A4 question

**1 RedHot TransAm** · 04-23-2008, 12:11 PM

might be kind of a dumb question cause im kinda new to this ls1 tech stuff, but im wonder about my gears there is D,3,2,1 is "D" over drive and is "3" regular drive i have had people tell mixed things anyone know on here forsure??? thanks alot - Jason

**StuntmanMike** · 04-23-2008, 01:12 PM

Yeah, "3" is drive. If you put it in "3", the transmission will shift up until 3rd gear, but it will not shift into overdrive.

If you put it in "D", it will shift right up until 4th (overdrive).

Unless you're in an area with slow speeds (30-40mph) and it keeps shifting back and forth, just leave it in D.

That's what I do with mine.

**LS1buckey** · 04-23-2008, 09:02 PM

I thought it was a 4 speed with over drive (making it a 5 speed with only 4 gears you can shift through yourself). Meaning that "D" is drive and when you reach a certain rpm it goes into overdrive. I'm pertty sure thats how mine works cuz when I shift 1,2,3,4 myself I still go into one more gear after I'm in 4th and I let the rpm's down a bit.

**StuntmanMike** · 04-24-2008, 02:30 AM

Nope, it's a 3 speed with overdrive, hence the "4" in 4L60E.

The extra shift you feel is probably the converter locking up.

**Too Fast** · 04-24-2008, 02:52 AM

Yup, the extra "shift" you feel is the torque convertor locking up, like a clutch is locked up in a manual trans car, gives better gas mileage. Also, just leave it in "D" unless like StuntMan says, you have a long commute at 30-40 MPH.

**RacerBob** · 04-24-2008, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by StuntmanMike

Nope, it's a 3 speed with overdrive, hence the "4" in 4L60E.

The extra shift you feel is probably the converter locking up.

Yep. Watch the tach.

BTW if you put a stock 4L60E in 2 from a dead stop, you will start in second.

There is a bunch of technology in that trans. I rec. leaving it in OD and let the computer do the "thinking." I even leave it in OD at the track. It can shift a he!! of a lot faster than me.

**shady milkman** · 04-24-2008, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by RacerBob

Yep. Watch the tach.

BTW if you put a stock 4L60E in 2 from a dead stop, you will start in second.

There is a bunch of technology in that trans. I rec. leaving it in OD and let the computer do the "thinking." I even leave it in OD at the track. It can shift a he!! of a lot faster than me.

not all years could do that...i think 98-99 if you started in 2nd..you'd still start in 1st

**shady milkman** · 04-24-2008, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by RacerBob

Yep. Watch the tach.

BTW if you put a stock 4L60E in 2 from a dead stop, you will start in second.

There is a bunch of technology in that trans. I rec. leaving it in OD and let the computer do the "thinking." I even leave it in OD at the track. It can shift a he!! of a lot faster than me.

leave it in 3rd..strings 3rd all the way to 130ish

**vannatte** · 04-24-2008, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by shady milkman

not all years could do that...i think 98-99 if you started in 2nd..you'd still start in 1st

True.

**RacerBob** · 04-24-2008, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by shady milkman

leave it in 3rd..strings 3rd all the way to 130ish

I didn't know about the earlier years with the different programming...sorry.

I don't have to worry about going 130 in the 1/4 mile. NO ROLL BAR FOR ME. Been there, done that.

**Wesman** · 04-24-2008, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by LS1buckey

I thought it was a 4 speed with over drive (making it a 5 speed with only 4 gears you can shift through yourself). Meaning that "D" is drive and when you reach a certain rpm it goes into overdrive. I'm pertty sure thats how mine works cuz when I shift 1,2,3,4 myself I still go into one more gear after I'm in 4th and I let the rpm's down a bit.

Common misconception. I hear it from people all the time at work.

When a trans, manual or automatic, is labeled "4 speed with overdrive" it means it has 4 speeds total, 4th one being below a 1:1 ratio.

**LS1buckey** · 04-24-2008, 10:12 PM

Oh ok thanks for clearing that up I guess the whole 4l60e does make sence, I didn't even think about that when I put that last post up. As fas as leaving it in "D" I like to go through 1st,2nd,3rd,4th myself when I'm "running it"

**shady milkman** · 04-25-2008, 04:21 AM

Originally Posted by LS1buckey

Oh ok thanks for clearing that up I guess the whole 4l60e does make sence, I didn't even think about that when I put that last post up. As fas as leaving it in "D" I like to go through 1st,2nd,3rd,4th myself when I'm "running it"

problem is ..that it is slow when manually shifting..and you need to shift real early..i will on occasion maybe run it in 1 or 2nd for a little bit just for fun...but i always put it back to third ..and when i race i pop it in 3rd.

**GULLETT17** · 04-25-2008, 04:26 AM

Originally Posted by shady milkman

not all years could do that...i think 98-99 if you started in 2nd..you'd still start in 1st

**LS1buckey** · 04-25-2008, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by shady milkman

problem is ..that it is slow when manually shifting..and you need to shift real early..i will on occasion maybe run it in 1 or 2nd for a little bit just for fun...but i always put it back to third ..and when i race i pop it in 3rd.

Ya, I'm aware of the delayed shifting from the computer if thats what your talking about. I've got it down pretty good thus far but I understand what everyone is saying about it's better to leave it in drive, It's just so fun some times to run through the gears yourself. (I don't do it all the time though)

**GULLETT17** · 04-25-2008, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by LS1buckey

It's just so fun some times to run through the gears yourself. (I don't do it all the time though)

me too. . . i thought i saw somewhere that sold some sort of adapter to add on to our stock shifter to make it like a "slap stick", like aftermarkets . . .

anyone else heard of this? if you dont know what im talkin about it allows you to shift manually by bumpin the shifter forward but prevents you from bumpin it too far (like one gear to far or into neutral).

**Too Fast** · 04-25-2008, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by LS1buckey

Oh ok thanks for clearing that up I guess the whole 4l60e does make sence, I didn't even think about that when I put that last post up. As fas as leaving it in "D" I like to go through 1st,2nd,3rd,4th myself when I'm "running it"

And this is why I sold my '98 AT car (with 2.73 rear gears) for my current '00 WS6 6-speed car. When I am "runnin' it" I can shift whenever I choose to.

For those with an AT car, get a stall, NOW!

**Ryans99LS1** · 04-25-2008, 06:14 PM

I f***in hate my auto. Once this trans goes ill be putting in a 6spd. The only time i really take it out of D is when im racing from a roll. Ill throw it into 1st or 2nd so i can get my rpms up and have the converter already locked so i can get the jump.

**LS1buckey** · 04-25-2008, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by Too Fast

And this is why I sold my '98 AT car (with 2.73 rear gears) for my current '00 WS6 6-speed car. When I am "runnin' it" I can shift whenever I choose to.

For those with an AT car, get a stall, NOW!

Only problem with that is (and this doesn't apply to everyone) some times you CAN miss a gear. don't get me wrong though I love the 6-speed I would have bought one but I got a kick ass deal on mine and the 6-speeds where I lived were like 3-4k more than mine so I make due for now.

**Too Fast** · 04-26-2008, 05:32 AM

^^Well that is true, it is a lot easier to not miss a gear shift with an auto trans.

Since I never had my shift points tuned in my '98 AT car, I gained .2-.3 at the drag strip by learning when to shift it manually just before the rev limiter. It would shift at about 5700 RPM if I left it to do its' own thing.