Anyone else with the M5OD skip second gear all together or sometimes start off in second? Skipping second seems to work best since I have the straight 6.

 

I don't see the benefit in skipping gears. It'll actually hurt your fuel mileage (albiet, not a ton). If you really are that lazy, buy an automatic.

 

Depending on the gearing your first might just be extra low. I can see where you might start in second if your rear end was lower than the 3.55 I have.

 

I have 3.08 gears and I tried it several ways and it hurt mileage in all of them...

I tried 1,3,5 and 2,4,5

 

With mine it seems to be like I'm shifting a semi sometimes... 5-700 rpms and I'm right back on the enrichment point for a shift again. And because I seem to have the curse of catching every traffic light I come to, it makes for a pain in my ***. The first 3 gears are almost instant it seems.

 

You must have a low geared rear.

 

I only stay in each of the first three gears for 3-4 seconds, usually.

 

I agree shifting sucks...thats why they made Automatics...and I have seriously thought about swapping my 5 speed for a AOD as I have a couple laying around...

 

id never have another auto, i **** aroud with the gas pedal too much.... gettin in between gears and ****...

thats how i blew up 2 5r55w's on my explorer

 

In a space launch. a considerable amount of energy is expended just making it break contact w/ the ground and begin to develop it's own inertia (which is itself, stored energy). Although less drastic, horizontal travel shares the same basic laws of physics. Granny gears are great for pulling stumps and such, but seem to lack convenience when it comes to normal street driving. My 63' E-100 6 banger had 3 on the tree and while 1 more gear in the mix might have been nice, 2 more gears would have been a royal pain in the a*s! While it wasn't at all suited for pulling stumps, it did hold it's own, loaded down & pulling a grade! The engineers based their gear ratios on stock size (& weight) tires. Tire Mods will defiantly throw a monkey wrench in their gear ratios! Side note: Anybody else use to watch the "Mr. Wizard!" T.V. show on Saturdays when they were a kid? That guy really loved his job!