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Gears and Highway

  #1  
Old 01-23-2011, 09:08 AM
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Default Gears and Highway

Alright, I'm thinking about driving my car from Eky to panama Fl, I think its like 700 miles or so, and I just put 3.73's in my car over the summer, it works out really well on the country roads i live on.

However, while on the highway, to go 70 I'm at 2500RPM or more and it seems like thats revving pretty good for a long time. Is it possible that gears could hurt my engine for that long of a drive? I'd expect that it would like cause high heat, or wear out engine accessories quicker. Any input guys?
 
  #2  
Old 01-23-2011, 09:53 AM
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Your car is an automatic...correct? That seems like a lot of rpm's. Is that in overdrive?

I would drive it, once you kinda get out of the hills and on flat ground you can find a "sweet spot" (cruise speed) in the rpms and you'll be fine.
 
  #3  
Old 01-23-2011, 10:04 AM
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I cruise my 2 valve at 75 which is around 2800 on a couple 1k mile trips. I just monitored the oil consumption during fill-ups. Also, no oil consumption was noticed at all. I also drove from san diego to phoenix in 110-115* heat with A/C full blast at 75 MPH no issues.

Since you have the sixxer it may be different. Just keep a quart of oil in the car and check when you stop to eat and put gas in. Just keep an eye on the gauges and if things start to read higher then normal slow down to 65.

I have made a few cross-country drives with my mustang (supercharged) and I only broke down once and it was from a pulley shelling out its bearings. 2 hours later I was back on the road.
 
  #4  
Old 01-23-2011, 10:45 AM
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Yeah, its an auto. When I put the rear end in I seen on it 3.73, so its for sure a 3.73, unless u have to change the pinion to get a 4.10 ratio.

My speedo is off by like 10 - 15 mph. And yes 2500 in over drive. Before I put the rear end in, i was running 70 around 2000 - 2100 rpm.
 
  #5  
Old 01-23-2011, 10:50 AM
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Just do like stanger00 said and you'll be fine.
 
  #6  
Old 01-23-2011, 01:10 PM
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You'll be fine. I had 3:73s in my V6 which was auto and 2500 sounds normal. If anything I would recommend a trans cooler which is cheap and easy to plumb inline with the existing trans cooler. I used to drive a 350 round trip from home to college all the time without any problems.
 
  #7  
Old 01-27-2011, 03:42 AM
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Use 10w30 and your laughing...AMSOIL or red line should do the trick
 
  #8  
Old 01-27-2011, 09:16 AM
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It normal, at 70mph i am at 2500rpms...i too have 3.73 gears

My buddy with 4.10's @ 70mph, i think he is close to 3k rpms
 
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