hi sages- some times one asks a question to which they already intuitively suspect the answer. heres mine. bet advisors, dan, di maybe even the doctor will discourage me. one wisequy told me i had too much time on my hands(felt like backing the feather duster over him). here goes- have a stripped model sl6 80 volare wagon which i am making minor improvements to to be a daily driver. it is really in good condition for an old tank. it has a factory 3 spd floorshift and an 8.25 3.2 rear. seems to get about 18- 20 mpg. been thinking of looking for an 8.25 or 7.25 rear with a 2.94 gear from a volare/aspen. would be an easy and cheap swap. wagon is used for around town and suburban driving. figuring the 2.94 gear would be better on mpg without a big loss in low end acceleration. the 2.94s ought to be more common in yards since they went in automatic f bodies. never saw a 2.94 in a stickshift f body. let me know what you think. bob f

Might think about going the overdrive 4 speed route. You would keep to low end pull, and have a long fourth gear for the freeway. With your Volare being a stick already it should be an easy conversion.

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66 Valiant, 225.
84 Van, 225.
71 Maxi-Van, 318
60 Valiant wagon, 225
87 Maxi-Van, 318 4spd

My guess is you would not get any better mileage with 2.94 vs. 3.23 for around town and suburban driving - maybe worse.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

My vote would be for keeping the 3.2 rear axle. Whatever tiny gain might be made in fuel economy would be more than lost in reduced clutch life.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Another vote for keeping the 3.21 and installing the 833 4-speed overdrive trans. that will give you the same start-off ratio but a ultra-high OD gear. (in the 2.4X range)

For and "quick and easy" test, swap-on a set of really tall rear tires.
DD

My Dad had a '78 Volare wagon back in the day and it came with the /6 A833 four on the floor from the factory (I don't know what gears it had) . He got around 26MPG under normal driving so since you already have the pedals and are set up for a stick I would by all means add overdrive and keep your rear gears the same.

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Real cars don't spin their front wheels, they lift them!

I immedialey put in a A-833od into my Duster in the first month of driving it after paint. The gas mileage seem to be better with lower gears due to easier driving. I would keep the 3.23 or whatever as that seems to be a good power/economy number and put in an overdrive.

I have a '78 Volare 2-door with a 225 /6 and auto trans. A few years ago, I swapped in an 8 & 1/4 diff from a Diplomat cop car. I also had 3:55 gears installed from Rand's Ring and Pinion. I can't go as fast on the highway, but around town fuel mileage seems better, and acceleration is improved as well. I vote for keeping the rear gears as they are, and swapping in an O.D. 4 speed.
My little 'ol 2 cents...

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"Ja, Ich fahre ein altes auto."
'78 Volare 225
'67 Charger 318