Re: [FWDLK] Fluid Drive Shift Patterns

In a message dated 3/4/2005 2:30:20 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, tehoema@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

In reality the original intention was to only put it into high range and use
the two speed feature in it. Low range was only for high load usage and
towing type stuff. Hard to believe towing with one of the old flatheads
isn't it!!

We are used to quick acceleration now and feel we must use the low range
first. Ought to time it sometime but bet it doesn't add much to speed up
the start up when you throw in the slow shift time from low to high range.

Don't kid yourself! The old "Clunk-O-Matics" with the 180 hp hemi were really quick off the line, up to 50 or 60 MPH, which made them hard to beat around town, between stop lights, etc. The trick was to use the clutch and start off in low range, then power shift up into third gear and completely bypassing second, and the interminable wait for the automatic shift to occur. In city traffic they were hard to beat.

Of course, in a full-on drag race you would eventually get to the point where you just HAD to go from third to fourth, and if the matter hadn't been settled before then, you lost....

Joe Savard
Lake Orion, MI