when to shift gears

[flood]

thanks alot guys. this is great info because i do believe i can get more out of the seemingly indestructible 2.3. i know a few times i've been really ticked off and took it out on the ranger and according to some of the posts i'm not the only one lol. once again thanks

you miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

if you would like to drive my escort i will let you.

ive got 2 escorts, both with the same 1.9 that i bet you have

rev it until it feels good.if you hit the rev limiter, youve gone to far.

 

[Hollywood88]

The best thing about the little 2.3 is that you can hold her down and squeeze everybit of power within that last rpm befor she bounces off the rev limiter and she'll forgive you. I would like to know what the rev limiter is set at though.

 

[phatcap]

i believe its 6200 and if you keep doing that, i'm sure one of these days she won't forgive you.

 

[fastpakr]

No offense to wicked sludge, but if he (or anybody) thinks that their ear is as accurate as a tach then there's an ego issue in play. You can certainly drive daily without a tach. However, if you're trying to shift precisely, they're absolutely essential. If you've used one for a while and know exactly what the motor sounds like at a given RPM you may refer to it less frequently, but it's still critical for getting things dead on until you reach that stage.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the 2.3 falls flat on its face before 5,500 anyway. bouncing off the rev limiter isnt doing anything but wearing your valve trane components faster.

EDIT: posting at the same time.

i never said mine or anyone elses ear was as accurate as a tach. this isnt nascar, its a 2.3 liter ranger. your ear is more than accurate enough for something that slow.

 

[Hollywood88]

emphasis on the word slow

 

[flood]

slow indeed thats why i wanted to know how far i could wind out 3rd because getting on the interstate in that thing sucks. so let me get this right the 2.3 in the 93 does have a rev limiter. if so all i need to do is hit it one time and then i would know exactly when to shift when i'm trying to get going.

 

[rangerbum]

I have stock 3.45 gearing and have a 97 2.3 5 speed. In third I've been to a little above 65mph accelerating up a grade. It was a dumb thing to do and I now Know Im lucky these motors are tough because mine should have blown. I installed a tach about 2 months ago. At about 40 mph in third, Im at around 3200 Rpms.

 

[DesertStorm]

Dont shift until she start to pop. 1st gear is good to 45 mph with stock 3.45 gearing. The rev limiter is 6250 rpms.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

I have stock 3.45 gearing and have a 97 2.3 5 speed. In third I've been to a little above 65mph accelerating up a grade. It was a dumb thing to do and I now Know Im lucky these motors are tough because mine should have blown.

depending on your tire size, thats still under 4,000RPM. you havnt even gotten to your peak power yet. 3200rpm should be considered cruel and unusual punishment. those engines need to see over 4 grand to be happy.

 

[gb2003]

i have a 90 2.3 5 spd with 3:08 gears mine will hit 70mph in third without hitting the rev limiter. this is with 225/70/14 tires . i shift at 20,30,45 and only use 5th if im goin over 60 or 65

 

[mongo]

i shift when in just driving at 20 30 45sh and55

thats on flat or downhill trying to move or go up hill at 5 to everything

 

[Z3CHYD]

if it sounds like its boggin, downshift.

who needs a tach? listen to the motor.

+1 the motor can "talk" to you alot more than a tach can