Joined: Tue Mar 12 2013, 11:31AM
Location: Germany
Posts: 70
I also heard that I could fit some transmissions to my engine. But it's a bit difficult to find a really good one here and make it fit. I thought the GV would be a (pricey) bolt-on solution. @Rodger: So basically I should just change to a 3.2:1 ratio and stick with my transmission? That would be fine with me. I just thought that a 3.55 ratio would be THE ratio. What you said about the speed under 120 MPH remembers me about my first time with my newport on the autobahn.
I had to drive some kilometers and was driving slow to spare the engine and the car. But it got boring and annoying since everybody was overtaking me. So I stepped on the gas. I don't know how fast I was (the tach only shows 120mph) but you could feel that the car was not meant to go that fast. And the transmission had to be rebuilt because I was the first one to drive the car since 13 years...
But I don't want the car to be a highway car.
I like what you said (not only it saves 2700 bucks + taxes and customs).
Joined: Mon Oct 10 2005, 10:24AM
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 160
I've ran with 3.9 rearaxle gears and a A518 OD in my daily '73 Dart. Swapped to 3.55 gears somewhere last year and like them better with the OD. The rpm's were a tad more pleasant at highway driving.
My daily Dart doesn't have a torqy engine, just a low CR smog 318. With a bigblock you probably like the 3.23 gears on the highway, specially if you like to get up to speed.
Joined: Sat Aug 25 2007, 11:47AM
Location: new jersey
Posts: 367
3.23 axle ratio will not be comfortable for cruising above 120 kph. I swapped to a 2.76 and the town and country is much more comfortable above 120 kph.
Joined: Sat Aug 25 2007, 11:47AM
Location: new jersey
Posts: 367
3.23 axle ratio will not be comfortable for cruising above 120 kph. I swapped to a 2.76 and the town and country is much more comfortable above 120 kph.
Joined: Fri Aug 05 2011, 08:06PM
Location: Brisbane Australia
Posts: 132
Also note that gear vendors specifically state not to use the O/D under 30 MPH (apparently it will break fairly quickly), so the "6 Speed" concept is not really correct.
3.55 vs 3.23 - a tenth or 2 on the 1/4 mile and a heap more fuel, really only good with a large converter and a big cam - not highway cruising material with out the overdrive
I just went and looked at what Germans pay for fuel, 1.42 euro per litre for 95 octane (thats $5.20 a gallon in US$). How many miles do you plan to drive in a year? if its not many, it would take a long time make up the $$ on the fuel savings side, if you plan to drive it a lot then it may actually be worthwhile
Fuel is really cheap in the US (comparatively- im sure some of you will disagree), which makes some of the "it's not worth it" cries a little subjective , when i was there in 2010 it was in the $3.50-4.00/gal (CA, AZ & NV) and now its $2.30-$3, we are paying roughly $4 atm here in Oz and roughly $6-6.50 back in 2010
Joined: Mon Oct 10 2005, 10:24AM
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 160
If not for the increased mileage on long trips, the car will be much more fun to drive with 4 gears available. Heck, the lockup function of the transmission convertor almost made it feel like a 5-speed automatic.