I've never been to the track before but I read everyone's timeslips and they get over 90mph trap speeds. The only reason I ask is because when I've (just on my own) gunned it, I get to 3rd and at about 87-88mph the car just won't pull through 90mph. So I wonder how some people get 98mph trap speeds. Unless they shift into 4th then I can understand. but that would probably slow them down, I would think.

Shift to 4th early unless you are really slow at shifting. Most people shift into 4th (non-MEVI) but I can think of a few who run 3rd to redline, including theblue.

Go to the track and see what works best. shifting to 4th worked best for me.

I shift into 4th. Why would shifting to 4th slow you down? It just puts you back into the power band and gets rid of the lag at the top of 3rd? Like Neal said just try it both ways and see what works best for you.

when i went to the track, i left it in third, and got 93-95mph with an intake only.

i didn't even try shifting to 4th, but ill try it this time around when the track opens up.

now i have a ypipe, so i think i HAVE to shift to 4th anyways...hoping for 97-98mph traps.

Ugh, this again.

Here's what I think: Once you start running 14.6 or better, you have to shift into 4th or you'll hit the limiter before the finish.

Here's the point of debate myself and a few others have had in the past. I get the best results when I hold 3rd until the redline. Dave B and others (Sprite?) find that they get better results when they shift out of 3rd at about 6000RPM. Try each and find out what works best for you.

I've calculated this in CarTest2000 using stock dynos and there really is no single correct answer, at least for stock Maxima's. A shift to 4th means you'll get back in the powerband, but the shift time costs you. Leaving it in 3rd you're not losing time on the shift, but the engine is struggling to pull past 6000rpm.

CarTest2000 Results:
1997 SE w/stock dyno, 3007lb curb weight

Shifting to 4th: 15.01 @ 92.8
Holding 3rd: 15.00 @ 93.1


The results are close enough that it's almost no difference, although CarTest predicts a slightly faster trap speed by holding 3rd. Again, holding 3rd means you're still on power all the way and not losing time on a shift. I have the shift speeds set about as humanly fast as they can get, also


If you have lots of mods a shift to 4th might be better. But if you have the MEVI, that gives the engine the flexibility to pull all the way up top so then you can hold 3rd up to the limiter and across the line. You can't really make a blanket statement, though. It really does vary on a car-by-car basis

Stock 4th gen? Yes, hold 3rd. If you have a y-pipe/intake and you are putting down around 175-180fwhp, you'll need to go to 4th since your trap speeds will be over 92mph. Of course all of this depends on your shifting skills. Believe me, I did not make these shift points up, they are calculated from my USIM dyno numbers (intake,y-pipe, b-pipe, UDP). The torque@shift and torque after shift numbers result in the following shift points:

1-2 6500
2-3 6200
3-4 6000


Dave

Reply to Dave's comments can be found here:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....1&pagenumber=3

Regardless of the optimal shift point, you still have to factor in the time/acceleration lost by shifting to 4th, which is something you have to consider for a time to distance race. Will the benefit of shifting to the next gear overcome the time/accleration lost by shifting by the time you get to the finish line?


Many many years ago I was watching some pro-Corvette race (all cars were identical) and these two guys were absolutely dead even after the last turn and going down the front stretch to the finish line. One guy shifted where you normally would. The other guy just left it hanging in gear. Guess who jumped ahead by about half a car at the finish line?





















Ans: the guy who didn't shift

I shifted into 4th both times I was at the track when my car was stock. I wonder if holding 3rd would have been more beneficial. Maybe I should make my car stock again and see?

Even when I was stock I shifted to 4th, and that achieved sub 15's. I think "most" of the Maximas that have broken 15's stock have shifted to 4th???

could be wrong though

Hmm might be something to try this summer if I'm bored one day. I could go back to stock in about 4-6 hours I bet.

So what did you run when stock? I forget...

14.87 @ 92.7. That was my first time at the track. The only other time I went when I was stock I went to a much lower quality track and raced on my 17s, still ran a 14.91 though.

Some people just skip 3ed and clutch into 4th, you guys should try it

Given the rate of speed you're traveling vs the time it takes to shift to 4th, I'd say shifting to 4th is far more benefical. When I had my USIM, you could hear the intake moaning after 6000rpm in 3rd gear. I had to listen to that till I crossed the line at 6500rpms. As we all know, the taller gears don't wind out as fast therefore you're in them longer. Holding on to 3rd seemed like an eternity. I could feel the acceleration falling off. Shifting to 4th resulted in better ETs and MPHs everytime.

The shift points were calculated by Andy *****ari (sp?) (remember that guy?). This kid was a genius. Even his calculations for his 97 5 speed I/Y showed the exact shift points as my 96 5 speed I/Y/B-pipe/UDP.

Why don't you guys run a simple Car Test on this? I'd bet it would come up with nearly the same shift points I list.


Dave

Dave -

Nobody is arguing that your shift points work the best on paper. However, for a car that's running a high 14.6 or 14.7 and can cross the line in 3rd, our point is that it may result in better times to leave it in third rather than take the time to shift.

I found this to be true in every case. Maybe I shift really slow? I don't think so though. Maybe you're a "super shifter"?

That was Andi's dyno at www.boostaholic.com that I was using, BTW










His stock Maxima one...not the Supra

please elaborate

I have run my best times holding it in 3rd. I have an intake and that is it, once I get some exhaust work done to my car I will prob. HAVE to throw it in 4th. Right now when I cross the line I am probably at around 6700 rpm.

I'm going to the track for the first time this coming spring/summer. Thanks for the shift points. Its good to have some basis on to go on.