Subject: Re: [airstream] manual vs automatic and rear axle stuff>
Date: Thu, 29 Oct 1998 00:47:26 EST
From: Dsrtquest@aol.com
Reply-To: airstream@h2eau.net

In a message dated 98-10-28 14:53:04 EST, you write:

I towed my 23' for several thousand miles with a GMC with a 400 small block and a 2:56 axle! The engine had so much torque I think I could have started in 2nd gear. I finally switched to a 3:73 for two reasons. First, I was concerned about transmission life. The high gear gives the torque convertor a lot of work to do and produces a lot of heat and puts a strain on the hard parts. Second, and of far more concern to me was the increase in engine braking the low ratio provided. (I have a three speed turbo400 and spend a lot of time in 2nd gear on downgrades) One of the most horrifying and dangerous situations to be in is to have your brakes fade on a long, steep downgrade! When it happened to me in Death Valley, the transmission was turning too fast to shift into low and second was just not enough. Without the manually applied trailer brakes on my Airstream, I would likely not be here now! Today, I have the best Carbon-metallic brake linings I can get and I never exceed 50 mph on a downgrade. I fear no upgrade however. Once in San Francisco, in the Twin Peaks area, I turned up what I thought to be a moderate hill. Nope! The farther up I went the steeper the grade got! Soon the engine was torqued over so far the fan was scraping the shroud and the rear wheels were beginning to chirp on every bump and pebble! Near the top, the grade was so steep the asphalt was beginning to slump downhill and my knuckles were blinding white. The fear of stalling and having to back that rig down the hill musta put 10 years on my age that day.

Well, every upgrade since then has seemed like no big deal.

Jerry D
70 Safari
(Not just another shaggy hill story)