2011 manual trans question
 

Just researching prior to buying decisions. Does the manual trans in a Z have the "forced shift" i.e. Camaro has forced 2nd to 4th gear...? If so, is there a way to disable or override it ? THANKS, John N.

i believe only GM cars have that feature.

What is forced shift?

on gm manual trans cars, you cannot shift from 1st to 2nd to 3rd to 4th
if you don't drive hard, the computer would not let you select 2nd or 3rd. the only gear you can select is 4th.
this is to maximize fuel economy.

I could see why. But still lame. You agree?

actually, gm does this so their cars would not be subjected to the gas guzzler tax so what they do is good for the consumers. there is an inexpensive device that can defeat this setup, so it's not as bad as it could have been :)

This is usually for high power V8s. Like Mick said, it's an EPA thing.

My 5.0 has a 1-4 "skip shift" feature. If you aren't accelerating quickly the transmission locks out 2nd gear and suggests a 1-4 shift. Doesn't really bother me much because I usually shift 1-3-5-6 or 1-4-6 anyways when I'm just driving normally. It is easily removed with a handheld tuner if it bothers you.

Well thats good. I wouldn't think they would have a gas guzzler tax? Maybe the Corvette. Are Z's don't that I know of.

Hell no these cars don't have the Skip Shift, thank God.

MANY THANKS..........that could be the decision maker....

They don't have skip shift because they can't. They don't have enough torque to be able to skip a few gears at low RPM. How would you like to drop into 4th gear at 1,000 RPM accelerating from a light? Not all that fun with the 3.7, but the big V8s manage without much fuss. Keeps the EPA happy.

And it ONLY happens if you are accelerating very slowly.

I know, I was considering a LS2 GTO before I chose the Z and after driving a couple with this feature, I knew the first thing I would do is get it turned off with a tune or a skip-shift inline eliminator. You are right about torque though, there is not much below 2krpm that's for sure!

It's based on throttle position too, so you would only get it if you are at let say 20%. With all that said, I did disable mine. Still with the Corvette, you don't really need to shift through all the gears. 1st gear redlines somewhere between 50-60mph, 2nd gear is like 60-80. It's nuts.

Wow... I guess they figure if someone can keep up with a vette in first gear then they really need to get down to business through the rest of them. :D

The 'Vettes are silly.

With the 5.0 under "normal" driving conditions I rarely have the thing above 2,000 RPM :icon17:

^ I notice that with my dads. Even at 80mph.

2011 manual trans question
 

When I had my '62 (yes 1962) fuel injected 327 c.i./ 360 HP Vette, I was able to start off from a dead stop in 4th gear.....(had 4:11 gears from the factory). There is no substitute for cubes and HP.... :-)

Oh sweeet! Do you have any pics of the Vette?

I sure do.... I took me all morning (good thing I just retired) to figure out how to do this so....here goes a try:
http://http://s144.photobucket.com/a...962FIVette.jpg
http://http://i144.photobucket.com/a...build20073.jpg
http://http://i144.photobucket.com/a...Vette20072.jpg
http://http://i144.photobucket.com/a...build20072.jpg
Here's one of me and two friends from back in the '60's:
http://http://i144.photobucket.com/a...eCod1960s2.jpg
Hope these came out... John N.

Damn.....don't think it worked....Gonna try another method:
http://[IMG]http://i144.photobucket....962FIVette.jpg[/IMG]
http://[IMG]http://i144.photobucket....build20074.jpg[/IMG]
http://[IMG]http://i144.photobucket....sVette2007.jpg[/IMG]
One from the 1960's again:
http://[IMG]http://i144.photobucket....eCod1960s2.jpg[/IMG]
Last try and I give up...........

Sorry, like I said....I'M OLD.... Send me your email and I'll send them to you:jonuzx@aol.com

Gonna try again........
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...962FIVette.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...build20073.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...build20073.jpg
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...eCod1960s2.jpg

Looks like I got three out of 5 to work.... I'll take it.... Hope you like it. BTW, that is original paint, chrome etc etc etc.

It had 103,000+ miles when I left in 2007. I'm going to be looking around for something to replace it; if not a new car, maybe another muscle car. John N.

At least the Corvette comes with independent rear suspension :)

nice vette but just a minor correction, cubes and horsepower don't mean shat when it comes to what gear you start in. I could start in 6th on a z if i swapped in a 5 horsepower steam piston putting out 130 ft lbs. at 15 rpm, or a 5hp gas engine with 50:1 planetary. It's all about torque and gearing, and i know a 62 vette with a 4 speed t-10 and 4.11's is still geared way the hell lower than a factory z. top speed in a z in 6th is over 200(if you had the power) top speed of a 4.11 62 vette is only 121mph with out going over the redline. in fact the stated top speed for a '62 with a 327/360 of just over 150mph was actually done with an aftermarket 3.27 gearset. So the long and the short of all this is that a '62 vette 4th gear = '09 370z 3rd gear and yes i can start in third

Edit: also the EPA institutes the emissions guidelines not a skip shift, gm came up with the skip shift because without the variable cam timing, and better burn characteristics of say a nissan engine, the current V8's spew monoxide, and nitrogen compounds out the exhaust like nobodies buisness during the shift, and there lucrative use of rubber driveshaft couplers, and weaker driveline components meant that the 1-4 skip shift also extended the life of the driveline with out increasing costs associated with "doing it right"(just like nissan with there F'n lack of an oil cooler saying "no one should be driving like that normally" for an F'n sportscar)

Reminds me of the Top Gear review when Clarkson took a C5 Corvette Z06 (i think) from zero to something over 150 all in 5th gear.

I thought that was the C6 Z06. 6th gear from 0-170.

I honestly can't remember. I just know he went from a dead stop to 150+, he also beat a trail of gasoline in a 1/4 mile race (not that it really surprised me though).

z06 in 5th

My dad recently purchased a 2011 Z06 with the Z07 package. The Z06 does have the 1st-4th shift mechanism. I have driven it enough to figure out when it happens. If you have the throttle pretty much pinned in 1st it won't force you to shift to 4th. Only if you "drag-out" 1st. If you are driving normally in 1st and go above like 2100rpms the 1 --> 4 light will flash and when you go to shift the car into second, it slides you over into 4th. Its annoying but if you're driving normally it isn't a problem at all. I just shift the car around 2k.

Would our Z's actually conserve more fuel doing the 1-4 shift?

No, car doesn't have enough torque. Try going 20mph and hit the gas pedal in 4th lightly and see what happens

I would like a 3.5 gear. 3rd is too long.

This is the "2020 Z Wish List Thread" right? :ugh2: :icon17: