Quote:
Originally Posted by AdamIsAdam
I saw this video way back when but now I used my numbers and calculated this all out for the 1-2 shift from 4000 RPM all the way to 5500. And wouldn't you know it, shifting at 5300 RPM nets the same torque in 1st as it does in 2nd gear.
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You mean the same HP, right Adam? Engine torque is force as measured at the crank. But torque at the wheels varies by the gear ratio. So HP better represents what is getting to the ground through the gears. (Yes, another engineer here.)
I don't drag race, only test and tune nights for me and those are very infrequent, as in years in between. But I find shifting beyond peak power to give best results. How much beyond depends on the curve. If it drops off fast then not far beyond and if the curve is flat then a good ways past it. I think your math exercise is a good starting point but test passes at the track will tell all.
As for power shifting I pull back with my right foot but not all the way out. I've done the foot on the floor thing but without practice its shaky, and I never wanted to break a car practicing it. Launching a stick car with lots of power is another whole topic, and much more critical to results. I always just accept some wheel spin when playing around on the road, but that's a big no-no to getting good times at the track. For some reason my self control with a stick is not as good as with an auto trans, haha...