Automatic Trans vs Stick
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,409
Likes: 4,214
From: Clayton MI
I think for the Dakotas, a rear with something better than 3.55 would be EXTREMELY rare.... other donor vehicles, I think the axle would be too wide.
Lots of folks sell torque converters.
Summit, Jegs, and any of the numerous 'trans shops' you find on the internet. I wouldn't go up too much over stock..... Maybe 2K stall max..... (stock I think is 1600-1800)
Lots of folks sell torque converters.
Summit, Jegs, and any of the numerous 'trans shops' you find on the internet. I wouldn't go up too much over stock..... Maybe 2K stall max..... (stock I think is 1600-1800)
Grand Champion
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 721
From: S.W. Indiana
Just for consideration, are there any bolt-in Dodge rears with a ratio greater than 3.5? I am not comfortable rebuilding a rear, I worked in a shop 10+ years, never had to do it. I've heard that even guys with some experience screw it up sometimes, especially setting the pinion depth.
On the torque converter, where would one find said torque converter with a higher stall speed?
I'd consider either option, getting older and grumpier with bad hips, bad back, and bad right shoulder. My 5-speed days are probably going to be in the rear view soon. It's a shame, the dingbat I bought it from actually told me it had a bad transmission and was slipping between 3rd and 4th/overdrive (I never got it past 15 mph on "test drive," he had no plates on it or insurance). Manual shift linkage was hopping around from bad front cab mounts and ripped engine mounts. Trans has not slipped on me once. Shifts so well I'm almost thinking it's been replaced at least once with 178,000 miles. Just a crappy design. For right this second though, I'm going to stop chasing ghosts. It is what it is.
On the torque converter, where would one find said torque converter with a higher stall speed?
I'd consider either option, getting older and grumpier with bad hips, bad back, and bad right shoulder. My 5-speed days are probably going to be in the rear view soon. It's a shame, the dingbat I bought it from actually told me it had a bad transmission and was slipping between 3rd and 4th/overdrive (I never got it past 15 mph on "test drive," he had no plates on it or insurance). Manual shift linkage was hopping around from bad front cab mounts and ripped engine mounts. Trans has not slipped on me once. Shifts so well I'm almost thinking it's been replaced at least once with 178,000 miles. Just a crappy design. For right this second though, I'm going to stop chasing ghosts. It is what it is.
Dakotas with the tow package sometimes had 3.73 gearing. 3.55 was the most common.
Grand Champion
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 721
From: S.W. Indiana
There were three ratios available from the factory. 3.55 was the most common, 3.73 was the R/T's and special order and 3.92 was available for towing. I had forgot about that one as I've never seen one. When you mentioned it, I remembered seeing it on the order form when I bought a new truck in '93.
10 years before that, there were all sorts of ratios.
Thread Starter
|
Rookie
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 61
Likes: 8
From: Pennsylvania
I was going to say, I feel really bad for all you guys with non-Magnum engines. I may try to keep my 92 y-pipe alive as long as humanly-possible, don't want to give up the 5 HP going to smaller exhaust. LOL.
Champion
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 4,737
Likes: 374
From: Northwest Louisiana
Well, I drove about 200 miles today at 18 MPG ... under 12 gallons.
Yesterday I did 325 at a bit less, but I was blowing down the road at 75-80MPH yesterday; most of today was 55 or 65 MPH speed limit.
RwP
Yesterday I did 325 at a bit less, but I was blowing down the road at 75-80MPH yesterday; most of today was 55 or 65 MPH speed limit.
RwP
Grand Champion
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,146
Likes: 721
From: S.W. Indiana
Sometimes, just a slight change will make a big difference. My daily driver is a Mazda, but fairly new. When I go to work, fighting commuter traffic I get 25-26 mpg. The same on the interstate. However, slower speeds on state roads, if I set the cruise at 60, I get 32-34 mpg. It has the same engine as the Miata but 25% more displacement.