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I had to post this picture taken this afternoon (Saturday) in sunny Myrtle Beach, SC. The 86 245 is taking number 7 home since I first posed the question about whether this was possible about a year and a half ago. This trip is only about 8 hours round trip, and the little $150 Honda rode very well. The fuel economy towing at 60 mph was still around 20+ mpg. Under load, the tranny (modified two years ago so the OD operates as a fourth gear) shifted out of OD at 58 mph and back up at about 63 mph with the cruise set at 60 mph. The engine temp stayed at 190F under load and 180F at idle and the oil pressure at speed was 55 psi.
Regards,
--
Will Dallas, www.willdallas.us, www.willdallas.org, www.willdallas.com 86 245 DL 222K miles, 93 940 260K miles, 88 765 GLE 152K miles.
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posted by
someone claiming to be gillian
on
Wed May 3 20:35 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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That's a nice coffin you got for your daughter! My girlfriend had the same exact car, a 91 civic dx hatchback, when she was involved in an accident about a month ago. Basically she was hit and run by someone who pulled thier linconn into traffic while tring to get into the opposing lane. So the lincooln driver pretty mushed parked her lincoln infront of the girlfriend's honda. The honda, same as the one you have pictured, was travelling 35 mph tops. This is in a historic part of town where the lanes are narrow and you'd never want to go any faster anyhow. Well the lincoln fared okay may need a new door and some paint. The honda was SMASHED-IN almost all the way to the firewall. Most of the glass was cracked. Needless to say my girlfriend had to go to the hospital and will endure six months of rehab, chiropractors, and all the other stuff that goes along with neck and sternum injuries. It completely frightened her. As soon as the insurance check came in, we went to my indy mechanic and purchased a totally pampered Volvo 850GLT. Had this accident been in my 240 sedan with the commando bumpers the outcome would be very, very different.
I CAN GUARANTEE YOU YOUR DAUGHTER WILL GET INTO AN ACCIDENT! It's just a matter of time, the question is how severe will it be and how much are you willing to gamble that she'll be ok.
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Please explain what you meant when you said the transmission was 'modified so that the OD operates as a fourth gear'.
I think that's a 'given' in a normal transmission, in that the OD does act as a 4th gear.
[Most owners don't know that that their top gear is an overdrive gear (unless their model year has it's light showing "OD" instead of a simple 'up arrow') -- they just figure that their transmission has four forward gears (if they even know that much).]
So in what way does your transmission function differently?
I don't mean to pry, but your remark merely made me very curious....
Thanks.
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posted by
someone claiming to be sorenson-jr
on
Sun Apr 30 06:10 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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[Most owners don't know that that their top gear is an overdrive gear...
Do we know what the final drive ratio of an AW-7x in 4th is?
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Sure, and for all the gears -- all the owner has to do is read their owners manual (in the glovebox?).
For example, on pg 113 of the '93 model year's owners manual:
1st, 2.45:1
2nd, 1.45:1
3rd, 1:1
Overdrive, 0.69:1
Reverse, 2.22:1
Real Axle, 3.73:1
And note that the manual says "Overdrive", not "4th gear", again informing the owner who bothers to read it, even if they don't understand that a radio of less than 1:1 is an overdrive.
So to answer, "...Do we know what the final drive ratio of an AW-7x in 4th is?...", if we allow a little bit for torque converter slippage, it is (0.69 x 3.73 =) 2.57:1
Easy question!
BTW, my manual also lists the ratios of the M47 II 5-speed manual transmission -- we wouldn't have to allow for T.C. slippage for that :-).
Regards,
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It certainly is funny to watch you folks pissing on each other's fences, kind of like watching little dogs mark territory. Good thing you don't live close to one other.
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Will Dallas, www.willdallas.us, www.willdallas.org, www.willdallas.com 86 245 DL 222K miles, 93 940 260K miles, 88 765 GLE 152K miles.
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posted by
someone claiming to be sorenson-jr
on
Mon May 1 09:38 CST 2006 [ RELATED]
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I really didn't know it was as easy as looking in the owner's manual, but I did know Ken would have the info handy if anyone did. We should call him Professor Volvo, but someone has already claimed that nickname. Cute about the little dogs, though; squirt squirt. I take it you're a big (hairy) dog man.
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My Dog is "Big Harry". He is full blooded, non-nuetered Malamute that likes to piss on everybody's fence too. Most of the neighborhood mutts roll over when Harry strolls into the yard. You can learn a lot about life watching dogs.
Regards,
--
Will Dallas, www.willdallas.us, www.willdallas.org, www.willdallas.com 86 245 DL 222K miles, 93 940 260K miles, 88 765 GLE 152K miles.
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Ken,
I think he means he "neutered" the solenoid to eliminate the electrical control.
This seems to work for those who "live mainly on the plain" (per Art B.), but forfeits the abilty to downshift, other than by pedal-to-the metal kick-down.
Personally, I prefer it as it was designed, having had no solenoid problems and just one relay failure in about 18 car-years with AW 70 and 71.
--
Bruce Young
'93 940-NA (current), 240s (one V8), 140s, 122s, since '63.
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I completely agree with you -- I wouldn't dream of getting rid of the "button" feature -- it (despite its failure rate liability) is one of my favorite features of the AW. Especially when I'm towing one of my boats, when I keep it in 3rd except for long downhill slopes!
And while some might disagree, I'm of the opinion that the more one uses it (as I do), the less likely it is to fail. There's a lot to argue about "metal fatigue", but I've only encountered system problems twice in my cars -- both times when I've first bought the (used) cars, and they obviously weren't "exercised". Once was a bad switch, which (instead of replacing) I squirted with electronic contract cleaner and reinstalled, and another with a bad relay (which I replaced, rather than resoldered). I think that using it often keeps the contacts cleaner (though no evidence except my own anecdote to back it up). Since then, I've put (120K, 130K, 50K, and 20K =) 320,000 miles on four AW7x cars -- an '83, '84, and two '93 240s -- without any system failure. And I use the "button" a lot -- I like higher revs, and I use it in town traffic as well as on highways (to pass fast and then pull over -- never liked being a "Left-lane Dick" -- as well as for steep grades).
Editorial: Fact is, I think that button is far better than the new Volvos "manual" feature (i.e., push one way for upshift and the other way for downshift). I get to drive them as loaners (formerly S40s, but I've lately asked for S60s because the visibility inside S40s is awful) and just can't get used to it. The 4th (OD) to 3rd shift on AW7xs is most useful for 98% of the time and it's available at my finger (or thumb) tip -- if I want to hold in or limit to 2nd (in stop and go traffic) I can pull the shifter into 2, and I've still got 1-2 and 2-1 under automatic operation (again, convenient for stop and go traffic). The new Volvo's automatics remove any automatic shifting when you push it over into "manual" mode, so in traffic you have to keep "paddling" to do 1-2 and 2-1 shifts. Just my own humble opinion, or rather my preference! :-)
Regards,
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Hello Bruce and Ken,
I actually drive this mostly in the foothills and mountains of North Carolina and South Carolina. The tranny is very responsive to light pedal pressure (or cruise control input) so doesn't have to floor boarded to shift into the next lowest gear. The 245 has a 3.9:1 rear ratio so the OD select function is not missed, however, I would not recommend modifying the solenoid on the cars with the taller gears since they seem to get better mileage below 60 mph with the OD turned off.
Regards,
--
Will Dallas, www.willdallas.us, www.willdallas.org, www.willdallas.com 86 245 DL 222K miles, 93 940 260K miles, 88 765 GLE 152K miles.
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