No 1st gear on 4th Gen auto!? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

PaycekZ28 · 10-22-2009, 01:59 PM

I have a '97 Z28 auto, and I only have 2nd through OD. What gives? I've owned the car for over a decade and still have no idea why no 1st. Any info would be awesome, thanks!

nemosgt · 10-24-2009, 10:04 PM

You probably just can't select first gear with the lever. I'm pretty sure in "drive" the tranmission does go into first when you come to a stop or start out.

Cheers.

PaycekZ28 · 10-26-2009, 12:57 PM

Yeah, just can't select 1st, wondering if anyone knew why Chevy did that. Thanks though.

Tim@HPE · 10-26-2009, 03:52 PM

You have 2.73 gears in the car. These cars only had 2,D,OD on the gear selector.

The 3.23-geared autos have 1,2,D,OD. This was the "performance axle" option (code GU5 located on the sticker in the glovebox or on the inside of the door, depending on the year). Don't remember the code for the 2.73 off the top of my head.

Not 100% sure, but I remember hearing there's some sort of block-off plate and all you have to do is pop off your center console cover, remove it and then you can manually select 1st.

toehead93 · 10-26-2009, 04:02 PM

Tim beat me to it, he is dead on.

nemosgt · 10-26-2009, 04:11 PM

First gear is pretty steep. The average person might complain if they downshifted and found the car standing on its nose from the engine braking; whereas with the performance rear-end, enthusiasts wouldn't care.

Try starting out with second selected; I bet you will get a one two/upshift.

Cheers.

PaycekZ28 · 10-27-2009, 01:13 PM

Awesome! Thanks guys! Now I know...

S8ER01Z · 10-27-2009, 01:28 PM

The 1st gear selector is missing on 2.73 gear cars because they wouldn't pass a certain inspection (noise or emmissions I can't remember which)... the car would carry high rpms at the testing mph used and they had to prevent it. You can pop the center console selector off and file away the plastic tab that prevents the downshift from occuring (or find a center console from a 3.23 geared car).

fbodyrs96 · 10-29-2009, 05:36 AM

GU2
This is the standard axle ratio for an automatic Z28. The ratio is 2.73.

With this axle ratio, you do not have 1st gear as a selectable option on your shift plate.

This is due to federal noise pollution regulations GM had to conform to. Cars with RPO GU5 have 1st gear, because their 3.23 ratio made 1st gear impossible to select. Why? Because the speed was too high for a 3.23 Z28 to run in 1st gear, but not too high for a 2.73 Z28 to run. The 2.73 Z28s would be too loud (high in RPM) to pass the test in first gear, so GM had to restrict it.

I don't remember the 4-speed automatic gear ratios off the top of my head, so I can't tell you what speed the test was testing, but I would "assume" it was 45 mph. 3.23 axle would likely cause the max speed in 1st to be closer to 40, while 2.73 would likely cause the max speed in 1st to be closer to 50. I need somebody to do the math...

S8ER01Z · 10-29-2009, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fbodyrs96

GU2
This is the standard axle ratio for an automatic Z28. The ratio is 2.73.

With this axle ratio, you do not have 1st gear as a selectable option on your shift plate.

This is due to federal noise pollution regulations GM had to conform to. Cars with RPO GU5 have 1st gear, because their 3.23 ratio made 1st gear impossible to select. Why? Because the speed was too high for a 3.23 Z28 to run in 1st gear, but not too high for a 2.73 Z28 to run. The 2.73 Z28s would be too loud (high in RPM) to pass the test in first gear, so GM had to restrict it.

I don't remember the 4-speed automatic gear ratios off the top of my head, so I can't tell you what speed the test was testing, but I would "assume" it was 45 mph. 3.23 axle would likely cause the max speed in 1st to be closer to 40, while 2.73 would likely cause the max speed in 1st to be closer to 50. I need somebody to do the math...

Well apparently it's down at the moment... but when it comes back up this is what I use as a go-to.

http://f-body.org/gears

If that's not up you can use this until they purge it.
http://web.archive.org/web/200804201...ody.org/gears/

PaycekZ28 · 10-29-2009, 10:43 AM

Sweeeet thanks man!

PaycekZ28 · 11-03-2009, 09:46 AM

Yay!!! I can select 1st gear now!!!

Sawed off "1st gear selecter blocker(?)" last night.

*CamaroSpike23* · 11-03-2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaycekZ28

Yay!!! I can select 1st gear now!!!

Sawed off "1st gear selecter blocker(?)" last night.

nice. what was your purpose for needing to select 1st gear?

