Illegal Down Shift Prevention - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

mbowen89 · 03-19-2015, 11:51 AM

Is there anything that stops you from downshifting from 4th to 1st for example? I tried to do some searching and can't really find anything.

I'm getting my first manual (a 1LE) next month, and I was just wondering what happens if you are going 80 and somehow tried to down shift into the wrong gear. Are you locked out if it's too low?

Does anyone ever really have this issue? I'm not expecting to accidentally do this, but it just made me curious...

Mean Green Z28 · 03-19-2015, 11:54 AM

Nope, you can pretty much shift to any gear except reverse due to the lockout (just a tough spring that could be pushed against still).

mbowen89 · 03-19-2015, 12:09 PM

Gotcha.

For the most part, even at 80mph highway driving, unless you throw it in first, you should be ok then, correct?

Is it pretty hard to accidentally miss 3rd and throw it in first? I guess I don't really hear many people doing that on here.

Mean Green Z28 · 03-19-2015, 12:16 PM

Nah, unless you're being really crazy with your shifts, you'll be fine. Something that's always worked for me and helped me not mis-shift has been the way I hold the shifter during "spirited" driving. Thumb up/down depending on which gear you're in and going up/down. Usually thumb-down shifting higher, thumb-up shifting lower. The natural tendency of your arm movement also forces a "safe" direction of shifter travel

Also if I remember correctly, it's pretty hard to get into the first two gears at speed ... going driving now, will update haha

also, remember there's also the 2-3 gear lockout when taking off slowly, forcing you to go from 1st to 4th ... that's only for low speed and shifting up though

45thAnniversary2SS · 03-19-2015, 12:27 PM

This car was my first manual as well OP. Don't sweat it, you will be fine.

Mean Green Z28 · 03-19-2015, 12:28 PM

Tried shifting to 1st at local speeds, can't unless I break the syncros lol

Apex Motorsports · 03-19-2015, 12:31 PM

To go from 4th to 3rd you just push the stick forward. To hit 1st you would have to push forward, then to the left, then forward. It would be a really hard mistake to make.

malave7567 · 03-19-2015, 12:36 PM

A more common mistake I have seen is downshifting from 6th to 3rd on the highway and accidentally going back into 1st. However, it requires a lot of force to do, so just think before slamming into a downshifting. The two guys that I've known to do this abuse their cars regularly and probably just slam into every gear "because racecar," they say. It slides in a lot easier if the synchros aren't having to deal with that huge a jump.

Full disclosure, both incidents were not on 5th gen Camaros.

mbowen89 · 03-19-2015, 01:28 PM

OK, so basically, it will have a definite noticeable harder time going into a gear that you shouldn't be going into, inherently because of the synchronizer. So if one did accidentally try to do a 6th-1st, there would be a lot more resistance, and you'd have to intentionally bang it in there hard to get it to go.

Which ties in to how you should be shifting in the first place. You don't need to be hard-banging the shifter around, so "gentle shifting" should prevent anything like this from ever happening in the first place.

Makes me feel better! I'll just remember to be easy on the shifter, and if it doesn't feel right, don't force it.

I4toV8 · 03-19-2015, 01:39 PM

im just going to leave this here.... (discuss)

http://www.streetfire.net/video/clut...rom_197990.htm

op take it with ease and you will be fine.

Jims73z · 03-19-2015, 02:45 PM

I think on the tremecs it's much easier to shift from third to second. mechanical
over rev and bent pushrods were a popular mod on fourth gens.

1Coopgt · 03-19-2015, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I4toV8

im just going to leave this here.... (discuss)

http://www.streetfire.net/video/clut...rom_197990.htm

op take it with ease and you will be fine.

That was cool .

i2disturbedSS · 03-21-2015, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbowen89

there would be a lot more resistance, and you'd have to intentionally bang it in there hard to get it to go.

Makes me feel better! I'll just remember to be easy on the shifter, and if it doesn't feel right, don't force it.

That's what I've heard also

Edzo · 03-21-2015, 10:57 PM

The thing that might stop you is the windshield. If this is a serious question, you shouldn't be downshifting from 4th at 80!

03-19-2015, 11:51 AM	#1
mbowen89 Drives: 2015 CRT 2SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: IN Posts: 638	Illegal Down Shift Prevention Is there anything that stops you from downshifting from 4th to 1st for example? I tried to do some searching and can't really find anything. I'm getting my first manual (a 1LE) next month, and I was just wondering what happens if you are going 80 and somehow tried to down shift into the wrong gear. Are you locked out if it's too low? Does anyone ever really have this issue? I'm not expecting to accidentally do this, but it just made me curious...

