wide open throttle technique

**asite57** · 03-14-2012

how do you guys do i wide open throttle run on a street road do you just floor it from drive or manually slide the shifter down into say second and go up from there?

**TheOtherNick** · 03-14-2012

Leave it in drive.

**MoarkatsINmuhtrailer** · 03-14-2012

Yeah keep it in drive, easily boost it off the line then put it to the floor at about 20

**blueguy** · 03-14-2012

lol.

It's an automatic for a reason.

**nitroheadz28** · 03-14-2012

Not to be an ass, but I can't believe this isn't a troll question lol.. Then again I shouldn't be too surprised considering all the idiots I've raced who just sit at the line and peel as I launch.

**BillBoost37** · 03-15-2012

Really it depends what speed/gear you are sitting at. If you are in 4th gear, you should pull down to 3rd manually before stomping it. This saves your wimpy 4th clutch hub shaft. All other times.. push that pedal on the right and let it do what it does.

PS..don't drive like me.

**nitroheadz28** · 03-15-2012

Hmm, I've read that 4th is very weak on these cars. I'll keep that in mind when I'm on the highway, any negative effects of shifting it manually like that?

**BillBoost37** · 03-15-2012

97-early 03, the 4th gear clutch shaft was not hardened. The thin, small and weak splines would wear out. If you are in 4th and stuff the pedal, all that torque loads up on the shaft a moment or two before the downshift to 3rd occurs. The added torque doesn't help the wussy little splines. Therefore most suggest pulling down to third and then stuffing the pedal.

**darkhorizon** · 03-15-2012

I have always downshifted all of my cars before screwing around... put it in 2nd between 40-70mph, and 3rd from 70-100 before screwing around.

Do NOT shift it with the shifter, if you start in 2nd bump the selector to 3rd the second you hit the gas and let it shift itself up.

**firstdue** · 03-15-2012

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

97-early 03, the 4th gear clutch shaft was not hardened. The thin, small and weak splines would wear out. If you are in 4th and stuff the pedal, all that torque loads up on the shaft a moment or two before the downshift to 3rd occurs. The added torque doesn't help the wussy little splines. Therefore most suggest pulling down to third and then stuffing the pedal.

That explains why i lost 4th in my 2000 GT. Once i get around that slow a$$ doing the speed limit in the left lane....i frequently drop the peddle and take off.

**ShadowSwept** · 03-15-2012

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

97-early 03, the 4th gear clutch shaft was not hardened. The thin, small and weak splines would wear out. If you are in 4th and stuff the pedal, all that torque loads up on the shaft a moment or two before the downshift to 3rd occurs. The added torque doesn't help the wussy little splines. Therefore most suggest pulling down to third and then stuffing the pedal.

Any way to tell whether an 03 has a hardened 4th or not?

**BillBoost37** · 03-15-2012

Only way is to inspect it. Which means lowering the drivetrain, pulling the side cover, valvebody and channel plate. Treat it nice and drive til you lose 4th or the car is sold.

My 186K stock Regal trans still had solid 4th gear.

**asite57** · 03-15-2012

So if I'm crusing and I want to punch it you say I should move the shifter to "3" then floor it?

**ctracer** · 03-15-2012

yeah.

**asite57** · 03-15-2012

Makes sense but when I'm done flooring it and I let off should I just put it back to "d"?

**BillBoost37** · 03-15-2012

You can put it back in right after you stuff it. It shouldn't shift to 4th while you are WOT

**dmahlikGT** · 03-15-2012

Or how bout leave the shifter alone period and use your foot/ears and let off the gas if your in 4th and it will downshift to third then floor it. Listen to your rpms is what i meant by using your ears too.

**asite57** · 03-15-2012

hmmmm all things to consider i tried the move the shifter to '3' today and it worked well it actually seemed like it had better throttle response and i get what your saying about the make it downshift to 3rd then punch it but i cant do that if im racing someone from a roll we have to match speed