[91cobra5.0]

ive been watching some videos of 5.0s at the track and i seen a few ppl shifting just after the 5,000 mark

whats the ideal rpm?

[Tony_90fox]

too many variables...depends on setup...stock? Maybe 5500-6000

[Iwannagofast]

you cant really go by the stock guage because it is off so far......when you were watching them did they have stock or aftermarket tachs???.....in first i shift about 6500 on the stock tach and in second and up more like 6000.....but i know that isnt the true rpms because these cars have a rev limiter at 6250 and my tach was at 6900 when it finally rev limited

[teal89]

^ I have to second that as well. I installed a Faze tach and was testing rockers and the faze sat a lil over 6000rpm while the stock was at 5ish rpms. What up with dat anyways.

[91cobra5.0]

i have an autometer tach but i have to wait for my new alternator to put it back in, and yes they were using a stock ill see if i can find the video again

[Burn'nRubber]

Originally Posted by Iwannagofast you cant really go by the stock guage because it is off so far......when you were watching them did they have stock or aftermarket tachs???.....in first i shift about 6500 on the stock tach and in second and up more like 6000.....but i know that isnt the true rpms because these cars have a rev limiter at 6250 and my tach was at 6900 when it finally rev limited

My stock tach is pretty damn accurate then, at least at letting me know where the rev limiter is actually at...

[91cobra5.0]

here is another guy shifting in the yellow

YouTube - 0-100+ mph

YouTube - 0-100+ mph

[91cobra5.0]

heres a stick

YouTube - '91 5.0 Mustang at the track

YouTube - '91 5.0 Mustang at the track

[teal89]

The yellow is your borderline shiftpoint. The red of course you know is redline which makes 5500rpm your final shift point. Now depending on a specific powerband like mine, I shift around 4800 - 5100rpm. I sometimes run off to the 5500

[91cobra5.0]

so how can i find out were i need to shift? i usually while racing shift just at or b4 redline

[Tony_90fox]

put it on a dyno and see where you car starts to lose power

[teal89]

That's safe what you are doing and at the same time, the determination is by your setup.

Examples
Rockers, lifters, Cam, Pushrods - Powerband 2000-6000rpm or "up to" 6000rpm. Then your shift point can be between 2000 and 6000

So check it out. My setup whic hI can actually see the powerband go on my car. After 2300rpm the rpms just fly like hell to about 5500 because of the setup. After 5500 you can feel the car not really losing speed but more to say "Out of air" because you have overlapped your powerband.

So to answer your question, take your car to the track, don't listen to know one else and there honky tonk opinions. Stage up, when the light turns green, punch it. Follow your rpms until see/feel the power just go like hell. Pay attention to the rpm range where you will see/feel where it falls "flat". I don't use all the sofisticated tools to determine shift points but I can say when you are buying valvetrains parts, if you start with a cam with a powerband of 2500-6500, finish off your rockers, pusrods, springs and lifters off with the same powerband handling and then you will know where your "shiftpoint" is. Or take it to a dyno but hell you can save the 50 bucks for that as you will fell where it lays flat. Now that don't mean you HAVE to go all the way to 6500 because your motor might make it's full horsepower between and could be 6000 or 5800 and usually bwtween that range, 6000 is the best point to shift.

If you have stock cam or a mild cam in there now. Do those steps. You can take it dow nthe street and tst, don't have to go to the track but that's a good way to see where you are in time as well.

[kuskye25]

you should be able to get a feel for what rpms give you the most power when driving, and just base on that for your shift point for now....

[Iwannagofast]

you should be able to feel it......honestly you really shouldnt need a tach if you dont have a whole lot of power.....you should be able to tell when you come outa your powerband and then shift....its that easy

[kuskye25]

Originally Posted by Iwannagofast you should be able to feel it......honestly you really shouldnt need a tach if you dont have a whole lot of power.....you should be able to tell when you come outa your powerband and then shift....its that easy

i couldnt agree more my first few months in the stang were without a tach and i got real good at shifting

[Iwannagofast]

im starting to think my car might have an aftermarket cam because it does a lil better than most stock stangs on top end.....the guy i bought it from said that it did but i dont know for sure.....i definitely dont know what cam it is if it is aftermarket.....

[nolife]

Originally Posted by 91cobra5.0 heres a stick

I can show a video of my 88 with the tach past 7000 and the engine sputtering as it hits the rev limiter. Considering my MSD box has a 6000 pill for the rev limiter, I'd say my tach is WAY off.

On my stock 91, I found the best times shifting about 5300 indicated through the stock tach.

[terribleonexx88]

Originally Posted by 91cobra5.0 here is another guy shifting in the yellow YouTube - 0-100+ mph

that looks like a diesel truck

[fogged306]

You definitely need to go more by feel when first learning the powerband of the car. After I get a good feel of where the car stops pulling, then I start shifting using the tach and changing it up in small increments to fine tune the shift point.

[teal89]

I could have sworn I told a long story about "feeling" the power and watching your powerband... hmm I hate dail up