03-19-2015, 11:54 AM	#2
Mean Green Z28 Drives: 2010 2SS Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 941 View My Garage	Nope, you can pretty much shift to any gear except reverse due to the lockout (just a tough spring that could be pushed against still). __________________ 2010 2SS - CAI Intake, ADM Scoop, RotoFab Washer relo. LT Headers and off-road pipes, X-pipe, Muffler Deletes, ZL1 Spoiler, Technostalgia Tail-lights '98 T/A (Sold) - Forged 6.0ltr, MS3, P&P'd Heads/Valves, 90MM FAST/TB, Headers, 3" Y-pipe, 4" Mufflex Catback. Koni Adjustables w/GC coilovers (550/175), Strano Sway Bars '94 Z28 (Sold) ... LS1 swap (basically same setup as the T/A), TH350/3500 stall ... swapped it all into the T/A -- >> Some of my Projects My Fquick Page

03-19-2015, 12:16 PM	#4
Mean Green Z28 Drives: 2010 2SS Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 941 View My Garage	Nah, unless you're being really crazy with your shifts, you'll be fine. Something that's always worked for me and helped me not mis-shift has been the way I hold the shifter during "spirited" driving. Thumb up/down depending on which gear you're in and going up/down. Usually thumb-down shifting higher, thumb-up shifting lower. The natural tendency of your arm movement also forces a "safe" direction of shifter travel Also if I remember correctly, it's pretty hard to get into the first two gears at speed ... going driving now, will update haha also, remember there's also the 2-3 gear lockout when taking off slowly, forcing you to go from 1st to 4th ... that's only for low speed and shifting up though __________________ 2010 2SS - CAI Intake, ADM Scoop, RotoFab Washer relo. LT Headers and off-road pipes, X-pipe, Muffler Deletes, ZL1 Spoiler, Technostalgia Tail-lights '98 T/A (Sold) - Forged 6.0ltr, MS3, P&P'd Heads/Valves, 90MM FAST/TB, Headers, 3" Y-pipe, 4" Mufflex Catback. Koni Adjustables w/GC coilovers (550/175), Strano Sway Bars '94 Z28 (Sold) ... LS1 swap (basically same setup as the T/A), TH350/3500 stall ... swapped it all into the T/A -- >> Some of my Projects My Fquick Page

03-19-2015, 12:27 PM	#5
45thAnniversary2SS Drives: 2012 45th Anniversary 2SS LS3 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 2,812 View My Garage	This car was my first manual as well OP. Don't sweat it, you will be fine. __________________

03-19-2015, 12:28 PM	#6
Mean Green Z28 Drives: 2010 2SS Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 941 View My Garage	Tried shifting to 1st at local speeds, can't unless I break the syncros lol __________________ 2010 2SS - CAI Intake, ADM Scoop, RotoFab Washer relo. LT Headers and off-road pipes, X-pipe, Muffler Deletes, ZL1 Spoiler, Technostalgia Tail-lights '98 T/A (Sold) - Forged 6.0ltr, MS3, P&P'd Heads/Valves, 90MM FAST/TB, Headers, 3" Y-pipe, 4" Mufflex Catback. Koni Adjustables w/GC coilovers (550/175), Strano Sway Bars '94 Z28 (Sold) ... LS1 swap (basically same setup as the T/A), TH350/3500 stall ... swapped it all into the T/A -- >> Some of my Projects My Fquick Page

03-19-2015, 12:09 PM	#3
mbowen89 Drives: 2015 CRT 2SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: IN Posts: 638	Gotcha. For the most part, even at 80mph highway driving, unless you throw it in first, you should be ok then, correct? Is it pretty hard to accidentally miss 3rd and throw it in first? I guess I don't really hear many people doing that on here.

03-19-2015, 12:31 PM	#7
Apex Motorsports Drives: 2000 Camaro SS Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Louisville, Ky. Posts: 25,179	To go from 4th to 3rd you just push the stick forward. To hit 1st you would have to push forward, then to the left, then forward. It would be a really hard mistake to make.

03-19-2015, 12:36 PM	#8
malave7567 Drives: 2015 Camaro 1SS Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 835	A more common mistake I have seen is downshifting from 6th to 3rd on the highway and accidentally going back into 1st. However, it requires a lot of force to do, so just think before slamming into a downshifting. The two guys that I've known to do this abuse their cars regularly and probably just slam into every gear "because racecar," they say. It slides in a lot easier if the synchros aren't having to deal with that huge a jump. Full disclosure, both incidents were not on 5th gen Camaros.

03-19-2015, 01:28 PM	#9
mbowen89 Drives: 2015 CRT 2SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: IN Posts: 638	OK, so basically, it will have a definite noticeable harder time going into a gear that you shouldn't be going into, inherently because of the synchronizer. So if one did accidentally try to do a 6th-1st, there would be a lot more resistance, and you'd have to intentionally bang it in there hard to get it to go. Which ties in to how you should be shifting in the first place. You don't need to be hard-banging the shifter around, so "gentle shifting" should prevent anything like this from ever happening in the first place. Makes me feel better! I'll just remember to be easy on the shifter, and if it doesn't feel right, don't force it.

03-19-2015, 01:39 PM	#10
I4toV8 Dazed & Drives: matte blue 2014 z28(186) 2015 R1 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: The Jungle Posts: 708	im just going to leave this here.... (discuss) http://www.streetfire.net/video/clut...rom_197990.htm op take it with ease and you will be fine. __________________

03-19-2015, 02:45 PM	#11
Jims73z Drives: 1973 z28 Rs , 2012 SS/Rs Blk/Blk M6 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Laguna Posts: 197	I think on the tremecs it's much easier to shift from third to second. mechanical over rev and bent pushrods were a popular mod on fourth gens.

03-21-2015, 10:57 PM	#14
Edzo Drives: 2013 Camaro SS and 63 Impala Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 355	The thing that might stop you is the windshield. If this is a serious question, you shouldn't be downshifting from 4th at 80!