From a drivetrain perspective there are very limited gains to be had from going above five speeds.
Hhmm... but what about a driver perspective (comfort etc.) ?
- - - - - - -
I am the only Pole over here.
|
|
I don't think that increased frequency of gear shifts makes the drive more comfortable....
|
Engine would have a very narrow power band to benefit from 7 ratios. Bear in mind that a typical torque convertor has a variable conversion ratio spanning the range 1:1 - 2:1.
Chief impact of installing a 7-speed transmission will be to hit residual values - because these things will not be viably reapairable after about 4-5 years and the car will be scrapped if the ATX fails.
|
these things will not be viably reapairable after about 4-5 years and the car will be scrapped if the ATX fails.
4-5 years ... ? That's a blink of an eye for such a car.
- - - - - - -
I am the only Pole over here.
|
|
I mean that after 4-5 years the car will not be worth enough to justify a factory exchange 7-speed auto. I doubt that independents will be rebuilding these 'boxes.
|
Sounds like my idea of bliss, a nice car noone wants!
Autoboxes aren't that hard to rebuild - nice size, easy to undo bolts, just need a to be very well organised to remember how everything came out! And the parts are sure to be available from the USA (probably from WalMart, if not Transtec) I reckon too many people are scared of autoboxes by the exploded diagrams.
|
Sounds like my idea of bliss, a nice car noone wants! Autoboxes aren't that hard to rebuild - nice size, easy to undo bolts, just need a to be very well organised to remember how everything came out! And the parts are sure to be available from the USA (probably from WalMart, if not Transtec) I reckon too many people are scared of autoboxes by the exploded diagrams.
Ahem, there's a bit more to rebuilding an autobox than just remembering how the bits cam out (that would be quite a feat of memory on a modern auto!). Undoing bolts isn't a major factor in repairing these either. It takes a good deal of skill and experience to (a) diagnose the likely problem by driving the car before the box is stripped, and (b) identifying faulty parts once the box is in pieces. Have you ever actually had a valve body apart in front of you?
I've rebuilt a few simple boxes (A4LD, GM180, BW35 and a couple of 4HP14 and 4HP22's) and they worked OK afterwards, but I wouldn't want to tackle one of the latest 5+ speed 'boxes. I suspect these units with 6+ speeds are part of car makers 'transmission wars' - trying to catch sales.
|
|
|
Sounds like my idea of bliss, a nice car noone wants!
Well, it's a Merc you know... There's a new saying among the Germans which came up just recently: "Nothing breaks down like a brand new Mercedes-Benz".
- - - - - - -
I am the only Pole over here.
|
|
|
|
