My wife says it's a waste!

[Paul G]

Waste of money? I am currently installing an A518 overdrive trans in the Charger. It's going to end up costing a lot . My wife says it is a waste of money . You guys do things like that? Spend large sums of money on things to improve the car? My wife  , just doesnt understand.   

[A383Wing]

I ain't getting in the middle of you and yer wife....sorry

[Paul G]

Come on man, I need encouragement!

[MoparManJim]

Waste of money.

[1969chargerrtse]

Not sure what I think?  I've thought about things like that for my car, but with the idea that I only use it for 3 or 4k a year I decided to just leave it original.  What I can say is your car looks sharp.  It's still a cheaper hobby then people with horses and boats.  At least you'll get something back.  Your car, go for it.
Your wife doesn't undestand?  Yeah o.k, what else is new?  If she's not a gear head why should she.

[twodko]

A383wing's avatar says it all

[randr]

not sure why it would be needed, i drive my cars and not one needs overdrive.

[bull]

Of course it's a waste of money, but since when does that matter?

A383wing's avatar says it all

The one that changes every time you hit refresh or leave and come back?

[68X426]

Keep her happy. 

[Paul G]

not sure why it would be needed, i drive my cars and not one needs overdrive.

It's not needed, thats the point.

[FLG]

randy...big gears and highways = overdrive or your stuck in the slow lane with a complaining wife. lool.

best thing i did was get my fiance interested in the car, helping me out...she enjoys it and though might see me dumping thousands into it...she understands why, coupled with the fact she wants a 68-9 firebird and im probably the one thats gonna end up buying her one down the line

i remember a pic of a hot chick next to a ferarri or lambo...caption said "long run, the car is cheaper"

[A383Wing]

If Momma ain't happy..you never will be either

[Cooter]

Anytime you spend "Big money" on an antique car/truck, the wifey will complain...However, I have seen a way around this done before.

[Paul G]

randy...big gears and highways = overdrive or your stuck in the slow lane with a complaining wife. lool.

I got to change my sig. No longer a 727. And you are right, the 3.91's were the deciding factor to the trans swap. It is quick off the line, relatively speaking, but now it should be a nice highway cruiser as well.

[Back N Black]

If the house is not in need of repairs or the kids need new shoes, you have the cash in hand ,i say go for it.

[FlatbackFanatic]

 

[bajaherbie]

take your wife parking it the charger, maybe she will change her mind then.....

[Todd Wilson]

Tell her to shut TFU and put the transmission in if thats what you want to do!



Todd

[Paul G]

Tell her to shut TFU and put the transmission in if thats what you want to do!



Todd

How many marriages is this for you now Tod?   

[flyinlow]

The A518 overdrive was one of the best improvements I have made in the car. Well worth the time and money.

The wife didn't complain about the money or the three days it took to install  it. She did notice the car is quieter on the freeway after I installed it. The Charger is the official date night, drive in and going for ice cream car. We just got back from The Mopar National cruise on RT 79. My wife enjoys an occasional burn out or 100 mph blast on an entrance ramp. She is comfortable with the fact that there is an other woman in my life. As long as she sleeps in the garage , weighs 4000 lbs. and says Charger on her ass that is.

[Kern Dog]

What are the installation obstacles? The 518 is larger in diameter than the 727, so I wonder what kind of floorboard/crossmember surgery is needed. Any members care to chime in?
I had a 4.10 diff in my Charger, but swapped in a 3.23 for a 1000 mile road trip. WOW, what a difference. Road noise was down, the car felt more relaxed to drive... but the response out of the hole is lacking. The overdrive is the only way that you can have both. 
I know that I'm not the only man that is tired of giving women all the power in the relationships. Too many men have knuckled under and surrendered. TV sitcoms make the men look like idiots too. Why should the woman always be the boss?
I SAY ..... do what you want. If you don't, how long until resentment sets in?
I SAY ..... women think that they have the power, and its time that we let them know that a RELATIONSHIP involves two people.
I SAY ..... life is short and sitting in a recliner when you are too old to enjoy these fine classics, drooling all over yourself... you will wish that you lived the way that YOU wanted.
Carry on.

[jb666]

Waste of money??? Only if you don't have it. I had a chance to Pick one up at the time of my build... I didn't and regretted it , especially when I Paid for my gv unit. 

[Nacho-RT74]

If the house is not in need of repairs or the kids need new shoes, you have the cash in hand ,i say go for it.

the other option is Gear vendor what only mod required is driveshaft shortened and 90º speedo wire adaptor.

A friend of mine mounted a 518 Tranny on his Cuda and only change he had to do it's the tranny crossmember mod, nothing on floorboard.

[Sonnythebull]

Waste of money? I am currently installing an A518 overdrive trans in the Charger. It's going to end up costing a lot . My wife says it is a waste of money . You guys do things like that? Spend large sums of money on things to improve the car? My wife  , just doesnt understand.   

Does she earn all the money? Will spending this change your lifestyle? Does she get permission from you on her purchases? If you answered no to any of these then stop whining and be a man. Been married for 8.5 years and with my wife 11.5 years. I don't ask permission and neither does she.

[440]

When is the house never in need of repairs, or the lawn needing to be mowed, or trash to be taken out etc ?

[jb666]

If the house is not in need of repairs or the kids need new shoes, you have the cash in hand ,i say go for it.

the other option is Gear vendor what only mod required is driveshaft shortened and 90º speedo wire adaptor.

Well, not quite that easy. Some modifications to the trans tunnel are necessary. Shortened driveshaft. Exhaust modification.  AND , on top of it all, the GV unit is very pricey. Not trying to talk anyone OUT of one, because it's an amazing unit, but it's definitely not a job you do in your driveway on a Saturday afternoon.

