Double clutch upshifts???

[C M Smith <cmsmith@domain.elided>]

For just about any emission controlled engine I would not recommend a 
double clutch upshift, the engine speed does not fall off fast enough to do 
any useful slowing of the transmission. In fact, I'd be surprised if double 
clutching the upshift on an unmodified street car (streetable that is, not 
a tram!), would do anything but wear the synchros faster.

If the transmission crunches on the upshift (which many ALFAs do, except 
for the 164!!!), you might be wiser to shift a bit slower, or consider 
slightly heavier transmission oil. I never found trying the double clutch 
upshift on my 82 GTV6 any help at all, the only thing that helped when the 
gearbox was thoroughly warmed up and started to scrunch a little was to 
throw in a slight delay in the shift and a firm two stage out of first and 
then into second.

  A delayed shift is not the same as a slow shift, it has been my 
experience that synchros do not respond well to slow engagement, they seem 
to need the firm pressure of a quick engagement, but any time you can give 
the gears to slow by hesitating in neutral will allow the gears to slow 
down that much more and lighten the load on the synchros. Also, with 
emission controlled engines it gives the throttle delay system time to 
disengage (most FI engines now just shut off the fuel on closing the 
throttle, but some of the older engines used dashpot type delays, crunch 
crunch!).

With apologies to all those racers out there who know all this.... and 
thanks to the Finn who responded to my query about the Selespeed 
blipping... I wish we could get this box, or even the car without the 
selespeed would be ok too! BTW, any of our Northern Euro correspondents 
have any experience with the Selespeed on slippery roads? In Canada, 
slipping the clutch and using higher gears are time honoured methods of 
"traction control" on ice and snow, how does the Selespeed deal with these 
problems?

Michael Smith
Calgary, Alberta
Canada
91 Alfa 164L, White, original owner

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