2 cents more. When faced with an axle replacement task, I installed a
3.9 in our 1966 Sprite with a 1098. It made a very nice difference. It
became much more enjoyable to drive, more opportunity to row through the
top 2 gears on twisty back roads. And highway driving is just a little
bit faster and less noisy.
Walt & Zoe Harrison wrote:
> Bill,
>
> Here's my two-cents ... the 3.9:1 ratio rear end is quite nice with a Sprite
> 1275cc
> engine and 4-speed web-case tranny. We've had one for years.
>
> It bolts right up to your existing rear-end and drive shalf, no major
> changes involved.
> It gives you higher cruising speed with less RPM, and better gas mileage.
> It pulls just
> fine from a start, not quite as quick as a 4.22:1, but then it seems we're
> shifting into
> second almost immediately anyway, so this may be a nit. I like the better
> range you
> have in second and third. Mileage-wise, our Sprite averages 30+ MPG running
> premium. The down-side? We cannot cruise 70+ MPH on the interstate for
> hours,
> but then that's no fun to start with, and we try to avoid it. As for
> justifying the expense,
> amoritize the cost over 40-60K miles, not 4K.
>
> FWIW, Walt
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