In a message dated 97-09-16 16:34:42 EDT, GDWF22A(at)prodigy.com writes:
>The series three came here with the 3.89 in all cars. This soon
>proved to be a poor choice. The III was indeed a nice car in OD when
>running at engine speeds over 3000-3500rpm but of course so much of
>common driving has to be done at much lower mph, it was found that
>drivers were simply staying in OD when they slowed way down...
>leading to engine lugging and general rotten performance. For the
>series IV they reverted back to the 4.22 gears when fitting OD and
>continued this ratio with the series V.
>I trust this makes clear why we warn about using the 3.89 gears with
>OD. You can avoid all the above troubles and predictions of troubles
>by doing one of the following:
>Don't use OD
>Don't use OD below 3000 engine rpm
>Install the factory 4.22 gear set in your rear axle.
It sounds like you're saying that the 3.89's w/OD are fine if you simply
drive intelligently and use the OD where's its really needed - on the
freeway.
Dick Sanders
P.S. I wonder if the adoption of the much-maligned Solex carb on Series
III's had something to do with the subsequent reversion to using 4.22's w/OD.
Its also interesting that Rootes then switched to using ONLY 4.22's from
late Series IV thru the first 10,000+ Series V's before once again returning
to the 3.89 / 4.22 OD combo.
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