Shifting the XJ-S

["Jan Wikström" <104707.3644@CompuServe.COM>]

Message text written by Steve Draper
>Will I tear up the car if I give in to the temptation to blaze away in
first gear and manually shift up?<

The simple answer is: no. That GM box is so tough it's not funny; I have to
date racked up three Serious Mistakes, i.e., shifting into reverse instead
of second (from top) at around 60 km/h (35 mph and small change), each time
with a shoeful of throttle. SHRIEK! from the rear wheels and the engine
comes to a sudden dead stop - only to start up again as I shamefacedly move
the lever in the right direction. No harm has come to light, and the first
Serious Mistake was four years ago. That lever should have a reverse
lockout to protect the car from dickheads like me...

I leave the slushbox to go about its business most of the time, but always
use hand-shifting when extra acceleration is called for (not because I'm in
a hurry but because it's fun). It takes the 0-60 acceleration time (77
XJ12C) down from 11sec to 7.9.
NB: with the standard settings, this box refuses to stay in first
regardless of lever position when you hit around 5,500 rpm, even with the
full-throttle kickdown activated. I had what my slushbox man called a
"stage 1 shifter kit" fitted when I had mine overhauled, which has done
away with that nuisance and also produced firmer, quicker shifts. Yes,
5,500 is about the best 1-2 shift point for fastest acceleration, but I
want it to happen when *I* say so. Besides, shifting at 6,500 is *much*
more fun...

- Jan

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• Re: Shifting the XJ-S
• From: Matthias FOUQUET-LAPAR <mfl@cray.com>

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