LS4 Front-Drives 2005-2010 - safe to manually shift an automatic?

I have a 2006 Monte Carlo SS... I have so far always driven in "D", but my question is, is it safe/ok to shift through 1, 2, 3, then to D when driving - or no? should just put in D and go?

I can't see why not. I use to do it all the time in my 95 vette. I never had a trans problem in it either. My GXP has tap shift wich allows you to manually shift the gears but then again manual mode in the GXP increases line pressure to the clutch pack.. :engarde:

Why would you want to??

please tell me that's a photo chop on your door..

Why would you want to??

please tell me that's a photo chop on your door..

:jest:

yes, it's a photo chop - just to display my username... the white SS badge is really there... ;-)

http://www.eprowebdesigns.com/06MonteSS/06MonteSS-2.jpg

It will only make it run slower.....try it at the track to prove it.
Unless it is converted to a manual valve body. Race only deal.

Why would you want to??

please tell me that's a photo chop on your door..

You yourself have praised the benefits of using the tap-shift on the GXP; and say that is the one reason your car has gone 13.68 because you were able to hold 2nd gear to the redline and 101mph.

If not manually shifting, just let the tranmission shift on its own into 2nd, but then keep it in 2nd manually so that a forced 2-3 shift doesn't occur at such a low RPM.

So not only will it work, but it will make your car faster --- maybe even faster than the GXP.

It will only make it run slower.....try it at the track to prove it.
Unless it is converted to a manual valve body. Race only deal.

I have been to the track and I tryed Drive, it slowed by 5 yes I said 5mph, you will go faster if you hold 2nd. Put your SS in 2nd it will shift on it's own at 6000 rpm at 100mph.
The thing that I like is unlike the tapshift the SS will shift at redline so you can not miss a shift.... it's going to shift. just DO NOT LEAVE IT IN DRIVE.

I have a 2006 Monte Carlo SS... I have so far always driven in "D", but my question is, is it safe/ok to shift through 1, 2, 3, then to D when driving - or no? should just put in D and go?


why would you want to? HE DIDN'T SAY AT THE TRACK GUY'S...RELAX my comment was why bother shifting an auto on a regular basis??

You yourself have praised the benefits of using the tap-shift on the GXP; and say that is the one reason your car has gone 13.68 because you were able to hold 2nd gear to the redline and 101mph.

If not manually shifting, just let the tranmission shift on its own into 2nd, but then keep it in 2nd manually so that a forced 2-3 shift doesn't occur at such a low RPM.

So not only will it work, but it will make your car faster --- maybe even faster than the GXP.


make sure you read the above post...and , I doubt anyone will top that stock, just the facts, jack

make sure you read the above post...and , I doubt anyone will top that stock, just the facts, jack

I just like to keep an open mind that, anything is possible. That is, if the Impala and Monte Carlo are lighter... Who knows. Its a topic thats been beat to death anyways. Get rid of all the electronic gizmoes in the PCM and we could see these cars go even quicker.

yeah, I was just talking about everyday driving... to give me the feeling of a pseudo-manual tranny LOL - to be able to shift myself...

thanks for the input all!! much appreciated...

if you racing the car weather you have tap shift or not let the pcm shift its always faster. Plus 4t65e don't like being shifted like that at all. Tap shift is an electrical input that just comands the pcm to shift rather then actually shifting the car manually. However it lags and tends to make the car slower in the 1/4.

Well, my transmission is messed up, so it won't shift out of first on the road very well, so I shift it through myself, and so far, nothing other than my shifter casing has been affected, cause my car was pretty messed up when I got it, and some of the problems in my Camaro have gotten worse. But as far as I can tell, the manual style shifting doesn't damage the tranny, but jumping a set of RR tracks at 80+ mph does. Other than doing something stupid like that, your tranny should be ok.

The tap shift does use a different valve body. Don't know if that makes it anymore resilent though.

i like shifting my auto automactically. sometimes my TA will shift form first to 2nd at 5k rpm instead of 6000-6200 whatever is redline. thats 1200 more rpm left.


and using tapshift is quicker than the PCM. i have tested this. and at the track i ran better time using the Tapshift when i had my gxp. i was the first i belive to run sub 14's completely stock no changes of anykind to the car.

i also have sometimes actually hit the limiter once or twice driving my car at high speeds with the PCM shifting. after a while i learned the perfect spot to hit the tapshift depending on how quickly the rpms are raising.

i drove my 04 GP GT all the time manually holding it in gears. never had any trans problems form it.

There are some cars that wont go to redline before they shift at WOT on any occasion.

best to have the PCM programmed to shift @ what you want it......the vector tune has my car shifting @ 6050 and the short shift into 3rd was also removed so now I can just put it in D and drive

For automatics the best way to race rolling is to manualy shift. Let the RPMs go up until you find your powerband and take the traction control off if your car doesn't spin much. Also you don't have to wait until redline to change gears.