HorsePowerAddicts · 11-03-2009, 11:39 AM

Holding it in first while driving around will just heat the trans up. Its best to leave the car in drive and have your shift points set to match your setup.

10-22-2009, 01:59 PM	#1
PaycekZ28 Drives: Dly- '05 TSX Grg- '97 Z28 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 34	No 1st gear on 4th Gen auto!? I have a '97 Z28 auto, and I only have 2nd through OD. What gives? I've owned the car for over a decade and still have no idea why no 1st. Any info would be awesome, thanks!

10-26-2009, 04:02 PM	#5
toehead93 Drives: 2014 2SS/1LE Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: wpb fl Posts: 3,135 View My Garage	Tim beat me to it, he is dead on. __________________ Used Racing Brake 2 Peice Rotors for sale: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=344754 Summit White 2014 2SS 1LE Recaros, NPP exhaust, Nav 2010 2SS A6 - sold.

10-29-2009, 05:36 AM	#9
fbodyrs96 Drives: 1996 Camaro RS convertible Join Date: May 2009 Location: Calhoun GA Posts: 370	GU2 This is the standard axle ratio for an automatic Z28. The ratio is 2.73. With this axle ratio, you do not have 1st gear as a selectable option on your shift plate. This is due to federal noise pollution regulations GM had to conform to. Cars with RPO GU5 have 1st gear, because their 3.23 ratio made 1st gear impossible to select. Why? Because the speed was too high for a 3.23 Z28 to run in 1st gear, but not too high for a 2.73 Z28 to run. The 2.73 Z28s would be too loud (high in RPM) to pass the test in first gear, so GM had to restrict it. I don't remember the 4-speed automatic gear ratios off the top of my head, so I can't tell you what speed the test was testing, but I would "assume" it was 45 mph. 3.23 axle would likely cause the max speed in 1st to be closer to 40, while 2.73 would likely cause the max speed in 1st to be closer to 50. I need somebody to do the math... __________________ Borla_PRO_XS_Sound_Clip Cammed Open Headers Kris

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10-24-2009, 10:04 PM	#2
nemosgt Drives: 2006 Ford Mustang GT Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Toronto Ontario Posts: 74	You probably just can't select first gear with the lever. I'm pretty sure in "drive" the tranmission does go into first when you come to a stop or start out. Cheers.

10-26-2009, 12:57 PM	#3
PaycekZ28 Drives: Dly- '05 TSX Grg- '97 Z28 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 34	Yeah, just can't select 1st, wondering if anyone knew why Chevy did that. Thanks though.

10-26-2009, 03:52 PM	#4
Tim@HPE Drives: 4th Gen Camaro Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 19	You have 2.73 gears in the car. These cars only had 2,D,OD on the gear selector. The 3.23-geared autos have 1,2,D,OD. This was the "performance axle" option (code GU5 located on the sticker in the glovebox or on the inside of the door, depending on the year). Don't remember the code for the 2.73 off the top of my head. Not 100% sure, but I remember hearing there's some sort of block-off plate and all you have to do is pop off your center console cover, remove it and then you can manually select 1st.

10-26-2009, 04:11 PM	#6
nemosgt Drives: 2006 Ford Mustang GT Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Toronto Ontario Posts: 74	First gear is pretty steep. The average person might complain if they downshifted and found the car standing on its nose from the engine braking; whereas with the performance rear-end, enthusiasts wouldn't care. Try starting out with second selected; I bet you will get a one two/upshift. Cheers.

10-27-2009, 01:13 PM	#7
PaycekZ28 Drives: Dly- '05 TSX Grg- '97 Z28 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 34	Awesome! Thanks guys! Now I know...

10-27-2009, 01:28 PM	#8
S8ER01Z Drives: Camaro Z28 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: NC Posts: 447	The 1st gear selector is missing on 2.73 gear cars because they wouldn't pass a certain inspection (noise or emmissions I can't remember which)... the car would carry high rpms at the testing mph used and they had to prevent it. You can pop the center console selector off and file away the plastic tab that prevents the downshift from occuring (or find a center console from a 3.23 geared car).

10-29-2009, 10:43 AM	#11
PaycekZ28 Drives: Dly- '05 TSX Grg- '97 Z28 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 34	Sweeeet thanks man!

11-03-2009, 11:39 AM	#14
HorsePowerAddicts Drives: LSx Powered Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: 19804 Posts: 448	Holding it in first while driving around will just heat the trans up. Its best to leave the car in drive and have your shift points set to match your setup.