assuming the power hop is gone (tip here is to rotate motor up 10mm at the rear mount 10mm down at the front, you can leave the side mounts the way they are; you can do this by inserting drilled offset UHMW plastic bushings in the stock mount, all this is detailed in the GM Cobalt build book for SS Grand Am cars) and your cables are adjusted perfectly, you side step the clutch at launch rpm which i am guessing at stage 2 would be 4000 rpm (just slip your clutch foot off to the left, this takes a full nut sack and practice so do the practice on launches first)...then assuming not too much wheelspin, at WOT at say 5500 rpm pull back hard on the shifter to engage second.

If you miss, clutch in and try again...takes practice...and no i have not done it recently on the F35 but I have in the past. A short shifter would help, the B&M is the best but none of the short shifters as far as i know allow you to follow the factory shifter cable adjustment procedures... if you are serious about drag racing, you have to figure this shift cable adjustment perfectly...and trannys are more than 25 bucks.

if you are not drag racing forget it and shift like a good road racer

1-2-3 with the right hand , 1 out of gear 2 neutral pause , 3 engage next gear.

after 1-2-3 release the clutch. Hand off the shifter and back to the steering wheel in between shifts.

this is the classic best way to do it. Watch the in cars of racers and you will see few people do it right. The best always do.

While shifting UP, gas pedal off as you shift - 1,out of gear and then reapply gas after 3.

When shifting DOWN , gas pedal on (short stab or blip) as you shift - 2, pause in neutral. A

fter you have launched, shifting 2,3,4,5, the clutch is a switch, release it dont slip it. Return your foot to the deadpedal and the hand off the shifter to the steering wheel between every shift. (did I say that already must be important.

Practice will make things better. Treat the shifter like its your friend.

Seperate the practice elements , practice one thing at a time.

To learn how to treat your clutch right, get to know the point of release and engagement of the clutch. Use the pedal as a lever when launching in real life (practice launches in a parking lot with no gas pedal assist ;and then graduate to starting on a slight upgrade as you get better with no gas pedal assist, hard to do)

always return your clutch foot to deadpedal in between shifts.

Practice drag race launches to minimise wheel spin. You need some spin to get a good launch. the grip changes according to tires, slick or no, resin on launch pad, temperature, tire pressure etc. you will get to know what it takes and get it right maybe 50% of the time if you are good.

POWER HOP will kill the car at the drag strip of you dont get rid of it forget the whole thing. Just launch with NO wheel spin.

if you are at the drag strip try not to deep stage if you are side stepping the clutch at launch...go on the last yellow...the serious drag racers can help you here i am not one of them.
Hey i think in the spring i am gonna go to the drag strip and get some slips...alphajaguar6 probably has the best times...

good luck.

 

out of curiosity, how many of you guys having syncro issues, downshift and revmatch?

 

none for me many for others lol

 

1st and 2nd use the same syncronizer

 

"down shifting and rev matching"....is this the process of bring the revs up some when you downshift....everytime I downshift on a turn or whatever, I usually do the footwork to make the car into the gear alot easier and prevent the car from kinda "jerking" at all...I like to make sure the car flows "smoothly" into each gear so to speak....maybe Im keeping the clutch engaged to long but I feel like its better for the car to go into gears smoothly and keep from jumping or jerking kinda......

 

sounds like you are on the right track. get the shifting done before you turn into the corner so you can use torque and power through and out of the corner. release the clutch promptly like a switch dont slip it the clutch doesnt like it and if the rev matching is good then it should be fine. Hint, rev a little higher than you need, and brake before you shift down...next discussion would be heel and toe....good luck