down shifting

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Grown in Tx.

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My 14 express has the normal shifter on the steering column that goes from park to drive, to downshift you have to press a button on the shifter. I USED to drive with my right hand on the shifter until i realized i was in 2nd gear at 65mph one day. Since then i have played with it and it seems like it selects the lowest gear for the speed your going if you press and hold it, or you can push it once per gear, am i correct in thinking this? I have been doing 75 on the freeway and held the button, it dropped down to 2nd and jumped to a little over 5k rpms and launched like a rocket when i floored it. There is no "red line" on the rpm Guage so i figure it has a 7k stall to go along with the 110mph governor? Does this thing up shift by itself when playing? I haven't let the rpms get over 6500 before i upshift with the button.
 

Saltillo Express

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you can get into trouble holding the - button on the stalk. It will jump way down in gears. Not sure why it's like that, but I can't imagine it's good for the equation. I only use it when the truck is flopped over in OD lugging along in MDS to get it downshift.
 
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Grown in Tx.

Grown in Tx.

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Ok, i got brave. I held that button down today at around 60 with traction control off and tow/haul on, it dropped down to 2nd and this thing is just mean, it up shifts by itself between 6000 and 6500 for every gear.
 

HammerHead

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Ok, i got brave. I held that button down today at around 60 with traction control off and tow/haul on, it dropped down to 2nd and this thing is just mean, it up shifts by itself between 6000 and 6500 for every gear.

This is really good info if you have the 6 speed like me. The 6 speed has a dead spot between 30-50 MPH, if you hit the gas anywhere in that speed it just bogs down and slowly increases in speed. I tested this last night cruzing at 50MPH, held the - button and it dropped right down into 1st. I was in the power immediately :naughty:
 
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Grown in Tx.

Grown in Tx.

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I got the 6sp. I haven't noticed the dead spot, I'll try to remember to test that on the way to workin the morning. I love my truck more everyday!
 

xrsman

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I was never brave enough to hold it down at highway speed in my 2011! Did it by accident once in town and on purpose another time to test it. Never going too fast though! Made me nervous I'd blow the tyranny out haha

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk
 

jstacey8

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This is really good info if you have the 6 speed like me. The 6 speed has a dead spot between 30-50 MPH, if you hit the gas anywhere in that speed it just bogs down and slowly increases in speed. I tested this last night cruzing at 50MPH, held the - button and it dropped right down into 1st. I was in the power immediately :naughty:
The six speeds sweet spots are 25 and 65 I belive. Mash on the throttle at those speeds and hang on your infor a ride. I have destroyed so many duramax's brand new Chevys at that speed it's not even funny and I'm on 37's with a hemifeaver tune and a cat back
 
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Grown in Tx.

Grown in Tx.

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I couldn't find that dead spot this morning. And i haven't noticed the sweet spots either but I'll check that out in the morning.
 

Jerry1984

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46 years old and hammering your truck to 6500 rpm? Am I understanding this correctly? What are you trying to prove?
 
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Grown in Tx.

Grown in Tx.

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46 years old and hammering your truck to 6500 rpm? Am I understanding this correctly? What are you trying to prove?

I ain't got nothing to prove, i do have a Ram that is made to perform though. I'm 46, not dead and definitely not an old ***** that's pissed at the world because I "grew up" and forgot how to have fun! So don't come at me like that Haas, you don't know me and i don't appreciate being judged by you. your 31, talk to me in about 15 years or after you've been married for 20 years and successfully raised 4 kids. Lighten up dude
 

jstacey8

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46 years old and hammering your truck to 6500 rpm? Am I understanding this correctly? What are you trying to prove?

You ought to meet my dad he is turning 57 and still dose doughnuts when ever he is plowing and when ever he drives the minivan he almost always dose reverse doughnuts and still wants a supercharged vett. He said he'll be boring when he's dead might as well be fun now
 

Jerry1984

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So 6500 is a safe rpm on these trucks? Mine won't see that as I plan on keeping it at least 200,000 miles. It's paid off. Do what you please with your truck it's just not often you see people over 25 posting about taking your truck to 6500 rpm. Congrats on the lengthy marriage and 4 kids!! Oh, and I do occasionally have fun as well.
 
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HammerHead

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So 6500 is a safe rpm on these trucks? Mine won't see that as I plan on keeping it at least 200,000 miles. It's paid off. Do what you please with your truck it's just not often you see people over 25 posting about taking your truck to 6500 rpm. Congrats on the lengthy marriage and 4 kids!! Oh, and I do occasionally have fun as well.

6500 RPM's is safe, I push my truck at the track to 6500 all the time. Anything above that makes me uncomfortable; one time I pushed it to 6700-6800 and swore never again. I didn't bust anything but the motor made a strange noise so that was it for that.
 
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Grown in Tx.

Grown in Tx.

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So 6500 is a safe rpm on these trucks? Mine won't see that as I plan on keeping it at least 200,000 miles. It's paid off. Do what you please with your truck it's just not often you see people over 25 posting about taking your truck to 6500 rpm. Congrats on the lengthy marriage and 4 kids!! Oh, and I do occasionally have fun as well.
H

I should have pointed out a little clearer that the truck up shifts on its own so that's factory settings that determine shift points, Until i start adding mods anyway.
 

Jmhm17

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6500 is safe? Ever heard of valve float? these are pushrod motors there's a lot of moving parts in there. I would say its "ok" as there's a lot of engineering in it, but not "safe" by any means if done time and time again.
 
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Grown in Tx.

Grown in Tx.

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I have been checking 0-60 times and 1/4 times, after a run or two I found that 6k is the shift point not 6,500. I did find that with the factory settings, it shifts out of first on it's own and then at 102ish mph and 6k rpm wot it doesn't shift to 3rd or gain any more speed. I'm thinking that's the speed governer kicking in. I have found that this shifting method is better performance wise than just flooring it without downshifting.

With all that said, I do not do this daily, not even weekly. Only when I get wild hare and want to showboat a little
 

preachp

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Hi Grown in Tx,

Turn TSC off and Tow/Haul on, hold the brake and bring your rpm up to about 1500 rpm then mash the gas and release the brake at the same time.....oh yeah keep both hands on the steering wheel because if your truck behaves like mine your going to need them both to keep the truck where it needs to be.
Funny watching a Ford Explorer messing with me and then staying WAY back after he lined up with me at a light and I did this. Not really good for the tires but hey we all need to have a little indiscretion in our lives once in a while.
Have a great day, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

preachp
 
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Grown in Tx.

Grown in Tx.

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Hi Grown in Tx,

Turn TSC off and Tow/Haul on, hold the brake and bring your rpm up to about 1500 rpm then mash the gas and release the brake at the same time.....oh yeah keep both hands on the steering wheel because if your truck behaves like mine your going to need them both to keep the truck where it needs to be.
Funny watching a Ford Explorer messing with me and then staying WAY back after he lined up with me at a light and I did this. Not really good for the tires but hey we all need to have a little indiscretion in our lives once in a while.
Have a great day, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

preachp

Merry Christmas and thanks for the tip. I'm gonna try it in about an hour on my way to work. I like the look of your truck with that top on it.
 

preachp

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Hi there Grown in TX,

Thanks, I like the look too, but some think I should have bought an SUV. Go figure, not the same thing at all.

Hope that worked for you the brake thing that is,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

preachp
 

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