About to pick up my car. Any manual pointers?

[Redwingsguy]

Well after 8wks of waiting its finally here! 2001 Camaro 3800 coupe, I've driven stick before and am pretty good at it. But any refreshers and pointers would be nice!

 

[Valhalla1]

awesome!

did you get the t-tops?

anyway, the hardest part of driving a stick is starting from a dead stop. press the clutch to the floor, put it in 1st, let slowly off the clutch and at the same time give it a little gas.

from then its easy, the 3800-II V6 engine, same as in my car, likes to be shifted when cruising at around 3k rpms, I take it to the redline when I'm speed shifting, driving competitively. mine is still pulling hard into the redline because of the freed up high end torque from my free flowing exhaust and intake.

when shifting between gears, foot off gas, clutch to the floor, shift,clutch up slowly, get back on the gas.

have fun, be safe

 

[Viper GTS]

Besides drop the clutch from 3500 RPM?



Seriously, though, just start out slowly. Gradually release the clutch, gradually give it fuel. Once you get the feel of that individual clutch & transmission you'll be fine. Practice is the only thing that will help you.

Viper GTS

 

[Redwingsguy]

Heh of course i got the T-tops! But with the weather today I dont know if it'll be a good time to put them down! , I'll try to get a pic

 

[Redwingsguy]

Is braking Neutral then Brake or Clutch+Brake like in Gone in 60 seconds? I remember that when I drove I didnt have to press Clutch to brake, just making sure though

 

[Valhalla1]

you don't have to hit the clutch to brake.. braking just slows you down. however if the rpm's drop to less than 1500, its time to push the ctutch in or you'll stall the engine.

when you are coming to a red light and are gradually stopping, sometimes I slip it into neutral sometimes. one, because my exhaust is loud, especially when downshifting, but its silent in neutral obviously. and two because it saves a little gas.

but you can either downshift, letting the internal friction of the drivetrain to slow you down, or you can put it in neutral or push down the clutch and brake that way. theres good and bad things for both ways, if you need to suddenly accelerate again, then its easier if you have it in gear already, but some say it wears the clutch out sooner. regular braking wears down your brakes quicker, but brakes are cheaper than a clutch.

 

[virusag13]

Avoid hills! If you are rusty it would suck to roll back into another car or stall it on a hill. Just take some back streets to get used to it and then head out on the main roads.

 

[Valhalla1]

by the way, what options did you get ?

I know you got the t-tops and 5-speed.. what color? leather or cloth? interior color?

did you get the factory dual exhaust option? I think they all come with 4 wheel disc brakes now, but it may still be just an option.

give it at least 500 miles to break in before you get on it at all.. break it in properly or you'll regret it later. 500 miles, keep it under 50 and under 5000 rpm's, and vary the rpm's during the first 500 miles. take it easy on the new clutch too.

once you've got a 1000 miles or so on it, its time to mod! window tinting, a performance exhaust (I HIGHLY reccommend the edelbrock catback system for your car) and a stereo system were my HAD-TO mods, first thing I did when I got the car.



then come over to Camaroz28.com on the messageboard and the guys around there will really help you out!

 

[thebestMAX]

Learn how to use the hand brake so you dont roll backwards when you stop on inclines with cars behind you.

Just let out the clutch and as you feel it start to take hold ease off the handbrake slowly.

A little practice and no one will know yoy have a manual.

 

[Emulex]

while shifting at 6000 rpm's, be sure to hold the gas pedal (rpm's) steady and slam it in to the next gear, power shifting rocks dunno if the 3800 has enough horses to throw you sideways, but its fun as hell.

 

[Valhalla1]

<< A little practice and no one will know yoy have a manual. >>



until you're racing that little ricebomb civic at a stoplight and you tear the back tires loose for a satisying smoking/spinning of the tires on the 1-2 shift.

 

[Valhalla1]

<< dunno if the 3800 has enough horses to throw you sideways, but its fun as hell. >>



it does.. but its stock non-POSI rear makes it not as fun as on the 5.7L V8 LS1 fbodies.

 

[nateholtrop]

EDELBROCK!? screw that get RKSPORT

Nate

 

[Valhalla1]

umm.. no.

see, I actually HAVE a 3800 series fbody and I'm a senior member of the Camaroz28.com forums, I've deal with this common debate many times.. I have the edelbrock catback on my car, and its much better than anything except the Borla and the B&amp;B Triflo systems, both of which cost 3 times what the edelbrock does.

if you want the best system for the 3800, get the B&amp;B. but its about $1k. I got my edelbrock for $270ish from Jegs.


the only exhaut product I'd get from RKsport would be their ceramic coated headers for the 3800.. and only for lack of much other competition for headers for the engine.. the RKsport headers are widely known to have thin flanges and leak often

 

[Redwingsguy]

Well it was a fun drive back Still a little clunky on the hills, but im gettin at it I'll get a pic when theres some sunlight