without derpessing on the clutch when the engine os off...is this normal? i just noticed it today.

 

its normal on just about any manual box.

 

well, at least it's normal on every other 5 speed I've driven/owned.

my max is auto, but I've driven dozens of 4/5/6 spd cars, and they all will shift gears without clutch with engine off..

If you REALLY wanna impress yourself, try shifting gears without the clutch with the engine running!
(don't come screaming at me when you grind the hell outta the gears though!)

I once had to drive a 5 spd 200 miles with no clutch through the Ozark mountains in northern arkansas/southern missouri.
not a lot of fun, but I sure know how to shift without a clutch now!

 

Sure. And you should learn to do it while driving so you can still get around if your clutch ever goes out I had to learn quickly when my clutch went out 800 miles from home and I was broke...

 

My 95 also does the same thing, so it is normal. . . For those of you that can shift without using the clutch, anyone know ~ what RPM you can do it in a 4th Gen? I know you have to match speeds, and if you know your car, you can listen for when to shift, but I have no idea what I would be looking for. . . I don't think I will be trying it on my car anytime soon, but it is nice info to know.

 

It's all feel, I don't go by sound or RPM. Just pop it out of gear, and push it up against the next gear with light pressure. When you feel it start to give, shove it in. I drove from Atlanta to Columbus like this

 

without a clutch,,,,does that damage the engine at all? so what do you shift do gears grind?

 

basically just pull it out of one gear, then hold it (with light pressure) against the gate for the next gear.. when the engine is timed right with the tranny, then it should just pop right into gear, then you're off again. no clutch, no grind, no mess.

I used to drive ~60% of the time like that in my old truck with no problems.. about 1 in 20-30 times, it would grind the gears, but that was only when I wasn't paying attention to it and did something stupid- like use too much pressure, or give it gas while the tranny is right at the point where it will shift into gear..
just pull it back to neutral, stomp the gas pedal shortly to bring the RPM back up, then let it fall back down until you hit the "hole" again.