any safe way to shift a stock auto?
 

without buying a tranny cooler, etc (all the normal stuff you would do to build up an auto) is there any safe way to "manually" shift from 1 to OD? I know how to do it so it meshes and doesnt appear to hurt it, but i still know it is and its not good to happen it up through 1, shift into 2 right before yellow, then ease off and shift into OD

....and how about downshifting? is it as bad to the tranny if im down around 1grand slowing down for a stop light and i drop to 2, then wait til im real low again and drop to 1?

how about if i drive around on campus in 1 or 2 (its only 20mph through here) without shifting, that should just suck up a lot of gas right?

...btw im not talking about downshifting while driving to take off, just the little stuff...

ive only done it a couple of times and i havent beaten the hell outta it...

just some useful information would be greatly appreciated....

thanks :)
jonathon

I don't think downshifting hurts it too bad. We have a suburban sittin on 35"s and we haven't got a custom chip for it yet...it's the only way to slow the beast down. I would think it would actually help, seeing as how you don't ride your brakes nearly as much...I know I d/s my 5-speed every time I slow down.

Deleted

That downshift to first is going to be rough if you are going above about 5 MPH. I downshift from OD to Drive all of the time, and that hasn't hurt anything yet.

I also hold first a lot, in different driving scenarios to keep the transmission from shifting needlessly. For instance......Pulling out from a store and then having to stop at a sign before getting on the main road again. Also, sometimes from a light if I want to get a quicker start. AOD's shift into second very fast and at low speeds so sometimes it is good to hold it in first to get going faster.

I haven't tried the 1-2-1-2-D thing yet to get higher RPM out if it, and I doubt I well seeing as my car doesn't pull too hard above 5200 anyway.

Another thing I forgot to mention. Holding first and keeping the RPMs steady at about 3500 then gasing it about halfway really throws ya back in the seat. I love doing that.

MTU:

I only downshift to 1st when I'm going realllly slow...cuz it is very hard on the tranny if you do it and you hear your tires squeak...lol...

i love to hammer it half way through first :) WHAM! you're into your seat, it also sounds incredibly mean..heh...but you gotta be careful shifting into 2...if you do it with your foot on the gas you gotta do it at the perfect moment and you chirp the tires, do it too late and owww...when I shift up I normally take it up to 5k (6k is yellow) and let off the gas and casually push into 2...

I used to do the 1-2-1-2-D in our foxbody...but its got a modded tranny...its mainly cuz when my dad drove it he liked to shift it through and he ended up blowing OD twice..lol...but like i said, not really to start adding tranny parts to my car, but i should find out how long my tranny warrenty is good for...esp. since i have the extended warrenty.. :D

If you really want to be nice to your car then put in neutral and use the brakes to slow the car down. Who gives a rats arse about your brakes.

I only use the trans to hold speed going down hill, I never use it to slow the car to a stop. This is the reason, which is eaiser AND cheaper? Replacing all four pads and rotors, or doing the clutch?

Exactly.

lol, depends on where you get yours brakes done...some place tried to rip me off once...i was insulted! they wanted to replace everything to do with my brakes on the foxbody....and i mean everything...half of it didnt need to be and they were charging like $900!! :eek: bastards thought i was a schmuck i guess....

i dont replace the clutch, illl be replacing much more...lol...i shouldnt be even lightly shifting it...but i wanna! lol...guess ill stop it now.. :)...unless i race....teehee

Works out either way. W/ stock brakes on a big @ss suburban, they go pretty quick. My dad needs to put bigger rotors/calipers on, but...

I was thinking more about your mustang. All four rotors and pads can be done in an afternoon, but I'm blanking on what it would cost with new rotors. I figure maybe 200 to do all four (Raybestos semi metallics with turned rotors)

I put enough strain on my motor and trans getting the car going.:D

downshifting a 5-speed is bad? I always thought it never hurt anything...as long as you eased on the clutch.

I've driven my AOD pretty hard, and it shifts like its brand new. It was rebuilt about 25k to 30k miles ago, it doesn't have a shift kit, but I do have a stall converter and trans cooler. The AOD has held up great with all the mods I have, even with manualy shifting a lot (upshifting and downshifting). The only thing I don't like to do is down shift to first at low speeds cause it jurks hard. I will shift it manualy holding each gear sometimes right up to the rev limiter.