RE: Anything for sale? Gremlin gotcha's...

[adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Sandwich Maker)]

" From: Jerry Casper <gremlingts@xxxxxxxxx>
" 
" 
" 
" 
" Mechanical - Don't be surprised to NOT find a low
" mileage car, so expect some issues. Engines aren't a
" big problem, but automatic tranny parts are getting
" harder to find, my '70 Hornet was a bear to find a
" Torque converter for ( Hornet and Gremlin are almost
" identical mechanically ). It cost me in northern VA
" over $1,000 each to rebuild the Hornet trans, and a
" '79 Pacer auto trans. So be aware that it can get
" expensive and time-consuming for repairs and to find
" the parts. 

the pacer trans - and any '72-newer - shouldn't be that expensive to
fix.  it's a mopar torqueflite and there's nothing special about it
except the case.

"  Note - Yes, Gremlins got 4-speed transmissions,
" mostly after 76?, my orange '78 GT has one ( not the
" rusty blue Ohio car GT ). Some of the custom Gremlins
" did get 4-speeds. But expect either a 3 or 3
" w/Overdrive ( rare, too ), I think most 4-speeds are
" '77-78 year mostly. Also, I've HEARD the 4-speed is
" weaker and can break more than the old 3, but not sure
" how reliable that info is. 

very reliable.  the late-'70s 3 is a ford toploader, very strong.
the 4 is a warner sr4, not strong at all and meant for 4-cylinder
engines.

the sr4 can be replaced with a t4 or t5, some of which are respectably
strong, and with a little juggling of parts it's fairly easy.  the
t150 toploader 3sp can be directly replaced by a toploader 4sp, though
of course you have to use a floor shifter.  also a straight swap is a
late-'70s iron cased granada 4sp o/d, somewhat rare but not nearly as
much as the amc o/d.

early '70s: first 3sp was the warner t-96, adequate to marginal for
six, no synchro on 1st gear.  replaced by warner t-14 until '75/6,
full synchro, good for six, marginal for v8.  4sp t-10 may have been
optional for v8, very good.
________________________________________________________________________
Andrew Hay                                  the genius nature
internet rambler                            is to see what all have seen
adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                       and think what none thought