Auto vs. Manual

[92troy92]

I have been noticing that under hard accleration my 92 XLT 2wd is good in first and second, but when I get to third it feels like the engine has hit a brick wall. I watch the tack slooooowlly crawl up about 100rpm every minute(well I guess it just seems like that). Is it the gearing in the transmission? Does anyone with a m/t notice anything like this?

-troy

 

[Rob_B]

What u described is probably cause by gearing, but not the transmission. Since you have a 2 wheel drive your axle gear is probably a 3.2:1, which is better for gas mileage and top speed, but not for acceleration. If it is just now seeming to be slower your engine could just need a tune-up or something along those lines.

 

[92troy92]

it does seem like my engine "chatters" a lot. I don't know if this means that I need to adjust the valves, or is it something like replacing the rocker arms and assembly.

 

[tenikiwon]

I noticed with mine that it takes off differently depending on what speed I'm going when I gas it.

For example. The highway entrance from work has a 15mph cautionary sign and it doesn't allow any time to get up to speed. So sometimes I start from a dead stop and others I'm rolling almost 30 degrees at 40 MPH.

It seems that when I start from a dead stop it gets up to 65 or 70 quicker than if I'm going 30-40.

Don't know if it just doesn't want to down shift at that speed or what.

 

[92troy92]

I've noticed almost the opposite from my truck. from a dead stop my truck barely moves, but once it has some gas then it picks up fine. Well it picks up until I get to third gear.

-troy

 

[Howard]

From your description it sounds like the torque converter locking up when you get to third gear. Which is why the revs increase more slowly with road speed. This is normal. Have you tried the throttle cable trick to give you full wide open throttle? If not this may help with the accelleration. You could also try resetting the computer (disconect battery for five-ten mins) and drive like you want to so that the comp learns your driving style. All the best.

 

[NitroDRS]

i have a manual '91. i love it. i drove a lot of automatics before i bought mine and they just wouldn't do. (no offense to anyone who has one.) mine has always given good results, but in third it does lag a little. i recently bought a K&n air filter and that has definetly given me a noticeable boost in third. good luck

 

[punkbek3886]

i took off the lower part of my intake with a 91 manual and it does seem to make a good difference. maybe its because all of the power is going to the wheels and isnt getting lost in the t/c.