the best, unless you want to manually shift, in which case start 1st, then 2nd, then 3rd (no brainer).

I don't care what anybody says, I've been driving/racing AUTOMATICS long enough to know that SOMETIMES "manually shifting" IS better than leaving the shifting to the tranny. Otherwise, what the heck are "slap shifters" and "ratchet shifters" built for??

Depending on the car's setup, I have seen upwards of ~.2 seconds difference in 1/4 mile time, and ~2 mph difference in trap speed by manually shifting vs. NOT shifting.

Typically though, 3rd gear works best, and leave it there.

TedH

I have a manual valve body automatic with a B&M Pro Ratchet. The car will not shift without me doing it. The Captain is right... Some cars do better by manually shifting but in my experience, most newer cars are more consistent by letting the tranny do the work but it does vary from model to model. When I travel I always try to go a day early or stay a day late and take a rental car to the dragstrip so I have driven a fair assortment of recent cars varying from Suzuki Aero's to Jaguars with many things in between, and they are all different.

kazman

FYI, I race my stock 2.73 geared car in 2nd. Car pulls out in first then shifts into 2nd. I let it do the 1-2 shift and it crosses the finish in 2nd at 94-96mph.

Capn Pete

Then that must have been different for LT1's than it is for LS1's. If I put the shifter into 2nd, it starts and stays in 2nd. Same with 1st I guess. Not 'til either 3rd or 4th does it go through the gears automatically.

I agree with what you're saying about doing the 1/4 mile with 2.73's though, I hold it in 2nd across the line as well (save doing that last shift across the line ).

black02z28

so 3rd gear is best which is regular drive not overdrive correct?

AdioSS

actually, there are more clutches (low/rev clutch) engaged in the 4L60E if you manually shift into 1st instead of leaving it D or OD.

The Engineer

With the PCM programming available today and the ability to fine-tune the 4L60E shift points (1-2, 2-3, 4th/OD doesn't matter in the 1/4 w/ gears) I don't believe most drivers can manually out-drive the PCM programming. Also, the PCM shifting consistency for bracket racing can't be beat! That's my 2 cents worth.

1997 Z28 Auto, 12.44 @ 110.13, 2005 Thunder Valley

Mike Comp T/A #57

I leave mine in OD.

darrens99formul

D or OD is best. The 4L60E will not make your car faster if you shift yourself. In fact you will almost always be a tad slower. The only exception to this would be if you're hitting the rev limiter. If that's the case then raising shift points will fix that.

TH400's were meant to be shifted manually. The 4L60E was not. But I know we all do it once and awhile just for fun

The Engineer

More thoughts on how to drive an F-Body automatic at the drag strip, or street.

For most people who post here on the forum, I believe their main objective is building-up their car, then occasionally taking it to the local drag strip (test & tune) to determine what the car is capable of in the ¼. However, for some people (including myself) it’s all, or mostly about drag racing and the competition that goes along with it.

Additionally, real drag racing has two distinctively different aspects to manage; 1. having the car properly prepared (fast and reliable), And 2. having great driving skills at the track (consistent good reaction times & ETs) and staying cool under pressure (i.e. spotting someone 3.7 seconds, then cutting a great light, catching them and out-running them for the win).

I run in the NO-E division (manual driving) and have my PCM and 4L60E shift-points programmed for max performance as-well-as consistency. Normally, I can run within a few one hundredths of my dial-in (often run the dial) and that makes my 1997 Z28 Auto very competitive at the track. Also, I use “drive” at the track w/ 3.73 gears and low-profile 26” slicks to ensure the engine wraps-out (max RPM) in 3rd gear and doesn’t shift into O/D near the line.

12.44 @ 110.13 (2005)

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2189634