[DeTomaso] 4.22 vs 3.2 Final Drive

[David in Durango]

hi kids,

I've had this conversation a few times with other members of the list . . . .

Lloyd's gear toy is pretty neat, but like Dan I like to see information that is not shown on the RBT calculator
http://www.rbttrans.com/Gear%20Ratio/page1.php 

I prefer the spreadsheet on Pantera Place, my quoted values are from that.

4.22 final drive: 1000 rpm in 1st gear = 8 mph  1000 rpm in 2nd gear = 12 mph  2500rpm in fifth = 64 mph

3.2 final drive: 1000 rpm in 1st gear = 11mph.  2500rpm in 5th = 84

During the years I have been contemplating this change I have "practiced" by driving around town using 2nd gear starts and find it very usable.  If I my Pantera time were spent parked at a car show or doing smokey burnouts at the Sonic I'm sure my decision would be quite different.

The closest major city to me is 212 miles.  With about 1000 rpm difference at cruising speeds the 4.22 car will turn about 210,000 more revolutions! (one way).

Look at it another way, at 166mph the 4.22 equipped car will be out of revs while the 3.2 car will be shifing into 5th gear.

Admittedly, what is a 3rd gear corner in the 4.22 car will be a 2nd gear corner in the 3.2 car - hardly a crippling change!

In response to: "watched one of Larry's clutches literally go up in smoke rounding a 
15 mph hairpin uphill turn in 1st gear, right in front of me--explosion of 
fiber particles and smoke out of the opening in the decklid, because he was 
effectively having to drive in 3rd gear [1] due to the ridiculous rear end 
ratio" . . . . . . .  I would suggest perhaps he WAS in third gear?  

Please allow me to enjoy MY car the way I want to enjoy it!

David in Durango


[1] data shows that 2nd gear is the quivalent, not 3rd gear.



"FWIW, Larry still has that low mileage 3.2:1 ZF all polished and ready to 
go for a good price; saw it last week."  Yeah, the price he quoted me 9 years ago was more than I paid for my M3. 


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