RWD 4 door challenge

[roosterk0031]

1995 Chevrolet Impala SS (since mid-year 1994 for North America U.S.) specs review

"Cd estimated by a-c:
0.33"

Rated 33 mpg epa hwy at the time.

https://desmoines.craigslist.org/cto/5377140736.html

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by roosterk0031

1995 Chevrolet Impala SS (since mid-year 1994 for North America U.S.) specs review

"Cd estimated by a-c:
0.33"

Rated 33 mpg epa hwy at the time.

https://desmoines.craigslist.org/cto/5377140736.html

I don't think 33mpg, epa says original window sticker 25 but based on the current standard it would be 23.

[Hersbird]

When the Charger and the 300 got the 8 speed (2012) with the new pentstar 3.6 they were rated 31 mpg highway, before that with the 5 speed they were 27.

[roosterk0031]

I was kind of wondering if that was a miss print on that website, was just searching reviews for ratings and hadn't found any.

6 sp manual swap has already been done. This site list the CD at 0.36

Chevrolet Impala SS (1995)

The 4le60 has a .7 OD, T56 could bring that down to .5 with 3.08 stock gears. If I did the math right about 1160 rpm per mile.

Only 500 lbs heavier than a 2010 Impala that has a Cd of 0.33

[ksa8907]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

When the Charger and the 300 got the 8 speed (2012) with the new pentstar 3.6 they were rated 31 mpg highway, before that with the 5 speed they were 27.

have you driven one of those 8 speeds? horrible. To be fair, i drove one in a '15 RAM with the hemi, but my god, from 40mph put my foot on the floor and it took a good 1.5 to 2 seconds just to find a gear and move. And news about the 9 speed seems to be worse. yikes!

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by ksa8907

have you driven one of those 8 speeds? horrible. To be fair, i drove one in a '15 RAM with the hemi, but my god, from 40mph put my foot on the floor and it took a good 1.5 to 2 seconds just to find a gear and move. And news about the 9 speed seems to be worse. yikes!

Our van with the same motor (3.6) only has the 5 speed but when in "eco" mode drives most reviewers and hot rodders nuts. I personally think it's doing it's job, short shifting and keeping the motor in a better efficiency rpm and load. We can get 30mpg with our minivan at 65 steady. Less frontal area and better aero along with two extra gears I have no doubt will do better then 30. The 3.6 pentstar is a great motor. I can't wait to see how adding direction injection will improve it.

But to answer your question, I have not driven anything with the 8 speed yet. It's going in pretty much everything from Chrysler and a lot of exotics use so it can't be that bad. My bet it was more an issue with learning/programming and the electronic throttle then an inherent problem with the ZF 8HP transmission.

[svt98t]

Mid 90s Panther platform. Crown Vic or grand Marquis. Low Cd, 2.73 gears available, and tons of room!


-ryan s.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by svt98t

Mid 90s Panther platform. Crown Vic or grand Marquis. Low Cd, 2.73 gears available, and tons of room!

One of those with a 4.2L Essex V6 and a 5-speed manual transmission out of an F-150, and the 2.73 rear-end, might be great. And not likely to feel underpowered at all...

[ALS]

Four doors and decent fuel mileage over 30 mpgs, RWD then I have the car for you.

Find a 1993 - 1995 Volvo 940 and make sure it isn't a Turbo. Stock NA 940's would easily get 31-33 mpg on the highway. They have a 2.3 Liter four banger, four doors, automatic.

Stay away from the Turbo's (25 mpgs) and the six cylinder 960's they are real fuel hogs.

[crashnzuk]

Another decent candidate might be an AMC Hornet/Concord wagon. 4 doors and early ones were V8 so fitting a good drivetrain is a non issue.
Travis..