I think you just have to get used to the increased noise levels of a vintage
engine. You are shifting way too early for maximum performance. You are not
straining your engine at 4000rpm. In fact, you are just getting into the
power band at 3500rpm. It is true that the output starts trailing off around
5000rpm, so there is no point in holding it in gear unless you are going for
maximum acceleration. Once you are up to cruise, say 65mph, you can shift
into OD and watch the revs drop. But even before I put the OD in my B, I
could cruise at 80mph through the CA Central Valley in summer, with a very
tired engine.
But it sounds as if you got used to watching the "shift light" in the
Mirage, which of course is calibrated for fuel economy and emissions, not
performance. It would probably benefit from higher revs, as well. IMHO...
on 6/14/01 2:59 AM, Plant, Keith Contractor (NSAGAETA 60) at
PlantK@nsa.naples.navy.mil wrote:
> I'm usually a silent list reader, but let me throw my hat into the ring. I
> purchased my first MGB ('69) in November of last year. Tach'o yellows at
> 5500 and reds at 6000 rpm. The car has overdrive. My question is this...
> When I'm driving, I usually change gears at about 3000, maybe 3500 rpm as
> this is when it sounds as if it's beginning to strain the engine. In my '97
> Mitsubishi Mirage, it's about the same, maybe 4000 tops. The problem is
> that by the time I'm in 4th gear at 3500 rpm, I'm only cruising at about
> 40-50 miles an hour. If get the rpm up to 4500, the engine sounds like it's
> really straining and I only just break 55-if I'm lucky with tail winds, 60.
> This happened both before and after I had the engine converted from leaded
> to unleaded and rebuilt.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Keith
> '69 B enjoying Coastal Italy
>
--
Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
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