I am coming to the realization that at times I forget how to drive. For the second time in 2 years I missed a shift while drag racing and over-rev'd the motor. Going from the top of 3rd at around 85mph to 2nd and dropping the clutch on sticky tires makes for one hell of a ride. I have been lucky both times and no real damage has been done. Each time I just pulled 2 of the pressed in rocker studs (iron heads) up a bit and have to press them back in and readjust the arms.

Now for my question: Will having the skip shift enabled once I am in 3rd gear keep me from going into 2nd gear? I am stepping up my game in the engine department and do not want to hurt my new motor because I screwed up and missed another shift. I really enjoy drag racing this thing but an getting a bit nervous each time I have to shift from 3rd to 4th.

I have a Hurst shifter but it is old (my guess over 10 years old) and a bit sloppy. I am not one to blame something as I don't have the problem during normal driving, just in a racing environment. Would a new shifter help??

Thanks,
TOM B

 

skip shift only comes into play under specific driving conditions.

something like less than 35% throttle, and between some very low speeds.

so basically, when racing...your car doesn't have skip shift...so NO it won't help the accidental downshift problem.

a new shifter may help...

 

When I shift 3rd and 4th I'll take my right hand and turn it so the top of my hand is facing left when I grab the shifter. It's a little awkward, but it ensures that you are pushing outward away from your body instead of inward or closer to a lower gear.

Haven't missed a shift since I started doing that. Also, if you do end up missing it would most likely be into 6th instead of 2nd.

 

Pro 5.0 will remove all problems. It has pretty powerful springs that pretty much center the rod, making 3-4 all but impossible to miss. I had one in my V6 and my '96, and soon the SS Hurst will get replaced by it, too.

 

your lucky, my friend blew his motor doing just that on the street...

 

i agree that the pro 5.0 will help a lot but there arn't any springs in the pro 5.0 there is nothing to the shifter. the stock hurst shifter had springs that were really a pain to shift with. if you look at a pro 5.0 the shifter base is over and the inside of the shifter base is just a bunch of grease.

 

I have no problem controlling the skip shift solonoid with some other type of control. The transmission is installed in a 1996 Impala and it is running B-Body based code so the computer knows nothing about the skip shift. I thought about using a window switch or some PCM parameter I can adjust in the PCM and if the speed is over 70mph then I would not allow it to go into second gear. I was just wondering if the operation of the "Skip Shift" locked out 2nd gear when you were in 3rd gear.... anybody know the answer to this??

I'd love to test it myself but unfortunatly when I had my trans rebuilt we removed the piece in the trans that was the 2nd part of the skip shift contraption.

Thanks for the input thus far,
TOM B

 

There are no provisions for the skip shift to lock out first gear, so you can still miss third and hit first. Also I'm not sure if you could engage the solenoid while it was in a locked-out gear. I'm assuming you couldn't. (Engaging skip shift solenoid in 3rd gear.)

It just was not designed for what you're asking it to do, I'm almost positive there's no way to do it like that. Even if there is, I know the PCM would not be capable of the job, so you would need some kind of aftermarket control. It's not going to be cheap either.

That being said, buy a brand-new high quality shifter. I just bought a B&M for ~$160 at summit last month. I'm loving it so far, night and day difference than stock. I have driven my uncle's with a Pro 5.0, and I cannot tell the difference between the 2 other than the Pro 5.0 is adjustable and the B&M really likes to sit in the stock shifter position. I never had a problem with the stock position though (I'm tall) so it suited me well.

Also work the shifter with your hand turned backward like I said and I guarantee you'll never hit a damaging shift again. An old timer taught me to shift that way and I swear since I starting doing it years ago, I've only missed ONE shift. The missed shift was from 2nd to 5th like I said... so my time sucked (we get over it), but I didn't do any damage other than my ego.

 

I betcha that what you're suggesting would work! IIRC, when the skip shift was activated, only 2nd gear was blocked... you could go from 1st to 3rd, although going from 1st to 4th was the natural (and intended) gearshift.

I deactivated my skip shift about 1 month after getting the car (10 years ago), so it's hard to remember how it works!

 

It does not work.... it might work... it can't be done.... Good thing we are all on the same page. I have no problem getting it to work electronically. I am just trying to find out 2 things:

1. With the skip shift solonoid activated could you go from 1st to 3rd gear instead of the intended shift from 1st to 4th? (This question was answered but not verified).

2. If the skip shift is activated would it truly block out 2nd gear when in 3rd gear?

I have never missed the 1-2 shift and hit 4th gear. I don't think I could as I have a tendency to pull the shifter down and to the left (towards myself). I have missed third and found 5th but that is only after a good launch and my ash tray slides out. If I contact the ash tray with my hand/shifter it some how causes me to find 5th. It is irritating but I am not worried about it as it does not harm the engine like over-revving.

Thanks,
TOM B