Generally I shift at 2k, sometimes higher if I need to get moving in a hurry. I have a catback exhaust, paper air filter, tune up with plugs/wires/rotor/cap, castrol syntec blend oil, QS synthetic ATF, fresh gear oil in the rear end. I don't floor it to start off and I shift smart according to conidtions. Learned to drive stick from my dad, retired long haul trucker and have done a little semi driving myself.