Originally it was a mistake. I bought the engine sight unseen and got a pleasant suprise. It's the ultimate sleeper, with the wood trim and the wire spoke hubcaps. The only problem is the 3.0L V6 takes the same automatic transmission as the 4cylinder versions, only with a lower gear ratio (ring and pinion).
I'd like to strangle the idiot that deceided that the same tranny a 82HP 4cyl (2.2l) takes will be sufficient to run on a 220HP V6 engine. The bolt pattern changes on the 3.3 and 3.6L engines, and they use the beefier tranny even though they peak out at around 160hp.
Right now, I am bolting YET ANOTHER transmission to the badass engine and will be rebuilding a third (good, though used), re-engineering some of the critical parts to boost the torque capacity. Wheee... It's kinda like making a winmodem work under Linux. lol
My dream is to adapt a 5 speed stick and be done with the slushbox BS once and for all, but that will have to wait till next time.
I am not a gear head, but I play one on TV;-> (sorry if the non-yanks don't catch the reference...) I am the owner of a small PC repair biz and have been hacking computer hardware for 16 years.
Some previous cars I have owned include a '68 Mustang with a W-engine code (look it up;->) and a Plymouth Reliant where I monkied with the computer to do my bidding. It would beat most sports cars right up to the speed limit and it worked well right up until the engine threw a rod. (The timing was a bit too advanced, even with MSD).
My current project is a 90 Dodge Caravan with the engine and electrics from a Shelby mated to the Caravan driveline. Not geek enough? The engine control computer will have to be flashed and tweaked, while being driven, by a Toshiba 610ct laptop mounted to the passenger side dash, which I normally use to play MP3s through the built in stereo. Hacking is done with things electronic as well as things mechanical. Why make a distinction?
For the record: No, I do not enjoy the grease and crap, but necessity doesn't really care what I like, and I trust the safety of my family to no one but myself.
Slashdot Mirror
Originally it was a mistake. I bought the engine sight unseen and got a pleasant suprise. It's the ultimate sleeper, with the wood trim and the wire spoke hubcaps. The only problem is the 3.0L V6 takes the same automatic transmission as the 4cylinder versions, only with a lower gear ratio (ring and pinion). I'd like to strangle the idiot that deceided that the same tranny a 82HP 4cyl (2.2l) takes will be sufficient to run on a 220HP V6 engine. The bolt pattern changes on the 3.3 and 3.6L engines, and they use the beefier tranny even though they peak out at around 160hp. Right now, I am bolting YET ANOTHER transmission to the badass engine and will be rebuilding a third (good, though used), re-engineering some of the critical parts to boost the torque capacity. Wheee... It's kinda like making a winmodem work under Linux. lol My dream is to adapt a 5 speed stick and be done with the slushbox BS once and for all, but that will have to wait till next time.
I am not a gear head, but I play one on TV ;-> (sorry if the non-yanks don't catch the reference...) I am the owner of a small PC repair biz and have been hacking computer hardware for 16 years.
;->) and a Plymouth Reliant where I monkied with the computer to do my bidding. It would beat most sports cars right up to the speed limit and it worked well right up until the engine threw a rod. (The timing was a bit too advanced, even with MSD).
Some previous cars I have owned include a '68 Mustang with a W-engine code (look it up
My current project is a 90 Dodge Caravan with the engine and electrics from a Shelby mated to the Caravan driveline. Not geek enough? The engine control computer will have to be flashed and tweaked, while being driven, by a Toshiba 610ct laptop mounted to the passenger side dash, which I normally use to play MP3s through the built in stereo. Hacking is done with things electronic as well as things mechanical. Why make a distinction?
For the record: No, I do not enjoy the grease and crap, but necessity doesn't really care what I like, and I trust the safety of my family to no one but myself.