Seventh Gear!

[Big Dave]

I wondered when a competitive Dodge Cummins guy would show up, even though they are limited in MPG by that lawn-sprinkler injection they have.

On other forums, Dodge and Chevy guys tell me how much better MPG Cummins and Duramaxes get. My answer is always the same: Road trip!

Cricket city.

That Cummins should be able to hack 870 RPM @ 40 MPH, one would think.

[bhazard]

I wish I could do something similar for my festiva. It has a ridiculous power to weight ratio now and I can cruise along in 5th at 25mph and 1000 rpm and still pull up to 55mph in no time. 55 is about 2300rpm. I even swapped out the .8 5th for a .71 5th and theres still plenty of rpm and cruise. I bet it could easily chug along at 1500rpm without a problem. Theres only one taller 5th gear for the g25mr and its a .68, from the diesel mazdas that were never sold here. and .68 might drop me what, 100 rpms? Not much improvement. I dont think theres any 6 speeds that would bolt up to the B-series engine and even then the g25mr is a tight squeeze in a festiva, I cant imagine anything bigger.

[IsaacCarlson]

I find myself trying to shift into a nonexistent 6th gear on the road. I am not sure what my revs are in 5th but they sound too high for my liking. But they might sound that way because I cut the exhaust off under the cab.....

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

I wondered when a competitive Dodge Cummins guy would show up, even though they are limited in MPG by that lawn-sprinkler injection they have.

Yeah, and we share that CP3 with the Maxipads.


On other forums, Dodge and Chevy guys tell me how much better MPG Cummins and Duramaxes get. My answer is always the same: Road trip!

You come on down here, and we can run US 59 from Houston to Laredo and back. Only a few towns to stop in on an otherwise divided 4-laner most of the way. Light commercial traffic (but also known as America's Drug Importation Highway). I'll grant it'd be fun: 13-hrs drive time, dark to dark, about 630-miles. Hot, but with some humidity. A good test. Predominant wind shift at a known point. My completely stock truck against a modified Ford. Handicap sounds about right.


That Cummins should be able to hack 870 RPM @ 40 MPH, one would think.

Man, I'd never even thought about trying that. I'm pretty uncomfortable at anything under 1,100-rpm. The gearing is such, however, that in Direct (5th of 6 gears) 45-47 mph sure would be interesting.

So what's that thing show on a ticket from a certified scale? I was reading some foolishness on a Fordbord one day where the participants were trying to justify their heavier-than-the-competition trucks would therefore be able to "better handle trailer sway". After I stopped laughing I went back to searching to see what those trucks benefitted by in re mpg (after reading your posts on here).

I find these trucks pretty insensitive to the first 1,000-lbs payload (given a highway run) but I didn't search long enough to see what your brand was reporting.

(As a one-time train driver you'd appreciate seeing Laredo. Might be a little slower these days, but the traffic volume -- out in the middle of nowhere -- is impressive. Not quite the Bailey Yard in Platte, but impressive in its own way).

.

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

I wondered when a competitive Dodge Cummins guy would show up, even though they are limited in MPG by that lawn-sprinkler injection they have.

Yeah, and we share that CP3 with the Maxipads.


On other forums, Dodge and Chevy guys tell me how much better MPG Cummins and Duramaxes get. My answer is always the same: Road trip!

You come on down here, and we can run US 59 from Houston to Laredo and back. Only a few towns to stop in on an otherwise divided 4-laner most of the way. Light commercial traffic (but also known as America's Drug Importation Highway). I'll grant it'd be fun: 13-hrs drive time, dark to dark, about 630-miles. Hot, but with some humidity. A good test. Predominant wind shift at a known point. My completely stock truck against a modified Ford. Handicap sounds about right.


That Cummins should be able to hack 870 RPM @ 40 MPH, one would think.

Man, I'd never even thought about trying that. I'm pretty uncomfortable at anything under 1,100-rpm. The gearing is such, however, that in Direct (5th of 6 gears) 45-47 mph sure would be interesting.

So what's that thing show on a ticket from a certified scale? I was reading some foolishness on a Fordbord one day where the participants were trying to justify their heavier-than-the-competition trucks would therefore be able to "better handle trailer sway". After I stopped laughing I went back to searching to see what those trucks benefitted by in re mpg (after reading your posts on here).

I find these trucks pretty insensitive to the first 1,000-lbs payload (given a highway run) but I didn't search long enough to see what your brand was reporting.

(As a one-time train driver you'd appreciate seeing Laredo. Might be a little slower these days, but the traffic volume -- out in the middle of nowhere -- is impressive. Not quite the Bailey Yard in Platte, but in its own way).

.

[Big Dave]

Maybe we can work something out. I've been wanting to come to TX to talk aerodynamics with the guru.

I'm like you. The first 1,000 lb doesn't seem to matter very much. To me the classic pickup load is a load of 4x8s up the the bed rail.

[IsaacCarlson]

I think a truck should be able to be loaded full of wood or dirt and still be ok. I know that is a tall order but why put a bed on a truck if you can't fill it? My cousin has a ranger and you can get about 300 lbs in it and it squats. SAD.

[Frank Lee]

Springs must be shot. That does happen sometimes.

[IsaacCarlson]

It was like that when it was new. Maybe add a leaf.

[Frank Lee]

Rangers don't squat with only 300 lbs in the back. I know that for a fact; I have one. Moon Unit barely squats with 300 lbs on the trailer hitch tongue.