Is it worth it to change gears for a trip?

[AKcharger]

We're planning to drive about 2000 miles round trip to the "all-Charger meet" at El-Dorado in Sept. Question is...Is it worth it to swap from a 3.23 chunk to a 2.76 chunk for the drive for RPM and gas milage savings...is there much of a diffrence between the two? I've done the swap before it's easy enough

Thanks

AK

[ChgrSteve67]

Here is a calculator to play with

http://www.csgnetwork.com/gearratcalc.html

(examples)
Engine RPM 2650
Tire Size 28 diameter
MPH 80
2.76 to 1

Engine RPM 3101
Tire Size 28 diameter
MPH 80
3.23 to 1

I'm no expert on tire size and gears but cruising freeway speeds 500 RPM will make a big difference on gas mileage.
If you have the parts and time I would say put in the taller gear.

I had 2.71's in my charger and my cousin traded them out for 3.55's, The car is lots of fun in town but doesn't have the top end it use to.

[KMPX2]

If you have a 8 3/4 & you have the gears all ready to just dropin. Plus the time to kill pulling them out & putting them back in go for it. Me I don't have that kind of spare time. I have 3:55 in mine & I have taken it on all kinds of road trips

[Charger4404spd]

With the price of gas going up everyday, I'd say yes its worth it.

[LahTera]

Hey, AK!!!

How's that Charger going these days? 

Dunno what gas prices are like down there, but here in Anchorage, it went from yesterday at $2.37 to today at $2.44.  And as much as I hate it, I have to use that low-octane stuff or not drive at all.   

We're buying a place in Mt. View and moving in next month.  Not enough room for all the cars, but luckily, Russ' aunt lives across the street and is letting us park all the Mopars in her fenced yard.  (Whew!)  Finding a spot for all those cars has always been a big deal for us in finding a place to live.  And then there's the dog and 4 kids.  Ack!

Good to "see" ya',

Mandy aka LahTera

[KMPX2]

It was $2.56 here in Mich. last time I looked

[AKcharger]

Copy all...cool calculatoer steve! Lah tera great to hear from you...you have mail

I think it will be worth the swap

AK

[chrisII]

I had 2.71's in my charger and my cousin traded them out for 3.55's, The car is lots of fun in town but doesn't have the top end it use to.

  WOW how brave are you? i currently have 2.76s and think i want something lower or 3rd gear is waisted..as it is i hit 3rd at like 93mph when im on it in drive.
    my 74 had 2.73s with a 318.. cop clocked me at like 142 an heard the 4bbl open up when i passed him , i had slowed down to go over a hill. he was sitting in a driveway on the back side of the hill..i was 17 then young and foolish. now i normaly keep it in the 2 didgits on the speedo. 3rd is like over drive almost lol..but i guess at 2.59 a gal for cheep gas if you plann to drive that kinda mileage i might go with the tall gears.

[Dodge-Charger]

Im gonna say yes, gas just hit 2.69 .9 here the dat before it was 2.50 .9

[MoparYoungGun]

With the price of gas going up everyday, I'd say yes its worth it.

[472 R/T SE]

If you have the time why not.  Your motor will be thanking you.   I always loved that about Mopar, quick change ratio.

[Shakey]

I thought that 3.23's were considered "highway gears"?

[BrianShaughnessy]

I thought that 3.23's were considered "highway gears"?

No...  they're considered the low end of "performance gears"   Or is that the high end?   Whatever.  When I think highway gears I think of stuff like 2.73's.

For a 2K mile trip,   you bet yer azz I'd be changing gears...  if I didn't have the 5 speed already 

[70charginglizard]

Id say yes if your doing a trip that far.
Remember if you change the gears out, I believe you have to change your tranny speedometer gear out as well or you'll get an inacurate MPH reading.

[RD]

you betcha hiney ya better do it, I want to see you and suebear in person!  El Dorado is only 70 miles from me. 

[John_Kunkel]

Don't forget to change the speedo pinion too or you'll be LEO bait.

[ChargerRob]

Definately do it. It'll be worth the savings in gas.

[AKcharger]

I thought that 3.23's were considered "highway gears"?

