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too much work for too little gain?
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Author:  bob fisher [ Wed Sep 10, 2008 7:10 am ]
Post subject:  too much work for too little gain?

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

Author:  rlklaus [ Wed Sep 10, 2008 8:45 am ]
Post subject: 

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.

Author:  Dart270 [ Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:24 am ]
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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

Author:  SlantSixDan [ Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:01 am ]
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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.

Author:  Doc [ Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:54 am ]
Post subject: 

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

Author:  SlantedSwinger [ Fri Sep 12, 2008 10:46 am ]
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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.

Author:  runvs_826 [ Fri Sep 12, 2008 7:58 pm ]
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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.

Author:  Wesola78 [ Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:11 am ]
Post subject: 

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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