Hi Dan and List:
I drive an MGB with overdrive. It is always a relief to me to engage the
OD and let the engine relax. I grew up driving mostly lazy, slow-revving
American engines. I have also owned one of nearly every kind of engine
ever put in a car and most motorcycles as well. I understand high-revving
power output and am not afraid to run a Honda at 10,000rpm or a Cadillac at
1,000. I appreciate the the sophistication of DOHC engines and own many.
I enjoy the growl of a big V8 and the scream of a tiny four. However, when
the time comes to point the nose down the highway for hours on end, I want
a quiet easy-revving engine with lots of torque and no fuss. An MGB in OD
and a Cadillac Eldorado have a lot in common in this respect. And has you
have said Dan, "If we worried about gas mileage we wouldn't drive MGs". I
would second that and add that gasoline is still the cheapest part of the
hobby.
John
>In a message dated 97-12-28 00:05:36 EST, jello@dns.ida.net writes:
>
>> This is not logical to me. With overdrive, you can use six different
>> speeds. They are 1, 2, 3, 3OD, 4, 4OD. I rather have the overdrive than a
>> 5 speed.
>
>Hi, Phil:
>
>Maybe it's just lack of experience on my part, but it's difficult to see the
>advantages of 6 speeds for everyday driving.
>
>> Also, I'm not sure, but I doubt that the friction loss in the OD
>> is a lot higher than in a 5th gearing mechanism.
>
>I quess we'll never know for sure, but I believe there is, considering there
>are more gears engaged with an OD, and especially considering the fairly high
>pressure pump involved.
>
>
>> I have overdrive on my
>> MGB, and I'll tell you what, I don't care if I am getting better mileage or
>> not, the car is so much more comfortable and quiet with overdrive I am very
>> happy to have it.
>
>I absolutely can't argue with that. As I said, I would like to have one
>myself, just for those reasons. If gas mileage were of primary concern, we
>wouldn't be driving an MG in the first place, we would be driving some sort of
>econo-box. Given that I don't know how to take advantage of 6 speeds, though,
>I would still prefer a 5 speed. Maybe if I ever actually had an OD, I might
>change my mind.
>
>> Anyhow, my highway speed limit is 75, and I've been known
>> to go much faster than that. Overdrive is a distinct advantage for the
>> drivability reguardless of the economy of it.
>
>Perhaps. I have 4 speeds in both my MGBGT and my TR6, and I drive them both
>long distances at speeds in the 75 - 85 MPH range, and I don't really have any
>complaints. At those speeds, the engine noise is pretty much lost in the wind
>noise anyway. Here in the hills of East Tennessee, you might find that you
>don't have enough power to drive much over 75 in OD. There are hills on I-75
>between here and Atlanta that my wife's Volvo won't pull in OD at 85 MPH - I
>have to shift into high to maintain speed.
>
>I have no objection at all to an OD, it's just that I don't think they are
>worth the hassle to install one if you don't already have one. Of course, that
>is a personal opinion, and others don't agree. Whether or not they give better
>gas milage is not opinion - either they do or they don't. I think they don't,
>others think they do. Maybe someone will do a valid test someday and settle it
>once and for all.
>
>Cheers
>
>Dan Masters,
>Alcoa, TN
>
>'71 TR6---------3000mile/year driver, fully restored
>'71 TR6---------undergoing full restoration and Ford 5.0 V8 insertion - see:
> http://www.sky.net/~boballen/mg/Masters/
>'74 MGBGT---3000mile/year driver, original condition
>'68 MGBGT---organ donor for the '74
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