[myPONYisHARD]

im no rocket scientist but you launch better going 1 than 2 then drive. i do it allot now cause my service light is on. no signs of problems.

[flattusmaximus78]

IF your service light is on lol, then your just adding to problems. Believe me STOP NOW.

[WLJohnson05]

well technically it shouldnt hurt it much unless ur downshifting with it too...

[flattusmaximus78]

Ohh downshifting is worse.

[WLJohnson05]

thas what im sayin, i mean the car has to shift sometimes, and no im not sayin its good for the car bc its not overall, but i mean unless everytime u get in the car u shift manually, its really not gonna hurt much to do it on occasion

[flattusmaximus78]

I guess on occasion its not to bad, but like you said... overall it's not good.

[Killer_Bee]

My man drive it in D save your money think about it you might win a race or two shifting like that but is it really worth replacing your tranny for a few wins? owner of a 98 stang V6 i've personly never shifted like that in my car i did in my own i personally hate the hard shit i feel when doing it.

[Murderjetz]

I've tried it a few times and I'm pretty damn sure it's actually slower than just keeping it in D.
in D, the engine revs higher, mustangs get their power in the higher RPMs.

[ByPopularDemand]

My tranny always shifts hard...I firmed it up with the tuner...I mainly wanted to just launch

[flattusmaximus78]

Just take it from me... my tranny is beat, and beat up bad. Sometimes hesitates going into third. It's my fault to because I did the sport shifting thing.

[CyberPrey]

if you get a shift improver kit, and get your tune set to firm the shifts.. your transmission will shift EXACTLY when it needs to when in drive....

MAnually shifting isn't recommended because when you move the shifter from 1-2 and 2-D, the internal valves in the transmission have to open/close and then the transmission shifts.. that prolongs the shifting process causing the clutch packs to release/engage slower which in turn causes excessive wear and tear on them, and causes heat build up.

Another source of heat build up is sitting there at the line in Drive ramping the motor up to your converters stall speed and then holding it there. Basically this causes a huge buildup of heat in the transmission fluid within the converter - which in turn is pumped thru the rest of your transmission - which in turn transfer's the heat to other transmission parts.

If your going to race an Auto - even occasionally - be smart about it.

1. regardless of how many miles are on your car, just drain the pan and put in a new filter... if you can, drain the converter (some have drainplugs) and then add new fluid... (use the recommended fluid!!!! The ONLY time you need to change the type of fluid is if you rebuild and the kit you install or the rebuilder recommends a different type of fluid)
do NOT overfill... do NOT underfill...... Add 1 qt at a time until you get a reading on the dipstick... then add smaller portions and cycle the transmission thru the gears while it sits (put the brake on and just run the shifter down to 1st.. then to 2nd.. then to d.. then to N.. then to R.. then back to park) and then let the car run a few minutes... Transmission fluid DOES EXPAND... if you are in doubt, then once you get a reading on the diptstick, just drive the car around the block a couple times to get the transmission fluid warm.. THEN recheck and add as needed.
2. install a transmission cooler... I would recommend a medium duty....
3. Don't sit at the starting line ramping up the motor to stall speed and holding it..... Wait until 4 or 5 seconds before the start (or when the lights start to fall) and then go up to your converters stall speed.
4. Let your transmission shift itself. Its smarter than you think, and if you just concentrate on driving it will take care of itself. If it DOESNT, then get a shift kit/tune done.

Your automatic transmission can work just as well as a manual and shift just as firm and solid as a manual if you just take a bit of care and get it set up correctly.

[ESG-642T]

Well I know a guy who has shifted his 99 v6 from 1-2-D at almost ever stop light he gets to, he just doesn't down shift it....

Hasn't had a tranny problem yet. I honestly think its safe to do, practical? probably not but safe I think so....

Now downshifting on the other hand, thats something I plan to do if i get a 5speed to swap! just to see how many the stock tranny can take before stuff starts droppin'!

[WLJohnson05]

Originally Posted by SSStang Well I know a guy who has shifted his 99 v6 from 1-2-D at almost ever stop light he gets to, he just doesn't down shift it.... Hasn't had a tranny problem yet. I honestly think its safe to do, practical? probably not but safe I think so.... Now downshifting on the other hand, thats something I plan to do if i get a 5speed to swap! just to see how many the stock tranny can take before stuff starts droppin'!

+1

[CyberPrey]

[quote="SSStang"]Well I know a guy who has shifted his 99 v6 from 1-2-D at almost ever stop light he gets to, he just doesn't down shift it....

Hasn't had a tranny problem yet. I honestly think its safe to do, practical? probably not but safe I think so....
[quote]

Alot of people do this, as they just like to shift their car.. It won't always cause issues, it just speeds up the wear and tear of the transmission...

I.. ah... have the habit of doing it myself But then, I am also rebuilding my transmission this winter, so I really don't mind if it starts to slip

[Avaric3]

you could launch harder by getting an aftermarket torque converter. you probly wont want any higher than 3000 tho if its your dd

[myPONYisHARD]

torque converter on an auto?

[WLJohnson05]

yep

[JASonic]

Its the jelly donut that takes the power from the engine to the tranny right?

[CyberPrey]

Well, yes.. Although, I have never really heard it called a Jelly Donut before

Anyway, a aftermarket converter with a higher stall speed will allow your motor to run up to a higher RPM before it moves....

Most factory automatics come with around a 1600-1800 rpm stall speed... some go to 2000.....

you can purchase converters that will have a 2200, 2400, 2600, 3000, 3500 rpm stall speeds.... (and there are others as well...) but I myself would only recommend a 2400 or 2600 max for a daily driver.

you can see what your stock stall speed is by:
step on the brake.. HARD
put the car in drive.. slowly press on the gas..
your RPM should go up.. keep presing on the gas until your rpm stays consistant... then press a bit more on the gas.... When you get to 1/2 throttle or so, and your RPM doesn't go any higher - THAT is your stall speed....

NOW - just to warn you - doing what I described above needs to be done in a reletivly short time... doing this causes increased heat on the transmission/fluid... It really should only take 3-5 seconds to get all this figured out anyway though....

Anyway - hope this helps...