optimal shifting

[anwagbo3000]

what is optimal shifting for the gen 2 solara, i have a manumatic or automanual or vvti tranny, so what rpm is optimal shifting for each gear

[ThatVietGuy]

Just let the car do it for you

[Sebas007]

WTF is VVT-i tranny ???

You talking about the "learning" part of the tranny ?

I use the stick to control the proper power range

[chuchurocket]

the manumatic or tiptronic or whatever u call it is still a automatic, what "gear" ur shifting into basically means the maximum gear ur car will shift into, so if u put it in "4" it means the car will use 1st,2nd,3rd,4th gear but will not go into 5th. putting it in "3" means the car will use 1st,2nd,3rd gear but it will not go into 4th and 5th etc.

all downshifts are still handled by the car and you have no control over it, so let's say u put it in "3", the gear will still automatically drop down to 2nd and then 1st when u slow down, therefore u cannot "hold" a gear like a true manual.

with that being said, there's no difference between a conventional auto with 5 spd with the "D-D4-3-2-L" setup and the so-called sequential manumatic, so drive it like how u would drive any other 5 spd automatic car

[kingkakyle]

^^^ are u sure about that
im pretty sure u can command the gear as long as u dont redline or underrev
so u can change ur gears at lets say 5000 rpm from 1st to 2nd
where as in my car with the L 2 3 D when i shift it to 2 while i was in L and im full gas it will hold until i hit 6100 rpm even though i changed up to 2 at 5000

[chuchurocket]

^^^ are u sure about that
im pretty sure u can command the gear as long as u dont redline or underrev
so u can change ur gears at lets say 5000 rpm from 1st to 2nd
where as in my car with the L 2 3 D when i shift it to 2 while i was in L and im full gas it will hold until i hit 6100 rpm even though i changed up to 2 at 5000

with any automatic, u can always force ur gear to go lower than what it's suppose to be, so in ur case the car feels like it wants to go into D4 but ur limiting it to 2nd, so engine rev up til redline.

but on a deceleration, say u have ur gear selector in "3" but ur car feels like it should be in 2nd gear, it will shift itself into 2nd gear, and then 1st gear if u slow the car down further, it will only go back to 3rd gear if u accelerate it to the proper speed.

[Sebas007]

We know all that already...but you can control the engine RPM by controlling the maximum gear. I do it almost all the time. You have to know the gear speed range (example : 0-45 KM/H 1st gear...88 KM/H 2nd gear 153 KM/H 3rd gear....)

It will never be like a true manual. At least if the gear change were stiffer, quicker...it would be so nice.

[NightRider]

aye you know when to shift when your in man. mode and when the rev limiter hits on your tach then you know when to shift lol

[bri_n_m]

3,185.32079 RPM.......duhhhh

[PXLpainter]

Just do it at least 1-2 seconds before the rev limiter cutoff or it will rev like its in neutral and sputter and buck and people will look at you like you can't shift. (happens to me all the time and I feel like an ass!) - I absolutely HATE this fricken tranny!!

[Sebas007]

At full throttle the upshift are not that slow...otherwise they are slow....specially 1st to 2nd gear.

By the way...if you go drag racing it is important to know the max speed shifting point...yeah the tach would tell it but I find it so much easier to time myself on the speedo,

[rollaevo99]

Is this possible to put Light indicator in our stock Tach???

[Gadgetjq]

what is optimal shifting for the gen 2 solara, i have a manumatic or automanual or vvti tranny, so what rpm is optimal shifting for each gear

I don't have the gear ratios here so can't do the math for you and to actually find your optimal shift points you'd have to put the car on a dyno anyway (to see the actual torque 'curve') but....

The 3.3 liter V-6 is rated (factory) at 225 hp @5600 rpm, 240 lb ft of torque at 3600. The old hot rodders method is to shift to the next gear at a point that will drop rpm to exactly that torque peak (3600 rpm) because torque tends to peak then flatten out then drop off fairly rapidly. It's the reason big trucks have so many gears, the driver tries to keep rpm within a very narrow range where torque (and acceleration) are best. Ok, too much information.

So, here's whatcha do (unless you want to look up ratios and do the pencil work). Take your car out and hold it in 2nd gear to 3600 rpm. That will give you the (theoretically) optimum speed for your 1-2 shift. Now drop it back to 1st to see what the rpm is. That'll give you the rpm shift point for the 1-2 shift. Repeat the process for 2-3, 3-4. Again, the idea is to shift at an rpm that will cause the engine to be at exactly 3600 rpm in the 'next' gear. Also again, this isn't a 'precise' way to go because gearing has some effect. If you're racing you'd want to put the car on rollers for the real info.

If you're road racing (or just have a favorite cloverleaf or on/off ramp) downshifts would be handled the same way. Downshift at a point that will put the rpm at 3600 in the next gear down so you have best power to accelerate out of a corner.

One little rub with all the above. This tranny shifts so slowly you have to 'anticipate' quite a bit making your shifts earlier than you would if the tranny reacted instantly.

Cheers

[SolarBoy]

One little rub with all the above. This tranny shifts so slowly you have to 'anticipate' quite a bit making your shifts earlier than you would if the tranny reacted instantly.

Cheers

I noticed on your page that you "jerry-rigged" the intake...how does that affect your shifting and the car's response to your input?

[Gadgetjq]

SolarBoy wrote: "I noticed on your page that you "jerry-rigged" the intake...how does that affect your shifting and the car's response to your input?"
___________________

Absolutely no change in power according to my 'seat o' the pants' dyno but keep in mind the SLE convertible with its extra weight isn't exactly suitable as a dragster even against hardtop Solara's.

The primary reason for opening the intake on this car is the 'hope' that a cooler air charge plus a K&N filter 'might' result in a little better fuel mileage. Major upside, the mod is absolutely free and reversible in about 30 seconds.

Cheers