Hi Andrew,
This may well be the most talked about topic. I think it's the one that
causes the most introspection about the owner's use of the car, peace of
mind, modification of a well-designed automobile, plus assorted other
factors. I know that I worried about making the change of ratios for
several years before doing it.
In my case, it came down to a matter of perceived survival of engine
and rear 1/4 of the TD. One thinks of CT as being a state of back roads.
That's a perception only partly true. Along the coast, there are no good
ways to get east or west except by using Interstate 95. Though that is
the name of the road, the condition of driver literacy is such that
drivers of normal cars, sport utes and 80,000 lb (rated, though invaribly
overloaded) semi trailers believe the speed limit to be 95. There is so
much traffic on the roads at all hours that one simply doesn't have the
option to drive 55 in the slow lane. Doing that gets you passed by cars
driving the the breakdown lane. One does get to admire the variety of arm
and hand gestures that have been developed in New England.
The alternative to I-95 is the old Boston Post Road, that runs pretty
much as it did in pre-revolutionary times, though traffic may be slower
today than then because of the stoplights. E - W trips of more than 30
miles or so just require that one drive on I-95 rather than the Boston
Post Rd. ]
The ratio change actually works out quite well. Since one shifts out
of first gear at about 5 mph with standard gearing, it's now more useful.
Second and third are as versatile as ever. The engine has sufficient
torque to push the car around town happily. Fourth is engaged at 40-45 or
so. Having had the 4.1 gears for three years now, I think that they
have made it possible for me to get more use of the car than I could have
had otherwise, participate in more club events, travel to tech sessions
and to enjoy the driving (rather than dreading it) when forced to use the
interstate.
Bob
On Fri, 14 Jan 2000 22:09:56 -0500 (EST) Andrew Moyce <amoyce@pol.net>
writes:
> In the few years I've been following this list, rear end ratios and
> highway speeds has probably been the most talked about topic.
> Comments seem to fall into two schools... one (either large or
> particluarly vocal) group that favors tall rear end ratios and high
> highway speeds, and the other group (to which I belong) which sees
> highway travel as a necessary evil. I'm most comfortable in my car
> on
> a winding country road traveling 40 miles an hour. When a freeway
> run
> is unavoidable, 55 miles in the right lane (which is under 3500 rpm
> with my T. F. rear end) is tolerable, and in my rationalization,
> reasonably safe. I keep plenty of distance from the car in front of
>
> me, and ignore the temptation to compete with modern cars at modern
> speeds. I have another car for that, and if I'm really in a hurry
> that's what I'll use.
> I drive a TD with a rebuilt and somewhat modified engine. The car
> is
> at peace with itself with the current rear end ratio. I do
> sometimes
> find myself reaching for fifth gear, but I think that is
> conditioning
> from my everyday car.
>
> Andy Moyce
> 52 TD
>
>
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