Shift Points

[brian_mit]

I have an 80 TA with a 301 and minor engine work done new cam, bored and not much else and I was just wondering when I am racing how far I can take the RPMs up to. The redline says 5 Grand and I have always shifted at that but I have heard those are lower then they have to be. Anyone have any idea how high I can go with out wrecking anything in my engine?

[79 Z28]

7300rpm is a good place ;D

[Nin]

i've revved to about 6000 before shifting...too scared to go higher


my friend in his 67 camaro SS slams it to like 7000RPM lol

[79 Z28]

i've revved to about 6000 before shifting...too scared to go higher


my friend in his 67 camaro SS slams it to like 7000RPM lol
is it the origional tach? lol prolly more like 5000 then :P

[brian_mit]

so if I where to take her up to 5500 or so I should be fine then right?

[79 Z28]

so if I where to take her up to 5500 or so I should be fine then right?
yup, stock redline is 5500rpm

[Nin]

my friend in his 67 camaro SS slams it to like 7000RPM lol
is it the origional tach? lol prolly more like 5000 then :P


lol no...aftermarket racing tach....dunno brand or anything but id say its pretty accurate

[brian_mit]

Well my tach is stock and its redline is at 5000. Also would there be any advantage in going any higher then 5 Grand cause I was thinking most of my power is gonna come between 3600-4400ish anyways. Also why does it matter if I have a stock tach? are they not accurate and if not does that always mean it says i am higher then I am or could i the opposite?

[GregZ28]

A note about shift points:
Based on my racing experience (mostly 2-strokes lol), and without seeing your dyno curve, the big reason for going well beyond your peak power is to give a higher corresponding RPM after you've shifted...For example (totally arbitrary numbers) but say your powerband is btween 3500 and 5000 rpm, you would probably shift well after 5000 just so you're already in the powerband for the next gear because you take away the engine's mechanical advantage by giving it a lower gear ratio...donno if that makes sense to you or not, but usually it's worth the trade of going beyond peak power, so that you're not too far below it after you shift.

[79 Z28]

A note about shift points:
Based on my racing experience (mostly 2-strokes lol), and without seeing your dyno curve, the big reason for going well beyond your peak power is to give a higher corresponding RPM after you've shifted...For example (totally arbitrary numbers) but say your powerband is btween 3500 and 5000 rpm, you would probably shift well after 5000 just so you're already in the powerband for the next gear because you take away the engine's mechanical advantage by giving it a lower gear ratio...donno if that makes sense to you or not, but usually it's worth the trade of going beyond peak power, so that you're not too far below it after you shift.
thats exactly right, it is a trade off, to performance and power vs. wear and tear. its all about finding the happy medium. when i had my engine in the dyno cell, it made 375hp at 5800rpm when i went to the track with the stall i was at and rear gears, i went the fastest by winging it to 6500rpm if i shifted at 6000rpm it was 1.5 tenths slower. but mosty likely if its stock, thats what the factory set it as id use it, just go 200-300 rpms more. like a stock 350 its factory setting was 5500 on the guage, 5700 was about topps for a stocker 350. experment and find out, and dont break anyhting hopefully. :D

[Nin]

brian_mit: is your car a 400 or 403? if it is dont rev too high...those things are known to give at 5k RPM+ area

[79 Z28]

brian_mit: is your car a 400 or 403? if it is dont rev too high...those things are known to give at 5k RPM+ area
he said its the 301, you know the turbo 301...... very infamous motor haha ;D

[Nin]

RIP your car :'(