Manually shifting?

[turbosam6]

I'm not sure where my tranny will shift at now, as compared to last year (rebuild), but I was wondering how many guys are shifting manually? I'm shooting for 10's, but I would rather just leave it in drive and go. Plus, with the stock shifter anyway, I'm not comfortable trying to shift, It will be too easy to miss a gear. I guess thats what aftermarket shifters are for, but I like the stocker.

 

[Men in Black]

I shift mine manually, haven't had a problem yet. Try driving it on the street and manually shifting all the time to get used to it.

 

[325DR]

One warning to anyone who tries to shift manually:

Be VERY CAREFUL not to push the shifter into neutral!

There is nothing on the stock shifter that limits you from pushing the shifter forward into neutral. You dont even need to push in the thumb button!

Here is what I did:
I took the center console out so that I could see the stock shifter assembly. If you look closely, the thumb button on the shifter handle is connected to a "rod" that moves up and down on a track that looks like a staircase. You can see that the shifter can not be pulled to a lower gear without the thumb button being pressed because the "rod" would hit the lower gear's step (it acts like a wall). So what I did was I took a Dremel tool and ground the 3rd gear step on the track down about 1/8th inch. At the end of the 3rd gear step right before the 4th gear step, I left a small "wall" which would prevent the shifter from being accidentally pushed forward into 4th gear (or more importantly, neutral). Now, when my car is 3rd gear, I MUST push the thumb button on the shifter handle in, so the rod will not hit the wall, then I can push the shifter forward to OD.

If I want to manually shift the 2-3 shift, I can push the shifter forward into 3rd and the shifter will stop by itself because the "rod" connected to the thumb button on the handle hits the "wall" I made on the track of the shifter.

I hope this makes sense. I wish I would have took pictures of this. But if you have seen the shifter assembly, then you might know what I was referring to.

 

[azgn]

if you decide to shift it manually, get rid of the stock shifter!

you can also modify your govenor to shift where you want...I have mine set at 5600 and it just ticks the shift lite

the downside is if you drive on the street...you prolly won't like it

 

[REDS HOT AIR]

I manually shift my car with no problem

its easier for me to leave the hole in second so it does the 1-2 shift on its own then just click it to 3rd around 6200 or so ..

 

[buickboy]

Several years ago i designed my own mods for the stock shifter detent plate to allow safe bang shifting into drive from 2nd. The instructions for mods are still free if anyone wants them. Just email me and i will give you details for sending a SASE for me to send instructions which include illustrations and use instructions.
Mitch

 

[d0n_3d]

i always thought manually shifting an automatic wasn't good for the trans?

 

[NASSTY]

Probably not good on a stock tranny.It's ok on a built tranny with a shift kit.

 

[qwic87gn]

I tried manually shifting it one time and it scared me because of how hard it shifted. The trans has been rebuilt with a shift kit. I mean it shifted at least 3 times as hard as it does automatically, is that normal?

 

[S10xGN]

Originally posted by azgn
the downside is if you drive on the street...you prolly won't like it

Woody,

Why would someone "not like it" by raising the governor shift points? Doesn't this control just the full throttle shifts? I'm contemplating raising my gov shift points like you did - somewhere around 5600...

 

[azgn]

well, not exactly.....it also raises your part throttle shift points..particulary, the 3-4 shift....your trans will shift differently if you modify the gov spring...not terrible, but different

 

[HellOnWheels]

Woody,

How many tires did it take you to get to the shift point you wanted? Did you drill or file to remove the weight?

Thnx
HellOnWheels

 

[HellOnWheels]

Damnit, I meant to say tries.......

HOW

 

[azgn]

well, fortunately, I had the trans in & out a lot

It took some tries (or tires) and we used the tried and true sanding/grinding method....but now we have it and you won't be able to pry that spring from my cold dead fingers!...just go slow and you'll get it...

I had a lot of help from a very good tranny guy, and I recommend you do likewise