When I was in high school they were! I guess I'm just getting old

[andy74]

  me to ak! i bought a monte carlo for a winter rat in 87,and all my buddies were amazed at 3.08 gears,like getting double digit gas mileage was a joke!!chevies always make good winter rats,going through snowbanks donughts in the mall parking lots etc!!

[chargermick]

How hard  is it to swap gears? You guys make it sound pretty simple, I assumed it was something only a pro or a guy like Chrycho could do.

[RD]

its easy if you have an 8 3/4 and you already have another hogshead setup with 2.76's in it.  but if you do not, then you need to remove the carrier and pinion, replace the gears, get instruments to measure the backlash, and have marking compound to see how the gears mesh and then find out you need another shim on the pinion (hehe :D)

What AK, and everyone else is talking about, is just doing a hogshead swap.  removing the hogshead and replacing it with a hogshead that is already setup with highway gears.

[LahTera]

Um, 323s ARE highway gears.   

LahTera

[John_Kunkel]

Actually, 3.23's were considered a performance gear by the factory, the 2.76 and 2.94 were considered the standard gear and were standard equipment on all but HP cars.

[CFMopar]

3.91s baby! Whooo

[Ghoste]

I kept my 4:10's in for the 5 hour drive to Columbus last weekend.  Take my word for it.  Swap them out.

[CFMopar]

I drove 5 hours on my 3.91s. I might be a bit more tolerant than you though

[Ghoste]

I'm pretty tolerant or they'd have already been out.  I have a 3:55 set and a 3:23 set laying around.  If I were doing anything longer though, I'd swap them out just for the fuel difference and engine wear.

[AKcharger]

How hard   is it to swap gears? You guys make it sound pretty simple, I assumed it was something only a pro or a guy like Chrycho could do.

Mick it really is easy with the 8 3/4:
1) 5 nuts per axle...pull axles
2) disconnect drive shaft
3) remove 10 bolts holding carrier or as RD called it the "hogshead"..also called punkin, chunk and thing
4) Remove carrier and pop in the new 2.76 geared carrier
5) install axles and drive shaft..oh new fluid too
6) Replace speedo pinion

In all about 1 1/2 hours work. If you have a standard rear end with the cover on the back...don't even think about it...have to do all the backlash and shim stuff

[chargermick]

That's a lot easier than I thought it would be. Thanks you guys, I really learn a lot here.

[CB]

good article


http://moparmusclemagazine.com/howto/155_0308_gears_rear_mopar/

[bull]

I don't know. I'm still trying to figure out why you want me to give a rat's a$$ about chickens.

[1968 Charger B5]

if u had bigger gears than that like 391s i would say go for the swap, 323s are still highway gears as far as im concerned wouldnt bother, though 8 3/4 gear swaps take no time at all i switched my charger chuck in like an hour not even.

[AKcharger]

Swap is complete. A noticeble diffrence in RPM at highway speeds...no more getting passed by mini-vans on the interstate!

[ChgrSteve67]

Cool!

Now I would check the speedo to see how far off it is.

I have two of those little radios you see people at parks walking around with; I then get my wife in her daily driver to help document speeds.

I'm jealous that you are going on a road trip, my Charger is still torn apart. I get my motor back this week! (I hope)

[AKcharger]

I go the correct speed pinion from the dealer, a 30 tooth for my 14 inch 215R60 tires...so it should be spot on

I don't know. I'm still trying to figure out why you want me to give a rat's a$$ about chickens.

Bull the story on the Chickens is it's just a ridiculous web site I found during the "Combined Federal Campaign" I was bored at work and looked for the stupidest non-profit groups. There were a bunch of Waco's out there trying to get people's money but this one had a cool banner!

[AKcharger]

Drove 3200 miles to Kansas and back for the Dodge charger meet and got between 15-16 MPG, which is about a 1 MPG savings. Biggest benifit was car was much more "comfortable" at 70-75. I calculate I saved 14 gal of gas and $38 for trip.

[Ghoste]

Interesting.  I wonder how many people have calculated fuel saving after buying the Keisler swap?
Thanks for the update, must have been a great cruise.