Optimal shift points?

Skorch · 04-28-2009, 06:20 PM

I'm planning on taking my Z to the drag strip for it's first time this Friday. I'd like to know what you guys think the best rpms to shift are. In my old 350Z I would just redline every gear but after looking at some dyno graphs it looks like for the 370Z peak power is somewhere around 7250 rpm as opposed to redline. Any thoughts?

The HACK · 04-28-2009, 07:23 PM

Redline. It doesn't really matter that the "power" start to fall off past 7,250 RPM, as long as the power multiplied by the gearing factor is higher in the previous gear than the next gear.

ChrisSlicks · 04-28-2009, 09:23 PM

Agreed. You have to think of the big picture.

Even though you are going past peak power you still have more power than you would have in the next gear especially once you take the new gear ratio into effect.

Think of it this way after taking multipliers into account
1st: 100% power
2nd: 60% power
3rd: 43% power
4th: 33% power
5th: 26% power
6th: 20% power

There's obviously more to it than that but it's gives you an idea.

spearfish25 · 05-01-2009, 01:21 PM

Also, the slight fall off in power between 7250 and 7500 RPM will be negligible compared to time lost during extra shifts on a drag run.

Crash · 05-01-2009, 04:33 PM

Just do what I do.... Shift before *BOOM*.

Diversion · 05-03-2009, 11:12 AM

You always want to pass the peak power by a margin so that the next gear puts you closer to max power again.. I'm not sure where fuel cut off is but going past redline isn't going to harm anything, it will make you straight line performance faster though!

Solus · 07-21-2009, 12:34 AM

Anyone have a dyno of say gears 1-4 for a 6mt? I have a feeling shifting at redline is not the way to get the best 1/4 mile time just judging by the fact that I hit 4th slightly before the end of a 1/4 and just end up on the low end of the gear for the last couple hundred feet or so w/ no real power. I was thinking something like shifting @

7500 1st gear
7k 2nd gear
6.8-7k 3rd gear

Thoughts?

shabarivas · 07-21-2009, 01:43 AM

I suppose it would be cool to dyno all your gears and find that out for your car

t-ray · 07-21-2009, 08:33 AM

Gear doesn't matter - the engine makes the same power regardless of gear. For the most part at least - there will be a slight variation due to engine load.

Go ahead and try to short-shift 3rd gear. That will put you at a lower rpm in 4th, meaning you will be in 4th gear longer. Given that 4th gear is ~16% taller than third(can't remember exactly), I'm sure making less whp for longer will definitely help your ET.

Solus · 07-21-2009, 12:01 PM

no need to be a **** about it

04-28-2009, 06:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
Skorch Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 469 Drives: 2012 370Z Rep Power: 540	Optimal shift points? I'm planning on taking my Z to the drag strip for it's first time this Friday. I'd like to know what you guys think the best rpms to shift are. In my old 350Z I would just redline every gear but after looking at some dyno graphs it looks like for the 370Z peak power is somewhere around 7250 rpm as opposed to redline. Any thoughts? __________________ '12 370Z + Sport \| Stillen Gen3 Intakes \| Stillen UD Pulley \| Motordyne M370 \| FI Exhaust \| FI HFCs \| 4.08 Gears \| Uprev tuned

04-28-2009, 09:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	Agreed. You have to think of the big picture. Even though you are going past peak power you still have more power than you would have in the next gear especially once you take the new gear ratio into effect. Think of it this way after taking multipliers into account 1st: 100% power 2nd: 60% power 3rd: 43% power 4th: 33% power 5th: 26% power 6th: 20% power There's obviously more to it than that but it's gives you an idea. Last edited by ChrisSlicks; 04-28-2009 at 09:27 PM.

05-01-2009, 04:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
Crash A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,853 Drives: 02 Corvette Z06 Rep Power: 589	Just do what I do.... Shift before BOOM. __________________ 2002 Corvette Z06 - Totaled 2003 Corvette Z06 50th Anniversary

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04-28-2009, 07:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
The HACK Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: California Posts: 40 Drives: '06 BMW MZ4 Coupe Rep Power: 16	Redline. It doesn't really matter that the "power" start to fall off past 7,250 RPM, as long as the power multiplied by the gearing factor is higher in the previous gear than the next gear.

05-01-2009, 01:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Also, the slight fall off in power between 7250 and 7500 RPM will be negligible compared to time lost during extra shifts on a drag run.

05-03-2009, 11:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
Diversion Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 393 Drives: 09 370Z Silver/Persi Rep Power: 284	You always want to pass the peak power by a margin so that the next gear puts you closer to max power again.. I'm not sure where fuel cut off is but going past redline isn't going to harm anything, it will make you straight line performance faster though!

07-21-2009, 12:34 AM	#7 (permalink)
Solus Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Jacksonville, NC Posts: 453 Drives: 2009 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 16	Anyone have a dyno of say gears 1-4 for a 6mt? I have a feeling shifting at redline is not the way to get the best 1/4 mile time just judging by the fact that I hit 4th slightly before the end of a 1/4 and just end up on the low end of the gear for the last couple hundred feet or so w/ no real power. I was thinking something like shifting @ 7500 1st gear 7k 2nd gear 6.8-7k 3rd gear Thoughts?

07-21-2009, 01:43 AM	#8 (permalink)
shabarivas A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,188 Drives: 370z MB 6mt Rep Power: 914	I suppose it would be cool to dyno all your gears and find that out for your car

07-21-2009, 08:33 AM	#9 (permalink)
t-ray Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: bham al Posts: 91 Drives: 05 g sedan 6mt Rep Power: 16	Gear doesn't matter - the engine makes the same power regardless of gear. For the most part at least - there will be a slight variation due to engine load. Go ahead and try to short-shift 3rd gear. That will put you at a lower rpm in 4th, meaning you will be in 4th gear longer. Given that 4th gear is ~16% taller than third(can't remember exactly), I'm sure making less whp for longer will definitely help your ET.

07-21-2009, 12:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
Solus Enthusiast Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Jacksonville, NC Posts: 453 Drives: 2009 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 16	no need to be a **** about it