babbagandu

i was reading about torque and hp on these 2 sites:

http://vettenet.org/torquehp.html
http://www.allpar.com/eek/hp-vs-torque.html

now i am really confused. i cant really explain it, but now i'm not sure what is the best time to shift. if u read it u will know what im talking about. i usually just go to 6000 or redline before i shift. just about everybody on this site has more driving experience than me, so i wanted to know the best time to shift in each gear in the Z. thanks.

NTRIGUE

I would expect Nissan did the math for us. Shift at redline. Til proven otherwise.

davidv

iTrader: (2)

I’ve read both of the articles that you posted before, and several others on torque, horsepower and shifting points for maximum acceleration. Drag race a hundred times, and you can “feel” when the car is no longer accelerating. Temperature, humidity and barometric pressure will vary the shift points. “Feeling” the shift points sounds about as valid as the butt dyno, but it works. It works because of practice, practice and practice some more.

More important than the shift points is where you come into the next gear. If you shift from second to third, for example, and the rpms drop to 2,500, you're in trouble. If the rpms drop to 4,000, then you're near the top of the torque curve. Each shift should put you near the top of the torque curve in the “next” gear.

When you get it right, you can run better than 13.70 seconds in a 350Z stock. And when you get it wrong, you’ll run 14.3 seconds as I have many times (I just don't post those time slips).

Happy racing.

plumpzz

iTrader: (10)

Nice trap speed. That other guy has an awsome 60'. Man i wish i knew how to launch at the drag strip. I donno if i should drop the clutch at 2500 and floor the gas after that or feather the clutch in or what. I've never tried it.

MeetJoeAsian

these days, with the gas price...I shift mine right before it hits 3000rpm...
and i'm interested in hearing y'alls response to this:

Fletch69z

iTrader: (50)

+1-you'll be able to feel it.

davidv

iTrader: (2)

I’ve been trying to figure out what you mean by “That other guy has an awesome 60'.” LOL. You mean #369 in the left lane? Those are racing slicks.

350Zenophile

iTrader: (20)

Shift at redline...Nissan engineered the transmission gear spacing to provide maximum acceleration efficiency.

In stock trim, you can feel the engine power start to roll off towards redline, but the drivetrain is still providing more force to the wheels than it would in the next gear up.