shift points

[TMatterer]

I got my first CTD in August and a friend told me about this GREAT web site. I finally decided to join your family. I have soooo many questions and sooo little time. I hope I'm doing this correctly?

My first question is can anyone tell me the recommended shift points for the 6 spd H. O 4. 10 L. S. D. Many more questions to follow. Thanks in advance!

 

[ScottBrown]

Take her to 2100 unloaded 2500 loaded

 

[Big Wheel]

I take her to 2000 empty havent had her loaded yet

 

[whamby]

Drive it like you stold it. You will develope your own shifting preferences over time. You ain't going to hurt it at least not in stock form.

 

[JHardwick]

Depends on my mood, lol.



Somtimes 2500, sometimes 3500!

 

[Blakers]

I generally upshift between 2000 and 2200. I don't think I'd take it up to 3500 very often! A lot of mass in that engine moving around.

 

[JHardwick]

I suppose I shift around 2000 or a little above ... ... . unles I am towing, then I wind her up a little tighter.



When it was new, I ran it up to 3000 for every shift ... ... figured I may as well break it in right!

 

[boonsur]

Welcome! As people have been saying, these 3rd gen's like to rev. It feels wrong, but it's much better than "lugging" them (pushing hard at low RPM's). I like to come out of my shifts at about 1800 RPM. Thus, I carry some gears higher than others, based on the splits & how fast I engage. When you get used to it, you'll love it.

 

[Fred Swanson]

When stock, you'll find yourself winding it up more, and shifting later. When modified, your notice you can short-shift, and keep it in the powerband.



The split between gears is definitely nice when loaded down. The truck will feel like it isn't working hard at all. Go hook something heavy up to it, and just have fun. I believe mine had about 2K miles on it, when I hooked up about 15K and made a trip from Phoenix to Long Beach to drop off a truck. Not a long run, but a fun drive, none the less.

 

[nickleinonen]

my goodness you guys like to shift at high rpm when driving empty/unloaded. i usually shift at 1300-1500 rpm [rpm drops to 1000-1100 for next gear]. when driving along nicely [3. 73 gears & 315 tires], there is no need to go above that i think, and the engine is not working hard [barely pressing throttle down], it is not lugging. [no more than when starting off in 2nd gear]

 

[JHardwick]

Fred,



Come to think of, this thread really did get me thinking of shift points which I had previously not paid any attention too.



Your post brings to light the reason perhaps I have started a shorter shift?? Not that I'm bombed to the hilt by any means.



Tonight leaving the shop I did a couple 3000 RPM shifts. With the way the fueling is set up, you need to be heavy on the throttle to get there.



The roads are wet with heavy, damp 35* air, the tires are factory GSA's ... ... ... ... ... . I can turn 'em loose into 4th easily, LOL. Oo.

 

[Fred Swanson]

JHardwick, with the stock SR/A's on wet pavement, forget it, I can break them without even trying.



Under most driving, I shift right at 2K, it drops to 1500, and pulls very hard in every gear.

 

[lil red cummins]

i shift all over the range. depends on if it is cold or hot and how much i want to play. the main thing i watch is to shift at a high enough RPM so that the next gear is NOT below 1200. seems if i go below that, the trans or something in the driveline chatters.

some people call it chugging. i call it too low an RPM.



jim

 

[TMatterer]

Thanks for all the feed back. I've been shifting at 1800 unloaded and 2300 loaded. From all the feed back it looks like I'm in the range. I've never had the truck up to 3000. Seems a little much so close to red line. This is the best truck I've ever had. Can't believe the power and driveability. My wife even loves to drive it!

 

[Dean Upson]

Originally posted by TMatterer

Thanks for all the feed back. I've been shifting at 1800 unloaded and 2300 loaded. From all the feed back it looks like I'm in the range. I've never had the truck up to 3000. Seems a little much so close to red line. This is the best truck I've ever had. Can't believe the power and driveability. My wife even loves to drive it!

I've had it up there when towing to keep my revs up between shifts on a grade and the power available is a real pleasure. I wouldn't be afraid to use it.



Dean

 

[nickleinonen]

Originally posted by lil red cummins

i shift all over the range. depends on if it is cold or hot and how much i want to play. the main thing i watch is to shift at a high enough RPM so that the next gear is NOT below 1200. seems if i go below that, the trans or something in the driveline chatters.

some people call it chugging. i call it too low an RPM.



jim

i don't get any driveline chatter until about 800-900 rpm in 4-5-6, but in R-1-2-3 it has no chatter down there

 

[JHardwick]

Ouch!!!!!



Your truck is hating you if you get down into the chatter range!!! Everything is backlashing and reverberating.



Redline is like 3200 isn't it? It'll do 3500, but it falls off bad around 3000. I've raced a couple times and run the gears out further than I should, but what looks better than a tank of a dually out running an Eclipse



I'll keep mine wound before I ever lug it into chatter ... ... ... ..... Cummins says it won't come apart until 4500 and free reving a diesel seems to be the way to tune 'em ..... at least it is a EEP!!

 

[nickleinonen]

Your truck is hating you if you get down into the chatter range!!! Everything is backlashing and reverberating.

yeah, but that's been while decelarating and being too lazy to downshift or go to neutral. you remember real quick you are in gear when the chatter starts

 

[CSilkowski]

My shift points are between 2,100 to 2,200 empty only because I skip 3rd and 5th, otherwise about 1,900 unless I'm racing a Ferd

 

[lil red cummins]

i do seem to get smoother shifts when i shift right around 2000 (thats during normal acceleration). must be the right combo for me of rpm drop off and shift time.