Hi guys,

I have a 1995 Maxima SE 5-spd which is currently bone stock. I am taking it to the track to get some times. I was wondering if some of you more experienced guys can give me an idea of what the optimal shifting points are from 1-2 and 2-3. I am assuming that I will finish my run at the top of 3rd gear.

Also I have experimented with different launch RPMs and it seems like 1500RPM area seems like the best to drop the clutch and take off for the track. What have some of you guys found to be best with your stock cars?

Also, I weighed the car in today and it worked out to about 3030 lbs after subtracting my weight and the tank of gas... I have a fully loaded 95 SE 5spd.

Any idea what kind of times I should be running if I can shift optimally from your advice?

Thanks a lot.

 

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

 

Wow 1-2 is right at redline?? When I speed shift the RPMs jump about 500RPM anyway... so do I need to shift at 6500 or is 6000 for 1-2 better?

 

I shift at the same points too. 6500(1-2) About 6200/6300(2-3) on the 1/8 mile...check out the times, bone stock.

 

If by speed shift you mean power shift, you are asking for trouble. You are putting quite a bit of stress on your engine/drivetrain.

 

By speed shift, I mean speed shift... not power shift. I don't think I'm good enough to power shift (properly) yet.

 

What should I drop the clutch at to launch at the track for 1/4 mi times? I experimented and 1200 - 1500 RPM seems to be a sweet spot for minimal wheel-spin/wheel-hop.

Shift points:
1-2, 2-3 6000 - 6200 RPM
Would I need to shift 3-4? I have a stock 1995 Maxima SE 5-spd.

 

Sorry to sound so uninformed, but what is power shifting? If I could get a quick answer I'd be very thankful. If not, I guess I'll search for myself.

 

I think its when you dont let off the gas when you shift (ie. clutch in, shift, clutch out, while gas still pinned).

 

If your revs are jumping from 6k to 6.5k when you shift, then what exactly do you mean by "speed shifting"?

 

I think its when you dont let off the gas when you shift (ie. clutch in, shift, clutch out, while gas still pinned).

you actually dont have to push the clutch all the way. just enough to slightly disengage the engine's power from the tranny.

and yes it is stressfull on the tranny and clutch. almost abusive.

 

ok, the best way to net optimal times for your maxima at the track is this:
1. feather the clutch between 2500rpms to 3000rpms at the launch
2. shift at 6500 on your 1-2 shift
3. 6200 or 6300k on your 2-3 shift
4. shift at 6000k on your 3-4 shift
5. YES you will shift into 4th at the end of the 1/4

also:

DO NOT do a ibg smoky burnout as it is completely UNNECESSARY for street tires.
DO NOT drive through the water box or it will feel like you are on a slip-n-slide on your launch

a little "teeny tiny" burnout is ok to get the rocks off of your tires before launching, just don't do anything excessive.

good luck!

Trevor

p.s. i learned all of this from Dave B (this is the disclaimer so he doesn't think im taking all his credit

 

WHOA launch at 2500RPM - 3000RPM????? That's WAAAAYYYYY too high! I tried launching at 1800RPM and I get wheelspin/wheelhop like you wouldn't believe. I found that 1200-1500RPM seems optimal where I get slight wheelhop and then I'm gone!

But the other shift points sound good... I'm not sure about the 1-2... isn't 6500 WAY past HP as well as torque peaks? I would assume that at that point I'm losing power big time. In any case, I'll try 6500RPM and I'll try 6000RPM as well... the 2-3 and 3-4 shift points sound good.

Shift into 4th... hmmm... so I'm expecting a 93mph or so trap speed? I better be running 14.8 - 14.9 in that case. I was thinking that shifting into 4th will lose me like 0.1 - 0.2 sec, and put me in the 15s.

 

After several runs with the g-tech i agree with everything stated above, especially the launch!

 

Do not launch at 2 or 3k. You will get major wheelhop like you wouldn't believe. Like you said, 1,5 k will be the best rpm to launch at. Hope you get a good time.

 

After doing about 30 runs, I've concluded that if I launch at 3K and FEATHER the clutch (yes, it's hard on the clutch), I get my best times. My 60' times always range from 2.13-2.28. Front tire pressure is 21psi.

For some reason, I always get better trap speeds by leaving it in 3rd. Some guys do better shifting to fourth.

Terry
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98 SE/ 5 speed/ CAI/ UDP/ Stillen Y pipe/ RT cat/ Courtesy B pipe/ Stock muffler
FSTB/RSB/ Clear front bumper lenses/ Clear tails

178 fwhp/191 fwtq
14.73 @94.1

 

how the hell do you guys launch? i sure hope you DON'T DROP THE CLUTCH....no wonder you get wheel spin
F-E-A-T-H-E-R the clutch, don't just drop it.... geez people... and everytime i haven't shifted to 4th my trap speeds have been 91 and lower. trust me the 1-2 shift is maximized at redline. ask any TRUE track guys on here....

 

Thanks for the tips. I will try all these techniques out when I go today. I'm going to be going at about 5:30pm. Its a warm day out!

 

You've learned well, Jedi.


Dave

 

Is feathering the same as slipping the clutch? Cuz that is what I do and I get wheelhop. How do you properly do it? Also when I shift from 6500 rpm, I usually land at 4500 rpm. Am I shifting too slow or about right? Show me how to drive my car correctly.

 

But you have a modded Max. If I ran 21psi, I'd probably run crappy times at low mph.

Now, how long do you take to release the clutch (from clutch to metal -> clutch totally free)? It seems like if you are too slow releasing the clutch then you'll just bog... if you are too quick then you'll pretty much sit there and burnout.

 

You gotta practice. That's the only way to get the feel down. And, it is going to depend on how sticky the track is. If real sticky, you'll find that you can drop the clutch a bit quicker; If slick, you have to take longer.

Maxfreak has got his launch down though - always turning some great 60' times.

Alot of the 5th gen guys launch at 4k-4500 and slip the clutch.

By the way, powershifting is keeping your foot on the gas while shifting. I'd bet that most of the best maxima times you see are powershifting.

 

thank you obi-wan


Trevor

 

I think what speedemn means by the 3 different types of shifting:

grannyshifting is what he used to do... LOL
speedshifting is when you don't lift your foot off the gas, and use the clutch ... what he currently does
powershifting is not using the clutch at all .. what he shouldn't do

and yeah, you guys are right when you say speedshifting does put pressure on the drivetrain...

 

I believe that powershifting is what you've called speedshifting.

http://66.96.130.106/archives/2002/0...ft/index.shtml

 

thanks for the article, its strange that they don't even mention "clutchless shifting"... (what I called powershifting)

but yeah, either way, speedemn was doing a good job speedshifting when he ran his 15.2x... just the launch needs work..

 

You can definitely clutchless shift our cars, however, I am not sure you can do it in a racing application.

In order to clutchless shift, I have found that I need to let rpms fall off about 500-750 rpms. At that point, I can shift from 1st to second (for ex). I don't think you can do that with the gas on.