I've always speed shifted by keeping the pedal to the metal and using the clutch to speed shift. But somebody was telling me that you don't even have to use the clutch when speed shifting. I'm not even comfortable giving this a try. I was wondering if somebody else may have done it this way and whether or not it's true.

Shifting with out the clutch is possible.It is called "Power Shifting" and in other words, you are slamming the transmission into gear as hard as you can. You will most likely destroy your transmisions. Alot of guys used to run "crash boxes" with out syncros. No downshifting what-so-ever. You have to be fairly strong, and have enough money to rebuild you transmisison to do this. :D
Chris

Originally posted by RedSS454:
Shifting with out the clutch is possible.It is called "Power Shifting" and in other words, you are slamming the transmission into gear as hard as you can. You will most likely destroy your transmisions. Alot of guys used to run "crash boxes" with out syncros. No downshifting what-so-ever. You have to be fairly strong, and have enough money to rebuild you transmisison to do this. :D
Chris I dont know about the "slamming" part. I had my clutch pedal assy. under the dash actually snap and was forced to power shift on a 40 mile drive as the clutch was flopping around on the floor. If you shift at the right RPM it will slide into gear just like the clutch was pressed in but you have to get it right and be quick on the shift while the R's are up or it is really notchy, will grind or not go into gear. I only did that because I had no choice but it worked fine.

I would always use the clutch,but taking my foot off the gas is another story ;)

Man If idont use the clutch my m21 really dont like it. If ya dont use the clutch how can you get the tires to bark??? Liberty Clutchless 5sp would work!!!

Another technique for upshifting is to pull/push the gear shift lever hard while under full throttle like you're trying to shift. If you ease up on the gas just a tad, the shifter will move to the next gear while you're pulling/pushing.

Downshifting is a bit trickier and not very quick. Let up on the gas and pull/push the shifter into neutral. If you bring the rpms up while pulling/pushing the shifter, it should slide into gear easily. Not much call for it, but it works. Used to do it with non-synchro 3-speeds to get into first all the time.

Well, it sure sounds like I'm going to stay with using my clutch when power shifting. It didn't sound too good to me either.

thanks for the info, ive had people tell me that in their vettes or what ever they would drive, run like 10's ( back in the 70's) and they would powershift it. and i didnt really think that it woudl actualy hurt th rtanny.
i speed shift my quad alot, and some times when im just cruising i dont use the clutch at all, just for stopping and puling out.

my dad only uses the clutch for stopping and pulling out, when shifting he would match the r's and it would slide into gear. he also drove his brother turbo tbird 30miles w/ no clutch, i cant really remeber how he said he did it, but damn that must of been hard, and i bet 20 of them miles was city driving.


aaron

Might as well play it safe and use the clutch while powershifting......most of us don't have the skill to do otherwise. :D

Upshifting w/o a clutch is no problem because the gears are already runnin faster than the input get but when downshifting the gears have to catch up to the other gears.Ever notice when you downshift from highspeed you get that whin that goes up in pitch?


I always grind when downshifting but never up.

if you practice, it's actually easier to drive without using the clutch except for starting and stopping. the clutch in my Nova has a good 30,000 miles on it after the last 4 years of driving it silly 7 months out of the year, and when i had the car apart last winter, the clutch looked brand new yet.
all you do is let off the gas, and gently pull it out of the gear you're in and pull it gently into the next gear- it practically shifts itself. downshifting involves blipping the gas to match the input shaft speed to the gear in the tranny, and if you pull it off under "performance" situations, it is a great feeling- especially if there is someone sitting in the passenger seat that cannot believe you don't have to use the clutch all the time.