Re: Spirit 2.5 and...

[farna@xxxxxxx]

The 2.0L fours used a 3.58 rear gear in Hornets with an auto, the stick was lower! remember also that the 58-63 American will be more like a Jeep XJ than a Spirit frontal area wise. The fours in those use a 4.10 gear! I'm sure you will agree that may be a bit much, but I'd think 3.08 would be way low unless there is a low first gear or an auto trans is used. The 196s' big strength is super torque right off idle. With a little four you won't have that. The fellow I helped out had an old OD car, so the 4.11 rear axle. With the Pinto four speed it was great! First was a little on the low side, but not bad. Car wouldn't start in 2nd unless on a level or downgrade. Don't know for sure, but believe the SR-4 was geared the same in 2300 Pintos and AMC sixes. 3.08 should be good with something like a 904 trans though -- the torque converter has around 2.5:1 torque multiplication, which helps tremendously. A 3.31 or 3.55 gear should be good with a four or five speed, 3.08 only if firs!
 t in a five speed is a bit low. If to high a gear mileage will go down from having to work the engine to much to get the car moving. At least average mileage. Interstate driving might go up, but unless you have long commutes wihtout many stops and starts it won't help much. 

On November 28, 2005 andrew hay wrote:

> i don't think so!  iirc 4-cyl spirits were geared 3.08, for mileage.
> i'd stick to that in the american, if mileage is the objective.
> 
> remember, that 'little' 4 is more than 3/4 the displacement of the 196.
> 
> " From: farna@xxxxxxx
> "
> " I was actually close enough to a book to reach over and look this morning!
> " 63 American two door sedan - 2472-2556 pounds (hard top was 2550)
> " 82 Spirit hatchback - 2588-2666 pounds
> 
> do you have a breakdown for the '79 or '80 spirit with both 151" 4
> and 232/258" 6?  that would give a good indication of the weight
> difference of the engines.  the heavyweight [pre-'81] 199/232/258
> weighs within a few lbs of the old 196; they use the same front
> springs in the '65 american and i'm sure the '64 classic too.
> 196 vs. 232 shipping weight in the '65 american was also close.
> ________________________________________________________________________
> Andrew Hay                                  the genius nature
> internet rambler                            is to see what all have seen
> adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx                       and think what none thought


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