Shift light/rev limiter settingd

[Saltshaker]

428 on the dunk made power to 5950rpm...so where would you set the rev limiter and shift light?
Jon

[plovett]

My opinion,  set the shift light at 6000 rpm and the rev limiter at 6500 rpm.  That is if you are comfortable with your engine going 6500 rpm.  In general you want to shift a few hundred rpm above peak power, or may 10% above. …….somewhere around there.

My 428 makes peak power around , I think, 6600 rpm and I put in a 7300 rpm chip.  I usually shift about 6900-7000 rpm.

I don't know what kind of what rev limiter you have, but I have an old MSD 6AL that you have to put different chips in.  These chips are notorious for not being accurate.  So If you put in a 6500 rpm chip, it may cut the revs at a different rpm.  So you have to try them and make sure you have a good one.

My opinion is the rev limiter is there to protect your engine if you have wheel spin or wheel hop.  If everything is going right you should not hit the rev limiter.

JMO,

paulie

[Saltshaker]

I’m using a perTronix 510hp box...no chips
Jon

[Falcon67]

"made power to 5950rpm" - if you mean peaked at 5950, then 6300~6500 would be a estimated shift point with the rev limit set 400~500 RPM above what gives best MPH. 

His Pertronix is a digital ignition - it has several limiters in it plus shift light on/off and start retard. 

[plovett]

Shift point and shift light setting are not the same.  There is some delay.   Just a thought.

paulie

[Sand hauler]

How is that pertronics unit holding up? Thinking about getting getting one for the 449.

[Saltshaker]

Installing it this wknd....will let you know
Jon

[My427stang]

Agree with everyone above LOL   I'd shift at 400-500 above peak, at least for 2-3 and 3-4, often find that a very early 1-2 can make a light car/deep gear quicker. 

In fact, in a 5.13 1/8 mile big block Chevelle, we got quicker and quicker by lowering the launch RPM to 3000 and shifting the 1-2 at as low as 4500, (roller BBC peaked at 6500) but that car is unique as he overgeared it with a 3.43:1 1st gear with the 5.13s.  The more we dropped, the quicker the car got until he tore the rear out of it.  Unfortunately it scared him as it got a little sideways and I can't get him back to the track

However, the driver determines where the shift light needs to be, my Chevy guy needs it set at the HP peak because he moves slow LOL, but an automatic with a ratchet shifter and a good driver with the shift light in his line of sight, might be 300-400 or even exactly at the 400-500 mark

[Falcon67]

Shift point and shift light setting are not the same.  There is some delay.   Just a thought.

paulie

Human delay.  The shift light is the "shift point setting" unless he also has a air or electric shifter with a separate timer.   Now if it takes you 200~400 RPM to react to the light, not the ignition's fault LOL.  Why I use air in the door car - don't have to think about it.