Auto to Manual Swap???

[krabysniper]

Not to be nit stickity pickity, but u posted [ QUOTE ]
The A15 ratios are <font color="red">(1st to 5th)</font> 3.83 2.33 1.44 and 1.0.

[/ QUOTE ] Which, if I wasn't lied to in school is only four ratios listed? Not that it matters, the auto is far superior to the manual. Manuals get better milage in town and thats the total limit to their benifits. They have great wow factor for the sports car types, but as far as useful, reliable, and least likely to break off road, I would go auto. Manual really sucks when your trying to rock yourself out of a mud hole, can you say GRIND AND STRIP, also don't think highly of the hydraulic clutch either. But as they say, to each their own, and if we are out on the trail, and your manual takes a *hit on you, I will still give you a ride out [img]images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[the_fixer]

OK Krabby. You must have been sleeping when the teach said the A15 has an "over drive" gear. Which you probably already know has a .79 ratio. LOL. Auto vs Manual has always been more of a preference, since all types of arguments can be made for each. And.....conversely, if your auto tranny starts slipping on the trail, Ill tow you home with my manual. [img]images/graemlins/40BEER.gif[/img]

[xjy173]

[ QUOTE ]
So, even if we agree to dis-agree on the issue of the torque converter, wouldnt the gear ratios on the trannie be relevant?.......

When you're off-roading, will you be better off approaching an obsticle using the 3.83 gear ratio (I know that the entire "crawl ratio" is a factor, but Im trying to keep this simple), or using the 2.804 ratio with a torque converter?????

What are your thoughts........

[/ QUOTE ]

(Note: I edited some of the fixer's last post)

You are forgetting that at low engine speeds; the torque convertor itself is a reduction "gear" (actually it is the fluid dynamics internally in the t.c. that causes the reduction) So you can multiply that "tall" 2.80 first gear by a factor of 2 which gives an effective first gear ratio of 5.60...much lower than the first of the AX-15.

Also, you mentioned crawl ratios. Most, if not all, off road experts will tell you that automatic trans equipped vehicles can perform on par with manuals with higher crawl ratios, again because of the multiplying effect of the torque convertor. [img]images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[JohnXJ]

Hey, where'd all those worms come from?

[JohnXJ]

I stand corrected xjy173, my apologies. [img]images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] It seems it has been far too long since high school auto shop for me. I found the following information by doing a Google search:


How Torque Converters Work

by Karim Nice

Benefits and Weak Points
In addition to the very important job of allowing your car come to a complete stop without stalling the engine, the torque converter actually gives your car more torque when you accelerate out of a stop. Modern torque converters can multiply the torque of the engine by two to three times . This effect only happens when the engine is turning much faster than the transmission.

Let it be known that xjy173 knows what he's talking about when it comes to torque converters. [img]images/graemlins/yourock.gif[/img]

[MyRide]

This has been a very informative discusion. And i appreciate every one's replies and research.

i say GP'n has a great point about the surrounding fabricated linkage. The idea of being thousands of miles from anyone you know, 500 hundred miles from a phone, and a hundred miles from anyone you don't know, makes dependence on the slave cylinder and swing arm rather pertinent!
Both transmissions are strong enough to get me where i'm going. A '89 4cyl with auto got me from Florida to Alaska and back. A '79 T-150 3spd manual got me to the bottom of Mexico and back. But do to my instincts, and concern of always considering the weakest point 'out there', the swap isn't worth the possible risks. As for the USSR, i'll wait for just the right XJ and stock tranny, and then begin my customizations. (Still hoping for that donor NV4500).

reuben...

again, thanks for all the input!!! [img]images/graemlins/RockOn.gif[/img] [img]images/graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[xjy173]

Thanks for those kind words, John [img]images/graemlins/40BEER.gif[/img]

Actually, I've been to Temecula...I was there last year for 1 week visiting my son, Chris, who is in the US Marines, then stationed at Camp Pendelton (actually, he is at Pendelton again but he moved to Escondido, so he would be closer to base). The people were nice and friendly and the January weather was warm and welcoming when compared to Philly; snow and cold. [img]images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[xjy173]

I suppose where this thread is going is that manual vs. automatic transmissions are pretty much a matter of personal preference. What that means is in most cases, modification money and/or labor could be saved by sticking to the type of transmission that the XJ came with. Let's say, if you'd like to rid yourself of one of those crap Puegy trans, for instance, then I think it would be wise to install a AX-15, swapping manual for manual. If your AW-4 goes south, swap in another. [img]images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[the_fixer]

[Why? To my way of thinking the auto is superior to the manual.] -XJY173 Feb 3

[Good idea; to my way of thinking the manual is superior to the auto. [img]images/graemlins/chair.gif[/img]] -Fixer Feb 3


[I suppose where this thread is going is that manual vs. automatic transmissions are pretty much a matter of personal preference.] -XJY173 Feb 13

Sometimes I may seem like a wiseguy. But your last post was the point I was trying to make from the begining.
[img]images/graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

[xjy173]

No prob....but it seemed to me that your first post was advocating doing an auto to manual swap because you thought the manual was superior. MyRide's first post suggested that he had an auto and wanted to swap in a manual.

Then you posted the statement about auto vs. manual gear ratios, in which you thought showed the manual superiority and asked for comments. So I gave you my thoughts automantic transmissions gear and crawl ratios.

My last post stated that it may be best to stay with the type of tranny the XJ came with; which seems different than your statement mentioned above.

Don't get me wrong; I still think the auto is the better trans....but it isn't so superior that everybody who has a manual should go out and swap in an auto. It doesn't make sense money and time spent wise. In MyRide's first post, it is written like he wanted to do the opposite.