Transmissions and Drivetrain Need help with your trans? Problems with your axle?

downshifting?

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Old 07-26-2003, 11:46 PM
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downshifting?

i tryed a search but get to much,i just got one question. at what speed is it ok to manual downshift to 2? at what speed should u not down shift? i am sure u cant downshift to 2 at anyspeed.
Old 07-27-2003, 08:32 AM
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Car: 83WS6TA
Engine: ZZ4
Transmission: TH350C
Axle/Gears: 3:23
I used to down shift my 200c from about 50 mph and give it shot of gas just after shifting so that the back wheels wouldn't lock up. Tranny lasted 100K miles and I drove it that way most of the time.

I have a th350 now and I can downshift it w/out having to give it any gas. I think it has a semi-manual valve body (if I've got that right) which allows downshifting in the manner described.
Old 07-27-2003, 09:39 AM
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Car: 1990 Camaro
Engine: 355ci
Transmission: TKO-600 5 speed
Axle/Gears: 3.73 10 bolt
not sure if this is right or not but the guy i bought my car from recently (and i mean hes not exactly the most knowledgeable guy ever when it comes to cars) said that he had been down shifting into 2 and his tranny started having problems. Took it into a transmission place and they yelled at him =). He said that youre not supposed to down shift its only supposed to be used going up from a stop. He said that he had to get the trany rebuilt because of this. Not sure is this is truth or myth but becareful. Also this is with a stock 700-r4 so im not sure if its different with different transmissions.
Old 07-27-2003, 10:52 PM
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Car: 92' RS
Engine: LO3
Transmission: Probuilt 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9-bolt
s far as I am aware there is no problem downshifting. Some thought that there was a lack of pressure but that is not the case believe me.

The first time I did it after my trans cooler install it popped the hose off the cooler even thought it was very tight and clamped.
Old 07-27-2003, 11:08 PM
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Car: 1988 Iroc-Z / 1992 RS
Engine: 5.7 TPI / L03 TBI
Transmission: 700r-4 / 700r-4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt 2.77 posi / 10 bolt 2.73
If you wanna have your transmission toasted just keep shifting it like a manual transmission. Automatics are not setup to handle downshifting like that. Can they do it?? Well, yeah. For how long?? Maybe a week or maybe a couple of years.

I have went though 9 transmissions in less than 6 months, 1/2 that time the transmissions where getting rebuilt. Don't use your transmission to slow you down your just going to be asking for it over and over. That's why there are brakes on the car. I know it feels cool and all that but its not good for the transmission at all.

So its really all up to you if you wanna shift it like a manual transmission and that's your right, but I'm just trying to help.
Old 07-27-2003, 11:21 PM
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Car: 91 Camaro Vert
Engine: 02 LS1, HX40
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in anycase to answer the speed to downshift question:


hold your car in "1".... drive until the car is at redline.... the speed you are going now is the MAX that you should ever downshift to 1... and the car may not even do that depending on how the tranny is setup..


now hold it into "2".... and repeat.....


you can also do the same thing with manual cars...
Old 08-28-2003, 10:18 PM
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k i no this post is a bit old i for got i asked about this i was just gunna ask again lol. anyway i am a bit confused now.....ok say u r driveing normal and u go WOT the kick down cable is pulled and tranny down shifts to 2>right?. i dont have my kick down cable hooked up so it wont down **** to 2 if i go WOT so i do it my self, so me doing this is causeing damage to my tranny?? whats the diffrence??

Old 08-29-2003, 10:51 AM
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buy a manual tranny so you can downshift
Old 08-29-2003, 12:54 PM
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Originally posted by Wootah
buy a manual tranny so you can downshift
oh just get a transGo shift kit.
Old 08-30-2003, 01:27 AM
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Car: '83 Z28, '07 Charger SRT8
Engine: 454ci, 6.1 Hemi
Transmission: TH350, A5
Axle/Gears: 2.73 posi, 3.06 posi
Originally posted by My86Firebird
oh just get a transGo shift kit.
Or just go with a manual tranny
Old 08-30-2003, 02:43 AM
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Car: '82 Z28
Engine: 350
Transmission: TH400 4,000 stall
Axle/Gears: Currie 9", 4.56 gears
Or just go with a manual valve body auto
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