Just curious... All you people with a 302 manual, under normal driving, what rpm's are making sifts at? And automatics, what do yours rev to when accelerating?

 

the auto should shift at 5,000 - 5,500 rpm...it's already past peak HP so no real need to go that far... I am sure if you shifted sooner it would go faster...

when trying to gain ground quickly ALWAYs shift when it's pulling the hardest... not after

 

Wow...I have never ran that many rpm.

 

there's really no need to unless your power range is that high but our are not...

my peanut motor has seen 8,500 rpm many times and it sounds wicked but it quits making power around 7,ooo but I twist it that high because I can

 

How about just normal driving...not pushing it to the max?

 

justify normal driving...?

whats normal for one may not be for another... in my truck I probably shift at 2,000 rpm or less.... unless i am beating on it and then about 3,500 rpm

 

I guess thats what I'm curious about. I generally shift between 2000 - 2500 will occasionally go to 3000 3500 is about tops for where I feel comfortable. The highest I think I ever took her was 4500... Once I think in 18 years.

 

it doesnt hurt it to use it as long as you arent forcing it past peak and floating it to the point of breaking it...the engine will let you know when its done reving as it will just fall over and not feel like its reving any higher...

the 302 is capable of higher RPMs but there is really no point but it doesnt hurt a thing to take it that far. I'd say you're doing very well and not abusing it one bit...

I got my truck from a deceased old man who really lugged the truck... he was in 5th gear by 35mph and his son told me it was a real turd and it was... I drove it for a while and every so often I would get on it a little harder... with only 79,000 on the clock I knew it would be okay... after about 6 months I could start getting on the thing. it's totally a different running truck now then it was... totally peppy now.

Even the guy I got it from said its a total change

 

I would be afraid to take it up to 5000+, 4000 seems like its really winding that engine up, but maybe Im wrong. Im just wondering where most people generally make their shifts. Just one of them things I wonder about. LOL
I try to take it easy on it, always have. I get on it every now and then.. evidently I could get on it a little harder if I wanted, probably will keep doing just what I have been doing though. LOL
Have you dont anything else to gain a little more power? Seems like it would be about right if it had about 30 more HP. Of course then you woudl want 30 more, then more, etc.. endless cycle. But is there anything fairly simple that will add a few more ponies?

 

iv always shifted at 2000-2500 on normal acceleration. up to 4000 when im really pushing it. my auto shifted at 2000-2200 under normal, and iv had it peak i think close to 5k once or twice....

and add gears, you wont gain more HP but the HP you do got will be used better.