Excellent analysis, Bill! I don't know how to do it, but it should be possible to set up the transmission to downshift at a higher speed. I know in my particular case I downshift to second and full throttle upshift to third at the same speed, about 78 mph. With 225/70/15 tires using your calcs that suggests an engine speed of 4479 rpm. That's lower than I thought (maybe my 2nd gear ratio is higher than 1.45?), but I know its good for my motor as previously it had been downshifting even at 85 mph and at that speed I had no power and the motor felt like it was overrevving. Anyway, my mechanic adjusted it so over 78 mph it doesn't downshift so it seems to me it should be possible to adjust it in the other direction too. Steve Galezowski 300L ----- Original Message ----- From: "William Huff" <whuff@xxxx> To: <Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Cc: <classiccars64@xxxx> Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2003 1:18 AM Subject: [Chrysler300] torqueflite trans. > Even though the transmission may not automatically downshift into second as > a passing gear, if you are still within the torque and HP range of your > engine, it is usually possible to manually downshift. At 60-70 MPH I would > think that at full throttle you could still down shift without over revving > the engine. I would use full throttle to avoid a severe jolt from the > mismatch in engine and transmission output speed. I threw together some > real rough and ready figures using a lot of assumptions to see what might > have happened if the tranny did downshift or if you manually did so. > > I know post '62 727 aluminum torqueflites use a final drive ratio of > 1.00:1 and a second gear ratio of 1.45:1. I can't find the gear ratios for > the cast iron torqueflite, but the second gear is probably very close to > that of the later tranny. If we assume two different tires for a > comparison, 235R75 x 15 and 225R70 x 15 we find the 235-75 series has a > diameter of about 28.9" and the 225-70 series a diameter of about 27.4". > > Assuming a rear end ration of 3.23:1, at 70 MPH and in third gear, the > engine would be turning 2638 RPM with the 235 tires and 2773 RPM with the > 225 tires. > > A downshift to second at 70 MPH with a 1.45 second gear ratio would lead to > 3825 RPM with the 235 tires and 4020 RPM with the 225 tires. I believe the > standard 413 in the "F" developed 375 HP at 5000 RPM and the higher > performance engine developed 400 HP at 5,200 RPM. It appears to me as > though the engine would not be over revving. > > Since maximum torque develops at 2800 for the 375 HP engine and at 3600 RPM > for the 400 HP engine, looks like you were sort of caught right in the > middle, beyond the torque band and not really in the HP range for the > standard 375 HP engine. I sort of feel that if you have the 400 HP > engine, it must have been an unusually fast car to pass on by like that. > > Next time, slip it into second right when you think something exciting > might develop and be sure to start accelerating earlier. You have to have > a MUCH faster car to overcome the momentum gathered by a long head > start. It is easy for another car to be going 20 MPH or more faster than > you when they come even, if you wait till they are almost there to > accelerate,...well, you know. > > If you do want to manually bring the engine to it's peak, I recommend an > accurate tachometer, new valve springs are quite helpful as well. > > That's my Monday morning quarterback take on the situation from a few > thousand miles away. > > Regards, > > Bill Huff > > > > > > > I believe it depends on how the transmission is set up which in turn depends > on your motor's torque curve & rpm capability and your axle ratio. If you > have a stock 413 with a 3.23? rear gear, then you wouldn't want it to > downshift over 70 mph or you are likely to over rev the motor. > > Steve Galezowski > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "thomas powers" <classiccars64@xxxx> > To: <chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2003 9:07 PM > Subject: [Chrysler300] torqueflite trans. > > > > > > Hello. > > I have a question what speeds can a torqueflite transmission > downshift > > cause i was going 60 or 70 m.p.h. in my 60 300F and a car tried to pass > me > > when he was way back to start with then i hit the gas and it would not > > downshift so i could get ahead and the car eventually got right by me and > > passed me.But it would not have happened if the transmission would have > went > > into passing gear whats wrong thank you tom. > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* > > > > > To send a message to this group, send an email to: > Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > For list server instructions, go to http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > Chrysler300-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > Your use of Yahoo! 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