Well being used to diesels I shift at what the load requires.You can hear it in the engine.This junk requires it to go to 1800 to 2000, for it has not worked the way it should have from the factory. It takes about 1000 RPM to do a shift , on my piece of JUNK and it shouldn't It should be able to shift at about 1500 RPM.

 

usually unloaded 2200. laoded 2500-2800. If i shift at 2000 and put my foot down a little i get some black smoke. I have noticed that higher rpms decrease the smoke considerably.

 

I rarely use 1st... low end stuff only..
2-3 about 1800-2000 depending on the load.
2-3 at 2000-2100
3-4 at 1800-2100
4-5 at 2100-2300 depending on if Iam i na hurry or not....

 

You sure can.

I often shift in such a way as to where the tach is down to 1100 or 1200 rpm when it hits the next gear. Even as high as 5th gear!

So I'll shift at about 1700rpm when I first start out. Then I'll row 1-5. ONce I hit 5th, I'll let it wind up to 2200rpm or so before I shift in to OD.

The trick to being able to shortshift a 6-speed is to be VERY GENTLE on the fuel pedal! If you give it too much fuel, you will feel the engine lug and it's unresponsive. Keep the load on the engine very light and you can pull very low RPM perfectly safely.

Now, towing, it's a whole different game. Then you just "dang the torpedoes" and shift at 2700 each gear.

The 6-speed is sweet because you can always fine a gear that lets you cruise between 1300 and 2000 rpm.

Oh, and Mach 4s seem to help it pull lower rpm a little better


JMO

 

Wow... Some of you guys really push these engines. I'd be scared to push mine to 4000 rpms.

 

4K gsk

and the valve springs will fix that problem...

Tx

 

2000-2500 just normal/empty driving, maybe a little less if I'm not in a hurry.

Loaded and on a trip, what the load requires to get r done. Couple hundred off of redline is the norm with a heavier trailer.

 

I try to catch the next gear at 1400 to 1500 in the lower gears, 1500 to 1600 in the higher gears, so it varies a bit, but typically 2000 rpm on level ground, a bit less when going downhill and sometimes above 2500 when going uphill.