'86 GT 2.8 V6 tranny question.

[Rich Grise]

I had an opportunity to get up to 75 MPH today - in So. Cal, imagine my
surprise!

Anyway, I checked the tacho, and at about 72 MPH, I was turning 5500 RPM,
which is orange-line. (well, more olive drab, but you get the point), and
redline is 6K.

Shouldn't I have some kind of overdrive at the top end, or another whole
gear, or something? Or is that the way it's designed? The speedo pegs at
only 85, BTW.

It _felt_ OK, engine-wise, but I think the tires and the grooves in the
highway were arguing over who gets to drive, but that's probably a tire
inflation issue, so I'll be airing up probably tonight.

Anyway, about the tranny, I admit, it's been a couple of years since it's
been properly serviced, but I can't afford much of anything beyond
changing the filter and fluid.

Do I need my bands tightened? Or should I just do the filter and fluid
and see what happens?

Thanks,
Rich

[John Craker]

You didn't mention it, but by the statement "bands tightened" I assume you
have an auto?

I'll also assume you haven't got 10" Austin Mini tires on it. ;)

You SHOULD be turning 3000rpm at 60MPH (+/- YMMV).

I'd:
A) Get your tach checked with an external source
B) do the same to your speedo.

Post by Rich Grise
I had an opportunity to get up to 75 MPH today - in So. Cal, imagine my
surprise!
Anyway, I checked the tacho, and at about 72 MPH, I was turning 5500 RPM,
which is orange-line. (well, more olive drab, but you get the point), and
redline is 6K.
Shouldn't I have some kind of overdrive at the top end, or another whole
gear, or something? Or is that the way it's designed? The speedo pegs at
only 85, BTW.
It _felt_ OK, engine-wise, but I think the tires and the grooves in the
highway were arguing over who gets to drive, but that's probably a tire
inflation issue, so I'll be airing up probably tonight.
Anyway, about the tranny, I admit, it's been a couple of years since it's
been properly serviced, but I can't afford much of anything beyond
changing the filter and fluid.
Do I need my bands tightened? Or should I just do the filter and fluid
and see what happens?
Thanks,
Rich

[gw]

Post by Rich Grise
I had an opportunity to get up to 75 MPH today - in So. Cal, imagine my
surprise!
Anyway, I checked the tacho, and at about 72 MPH, I was turning 5500 RPM,
which is orange-line. (well, more olive drab, but you get the point), and
redline is 6K.
Shouldn't I have some kind of overdrive at the top end, or another whole
gear, or something? Or is that the way it's designed? The speedo pegs at
only 85, BTW.
It _felt_ OK, engine-wise, but I think the tires and the grooves in the
highway were arguing over who gets to drive, but that's probably a tire
inflation issue, so I'll be airing up probably tonight.
Anyway, about the tranny, I admit, it's been a couple of years since it's
been properly serviced, but I can't afford much of anything beyond
changing the filter and fluid.
Do I need my bands tightened? Or should I just do the filter and fluid
and see what happens?
Thanks,
Rich

All '86 GT's came with 120 MPH speedometers. Yours has been switched out.
This being the case, it's possible you have a 4 cylinder tachometer, which
would read 50% high. 85 MPH speedos came in the 4 cylinder coupes. Suggest
you get the right instrument cluster for the car.

[John Craker]

Post by gw

Post by Rich Grise
Anyway, I checked the tacho, and at about 72 MPH, I was turning 5500 RPM,
which is orange-line. (well, more olive drab, but you get the point), and
redline is 6K.

All '86 GT's came with 120 MPH speedometers. Yours has been switched out.
This being the case, it's possible you have a 4 cylinder tachometer, which
would read 50% high. 85 MPH speedos came in the 4 cylinder coupes. Suggest
you get the right instrument cluster for the car.

He does say that it was reading '5500 which is orange line'
(and we all know that a duke tach at 5500 has a picture of a rod hanging out
of the block!) - so it must be a V6 tach.

Speedo does sound 'wrong' though.