caravan transfer gears

[arcosine]

I have a 2007 town and country with a 3.3 v6. I got transfer gears from a 3.8 in the junk yard. I will swap them, the 47/49 to 50/46. Overall top gear ratio will be from 2.49 to 2.2. Will shift to OD at 51 mph, now shifts at 45 mph. Will be 1800 rpm at 65 mph, now at 2050 rpm, hwy mpg should increase from 25 to 26.5.


...Taken from the ATSG Chrysler A604(41TE) Update Handbook (1999)

[ksa8907]

I nearly dod the same thing with an intrepid. Apparently, you could install those gears backwards and get a big overdrive, though I never actually did it.

[arcosine]

Installing the gears backward would reverse the thrust, not sure of the outcome. The Intrepid uses the 42TE transmission, a longitudinal layout that does not use these transfer gears, it uses a chain and sprockets.

[arcosine]

Well I took the cover off, and it already has 50/46 gears. So it must have a higher final drive than the 3.8 or the same, maybe the transmission was replaced. Maybe the above table is only good up to 1999. So Im letting the fluid drip out before sealing it back up. I'll check the rpm in OD, TC locked up and post what the final drive ratio is after calculating.

[Hersbird]

I wonder how much you could get with taller tires.

Probably all of this would be easier to just shop for a 2011 with the 3.6 and 6 speed. We have one and can pretty easily get 30 mpg at those speeds

[ksa8907]

Originally Posted by arcosine

Installing the gears backward would reverse the thrust, not sure of the outcome. The Intrepid uses the 42TE transmission, a longitudinal layout that does not use these transfer gears, it uses a chain and sprockets.

42LE, but yes. The picture of the cover and gears looked awfully familiar. What I meant by backwards is, input gear on output shaft and output gear on input shaft. It was possible on the 42LE, not sure about your 41TE.

Good luck.

[arcosine]

transfer gear set was only $20.

[Hersbird]

I noticed on fueleconomy.gov the 1999 3.3 Grand Caravan is rated 16/22/18 and the 2007 3.3 Grand Caravan is rated 17/24/20. I wonder if that simple change was a big part of the gain.

[arcosine]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

I noticed on fueleconomy.gov the 1999 3.3 Grand Caravan is rated 16/22/18 and the 2007 3.3 Grand Caravan is rated 17/24/20. I wonder if that simple change was a big part of the gain.

I think the piston skirts are coated on 2001+ engines...

Piston Coating : Advantages

[Fat Charlie]

Differences in software and transmission innards. The 01-07 minivan was much better overall than the previous generation.