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Old 05-03-2015, 09:19 PM   #1
1979-square-body
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No good on the freeway

Drove home the 79 today. 350 motor and trans, flow master exhaust. Speedo works but it is off. She wasn't screaming, but she also wasn't hauling ass.

No overdrive and have no idea what rear end gears she has.

Any ideas to make the top end a bit better? Or where to start?
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Old 05-03-2015, 11:01 PM   #2
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Re: No good on the freeway

Gearing, taller tires, overdrive.
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Old 05-03-2015, 11:44 PM   #3
1979-square-body
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Re: No good on the freeway

Can I add a shift kit in the trans to get an OD?
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Old 05-04-2015, 04:25 AM   #4
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Re: No good on the freeway

No, shift kit will firm up what you have provided it's in decent shape.
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Old 05-04-2015, 11:34 AM   #5
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Re: No good on the freeway

The speed Limit was 55 when it was built. Tall tires are the cheapest way limited to how much say 300 rpm rear gears are next gears even 4 wheel drive you could cut rpm by a 1000 depending were its at now . Over drive trans and or overdrive unit cut them 25 % But cost is higher considerably higher. if your not a fair mechanic. Or and this is me it is what it is any time you swap things around it always cost way more than you figured. Just live with it unless your planning on putting a 100 miles a day on it.
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Old 05-04-2015, 11:42 AM   #6
Keith Seymore
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Re: No good on the freeway

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1979-square-body View Post
Drove home the 79 today. 350 motor and trans, flow master exhaust. Speedo works but it is off. She wasn't screaming, but she also wasn't hauling ass.

No overdrive and have no idea what rear end gears she has.

Any ideas to make the top end a bit better? Or where to start?
Start by figuring out what rear gears you have.

This would be an excellent time to pull the cover, replace the gear lube in the rear axle and count teeth on the ring and pinion.

Report back and we can make further recommendations from there. Bigsteve's questions about usage and number of miles you will be driving are relevant and should be addressed.

K
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Old 05-04-2015, 01:33 PM   #7
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Re: No good on the freeway

If you have a hand held GPS, most have a speedometer function. You can find out how off and which way off your speedometer is.

Does it have the original y-pipe? My 75 came with a double wall y. When the inner wall collapsed, it really screwed up the top end.
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Old 05-04-2015, 04:28 PM   #8
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Re: No good on the freeway

Or if you have a smartphone, there are dozens of free GPS speedometer apps. And they seem to be quite accurate.

Can't disagree with any previous recommendations.
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Old 05-04-2015, 11:52 PM   #9
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Re: No good on the freeway

It seems there a few other things that need to be done prior to rear axle upgrades. Took her for a spin today, started to misfire during acceleration. I looked around a little more and saw the passenger side muffler is sagging way further down than the driver side. Also it's all hung up there with bailing wire. The Painless wiring loom need to be finished up (none of the interior lights work and all the other gauges besides speedo aren't hooked up), windows and doors need new weather seals and there are a few other things too.

Need to get her road ready before I do anything else...
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