[1970Moparmann]

It will be a waste if you don't drive your car on long hauls, just my  .  I put a Keisler 5 speed in my 68 because I want to drive the hell out of it.  Did a 1,700 mile trip and the overdrive was awesome.  If I wasn't going to do this, waste of money.   I did a 1,200 with my Coronet RT and it did fine with the 440 with 3.23 gears. 

It all depends.......

[Paul G]

We had to modify the trans tunnel a little on both sides. Just hammered it out a little to make room for the wider trans. Looks normal from inside the car. Tranny mount had to be cut, fab in a new peice, weld it up. Shorten drive shaft. Then hook up the new electical, which is what I am doing myself.

Dont get me wrong guys. My wife wants for nothing, kids are grown, house is newer (6 years old), she picked it. And she has me! My original question was more about working on, and spending money on, the Charger, and the wife just dont get it. It was perfectly fine the way it was! She does enjoy all the attention we get when we are out in it.   

[jb666]

Well, here's my take on the situation...

Frank's approach of "getting her involved" was also mine. It's great, because we share the same interests, do the same things, and get to hang out together (and that's pretty cool after being married 20 years, IMO).  But, her "enjoying" the cruise scene got her into "now I want one" mode 

So, what started with getting her a stock Mustang convertible has evolved into her "needing" a supercharger, powdercoated everything and the list goes on (and on, and on..).

Long of the short, she's my best friend, so I see no harm in us having the same interests.

Does she care if I blow $$ on my car? Hell no... But I can't care when she wants something for HERS as well... 

See where I'm going with this? My simple pc of advice... HIDE IT  "No, honey, it's always been this way!"

[tan top]

If the house is not in need of repairs or the kids need new shoes, you have the cash in hand ,i say go for it.

If the house is not in need of repairs or the kids need new shoes, you have the cash in hand ,i say go for it.

go for it !! your charger your money 

[DodgeByDave]

Step one: Read and re-read the Art of War. Turn your children (if any) into spies.

Step two: Using stealth and cunning apply a brilliant misdirection for your deed

Step three: establish a chain of plausible deniability

Step IV: Profit! IF you pull this off and don't end up divorced or neutered you will having the admiration of all of the poor fools who have battle axe wives (all of the married guys will sing praises to your name. You will be the stuff of legend and fable. Songs written, beer drank, wenches goosed)

Your odds are slime, however, if you except this mission and succeed we will take all of the credit and if you fail we don't know you.

Good Luck!

[Kern Dog]

I like Daves viewpoint.

[bill440rt]

I have a Keisler Stage 2 auto OD in my '69, with 3:91's out back. It is an awesome combo, really nice to drive on the highway as well. Required minimal mods. Yes, it is pricey, but added up compared to a Gear Vendors it was more economical in my particular situation (727 needed rebuilding, no torque conv, no driveshaft, etc etc). The Keisler was a complete kit. One of the best mods on the car I've done.

My wife is supportive, although not 100% understanding. She knows it's important to me, so she supports it because it makes me happy. She's not all gung-ho about it like me, but plays along & has fun in it. The only time she really hit the roof was towards the end when she found out how much the sound system cost. After hearing it, she's a little better with it but still not 100%.
She still has yet to drive the car, so maybe when she does it will win her over a little more.

Good luck with the OD install! You'll like it.

[elanmars]

those who have it-so how has it helped with MPG? just curious about numbers.

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

My wife has put up with my car craziness for over 17 years. Then again, if she didn't, I'd probably be paying her support... Cheaper to keep her (happy) 

[flyinlow]

Paul ,good luck getting your wife onboard. Maybe a nice road trip with your new OD to some place she wants to go to.

How did the 360 work with it. What converter and balance issues?

Craig

[Bobs69]

I say if you are asking permission you are not really sure if you want it yourself so don't bother.  If you are still thinking about it and dreaming of doing it next summer then pull the trigger.


Do you drink?  Smoke?

[A383Wing]

I would think a gear vendors ovedrdrive would be easier & cheaper?

[Kern Dog]

I was thinking the same thing. You see them turn up on ebay sometimes.

[Tilar]

When is the house never in need of repairs, or the lawn needing to be mowed, or trash to be taken out etc ?

If the lawn needing mowed and the trash taken out is a deciding factor on wether or not to install an overdrive tranny, you have bigger problems than a wife to worry about.

That said I agree with Todd... Unless you have to borrow money from your wife to do it. 

[Paul G]

Paul ,good luck getting your wife onboard. Maybe a nice road trip with your new OD to some place she wants to go to.

How did the 360 work with it. What converter and balance issues?

Craig

We used a Hughes 11" lock up converter, nuetral balanced, since I already had a balanced flex plate on the car. 360's are external balanced. It is a great upgrade to make. I can cruise at 70 now and RPM drop down around 2600, 45 to 50 mph is around 1600 rpm, thats with 3.91 gears. I have a thread started in engine trans with pics of the install.
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,83724.0.html
 

[flyinlow]

those who have it-so how has it helped with MPG? just curious about numbers.

About 3mpg. I live in in rural Ohio ,so everywhere I go with the car starts with 10-20 miles of OD use.

3.55 axle, .69 OD  28" tires = about 2100 rpm at 70 mph

[b5blue]

You must arrange a way that she can "waste" the same amount of money anyway she wants also.    

[Paul G]

You must arrange a way that she can "waste" the same amount of money anyway she wants also.    

Man, I cant hold a candle to her. She is not working right now, but when she was...