Gear change.....lower?????

[PaleMelanesian]

Here. Have a picture. Lower rpm is better for mpg.

Edit for better version.

[RobertISaar]

that graph feels like it has too many axis(axii?).

anyways, i have spent a lot of time with a 92 2.3/5 speed/2WD/3.45 ranger....

it pulls itself along in 5th as low as 40MPH without too much complaint from the engine and will accelerate(slowly) as long as you're not going up too much of an angle. sitting at 55, i feel like i could grab an extra gear if there were one, i want to say the engine is sitting around 2000RPM at that point. at 70, it's super buzzy and definitely could use a 6th gear. i wouldn't want to go with numerically higher gearing, or else you'll be moving yourself even further away from the torque peak.

[user removed]

On my 97 Ranger.

rear tire diameter 24.75 inches
multiply by PI 3.1416
77.75 inches per revolution
divide by 12 to get feet
6.479 feet
divide 1 mile by 6.479 feet
815 revolutions per mile

.75 over drive 5th gear times the rear axle ratio
2.5875 overall final drive ratio in 5th.

815 revs per mile X 2.5875 revs of the engine per rev of the rear wheel.

2109 RPM at 60 MPH.

regards
Mech

[PaleMelanesian]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

Here. Have a picture. Lower rpm is better for mpg.

Originally Posted by RobertISaar

that graph feels like it has too many axis(axii?).

Here's a version that may help.

[RobertISaar]

much better, having the colors similar/combined confused me for a few seconds and i look at charts/graphs for probably a solid hour a day. i do have a touch of color seperation/blindness though.

[OKXXFE]

My '86 MG half-ton has a 3.08 and the "granny low" 4spd. When I drove it everyday it would do ~16-18mpg highway and ONCE it got 30 in-town. That once was with a nearly empty tank (and I knew it) driving TO the gas pump about 15mi away. I did the speed limit in town always but was never in a hurry to get up to speed, highway I kept it @60.
Wish it had OverDrive!

[darcane]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

They will also tell you you need a 9" rear end. Ignore them.

The 9" probably isn't the right choice for what the gearheads are doing either...

[hat_man]

Picking up the 3:45 in about a week. He says he also has a 3:27??? Never heard of that one. Probably too high a gear for the little stock 4 cyl. But in the interest of learning (and I think I already know the answer), is the 3:27 too tall? I'm staying with the 3:45 anyhow because I still drive in town sometimes and with something that tall (3:27) I'm pretty sure the gains on the highway would be lost in town.

[PaleMelanesian]

You have a manual. If it's too tall, you can always run a gear lower.