2nd to 3rd or not?

[97V8SHO]

I was talking to my good friend 99V8SHO about the 2nd to 3rd shifts and the power band etc. So I was wondering if someone could shed some light on this. Our power band stops at 6100 but we can still pick up speed and RPM if we hold it out to 7k but no power will be made. But doesn't that mean when shifted the RPM stays higher into the respected power band wich i guess would "add" power to 3rd gear. Or would this not matter at all and just have the computer shift it for us at 6200? That would desrease the RPM but instantly start to pick up more power from 3rd when it shifted back into the power band. So wich would be best to do? I've always thought that even though you don't make any more power you should still hold it to build it when you shift. But he says you should shift when the power band dies. So can someone please make since of this.

 

[99V8SHO]

I am pretty sure it is better to just let the computer do the shifting. It does not shift at redline, but at WOT if you let the computer do its thing, it will shift the 2-3 right at about 6200 RPMs, right after the engine has made max power. It then proceeds to drop the revs at the upshift to around 4800 RPMs, right where we make max torque then it starts all over again. It does not make sense to me to hold 2nd out to 7K as there is no extra power to be had there. The engine makes max power at 6100, so it does not make sense to wind it out to 7K unless you have stage 2 or 3 cams in which case more power can be made in the higher revs, but not in stock form. If I am wrong somebody please correct me.

 

[Ian Macoomb]

I think that's a myth left over from the V6 guys. I've found my car to be quicker if I manually shift 2-3. Others have not found this to be the case. Might have something to do with my missing 3rd cat and resonator.

 

[dugdog99]

the engine keeps making power after 6100, that's just where it peaks at. I think the engine slows to 4500 or so when shifting at wot. looking at the numbers on v8sho.com it looks like the engine makes about the same power at 6500 and 4500. If the engine needs to slow down 2000 rpms to shift from 2nd to 3rd, this is the ideal range, since it is the range where the most power is made.