Bowler Transmissions
Craig Meyer March 16, two thousand seventeen News
It wasn’t that long ago that overdrive transmissions were not standard equipment in every fresh vehicle on the road. The attempted and true 4-speed manuals and 3-speed automatics were the only thing we knew, and they worked well, so why would anyone want to switch that? During the late 1970s and early 1980s we witnessed a thrust to create more economical cars that produced lower emissions.
As most of us know, it had a lot, if not all, to do with the fuel shortages and government requiring the automakers to conform with EPA regulations on fuel consumption and emissions. Thus the mainstream overdrive transmissions and pollution control systems were born into existence at the expense of horsepower. All of those things combined to get the overdrive off on the wrong foot with most car enthusiasts.
Tremec TKO Transmission
We get slew of calls from those who are fresh to the idea of installing a modern overdrive in their classic car, and many times there is some confusion as to the benefits of making this upgrade. There can be some misunderstandings that the overdrive transmissions are not as strong or able to treat as much horsepower or torque as the older non-overdrive units. This can be true in certain situations, but the majority of the fresh transmissions will treat far more power than their older counterparts when comparing them at a stock built level. True, the 1980’s were not a glorious decade for high powered spectacle vehicles and that’s where most of this accepted truth comes from, and by all rights those early overdrives weren’t capable of the requests we place on transmissions today.
Consider how much more power a stock LS engine makes versus a stock Gen. One petite block Chevy. Another common misconception is that the vehicle will not be as responsive due to the available gear ratios. This can be lightly resolved by matching up the transmission’s gear ratios with the corresponding rear gear ratio and tire size to match the spectacle you are looking for. In almost every situation we can configure a finish drivetrain package that will be much more responsive through all the gears. Even better is that you can keep that Four.11 posi for the crevice shot and still be able to drive seventy five MPH at Two,000 RPM. The third most common issue that comes up is the fitment aspect of the newer overdrives into older vehicles. This one is a legitimate concern, as there are many cars that were designed specifically around one or two transmission options that were available at the time. This can lead to the need for modification to the floor structure due to lack of room in the transmission tunnel. Obviously this can be solved pretty quickly with some cutting and forming of a fresh tunnel, but for some guys, the thought of chopping up an all original, rust free car, can be pretty tremendous.
With the advances in the technology available for the aftermarket it is possible to equip almost any car with a modern overdrive. Regardless if you favor two pedals or Three, there is a solution that will fit your needs. The newer electronically managed automatics have the capability to be tuned to your driving style and preferences. No longer are you stuck with a “shift kit” to tune your transmission. The controllers available now will permit you to dial in the shift points exactly where you want them, and in every gear. Match that with a torque converter and transmission that has been built specifically for your car and you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. If you lean more towards the manual shifting side there are some truly good transmissions available to treat a broad multiplicity of power levels, gear ratios, and shifting styles. I don’t know about you, but when you look at a shift knob with a six speed pattern engraved into it, you can’t help but get excited. Besides, if you are going to have a manual transmission, you do so because you like to shift the gears, so why limit the joy to only three or four when you can have 6!
The bright side of the overdrive revolution in our eyes far outweighs any downside. With the capability to lower the engine’s RPMs at highway speeds you not only increase your fuel mileage, but also increase the life of your engine and the accessories that are run by the belt system. Also, with lower fuel consumption comes lower emissions. This may be the last thing on your mind while you’re lowering that five hundred seventy two c.i. big block in inbetween the framework rails, but you can at least feel better about it. Over the life of a vehicle the savings can quickly add up to justify the cost of the transmission upgrade, and most cars that have been upgraded will guideline a higher price should you determine to sell the project. Another benefit that is often overlooked, but almost as significant, is lower levels of noise and stimulation inwards the vehicle. Sure, you may be equipping your car with an harass system that violates most noise ordinances, and this may not be an issue, but there are many others who want to be able to love conversations at a normal speaking volume or their dearest disco album through the fresh 6×9’s.
We’ve become habitual to the cars of today that are tooled with more buttons than the Apollo thirteen rocket and creature comforts to keep us spoiled, so it’s not uncommon for us to want that translated into our project cars as well. We’ve realized that what we remembered from forty years ago may be a little fuzzy and it isn’t so much how “nice” those cars were, but it is more about the feelings these cars inspire in us. We need those memories to come alive, but not at the expense of our sanity or safety.
Overdrive Transmissions, What and Why, Bowler Transmissions
Bowler Transmissions
Craig Meyer March 16, two thousand seventeen News
It wasn’t that long ago that overdrive transmissions were not standard equipment in every fresh vehicle on the road. The attempted and true 4-speed manuals and 3-speed automatics were the only thing we knew, and they worked well, so why would anyone want to switch that? During the late 1970s and early 1980s we witnessed a thrust to create more economical cars that produced lower emissions.
As most of us know, it had a lot, if not all, to do with the fuel shortages and government requiring the automakers to obey with EPA regulations on fuel consumption and emissions. Thus the mainstream overdrive transmissions and pollution control systems were born into existence at the expense of horsepower. All of those things combined to get the overdrive off on the wrong foot with most car enthusiasts.
Tremec TKO Transmission
We get slew of calls from those who are fresh to the idea of installing a modern overdrive in their classic car, and many times there is some confusion as to the benefits of making this upgrade. There can be some misunderstandings that the overdrive transmissions are not as strong or able to treat as much horsepower or torque as the older non-overdrive units. This can be true in certain situations, but the majority of the fresh transmissions will treat far more power than their older counterparts when comparing them at a stock built level. True, the 1980’s were not a glorious decade for high powered spectacle vehicles and that’s where most of this accepted truth comes from, and by all rights those early overdrives weren’t capable of the requests we place on transmissions today.
Consider how much more power a stock LS engine makes versus a stock Gen. One petite block Chevy. Another common misconception is that the vehicle will not be as responsive due to the available gear ratios. This can be lightly resolved by matching up the transmission’s gear ratios with the corresponding rear gear ratio and tire size to match the spectacle you are looking for. In almost every situation we can configure a finish drivetrain package that will be much more responsive through all the gears. Even better is that you can keep that Four.11 posi for the slot shot and still be able to drive seventy five MPH at Two,000 RPM. The third most common issue that comes up is the fitment aspect of the newer overdrives into older vehicles. This one is a legitimate concern, as there are many cars that were designed specifically around one or two transmission options that were available at the time. This can lead to the need for modification to the floor structure due to lack of room in the transmission tunnel. Obviously this can be solved pretty quickly with some cutting and forming of a fresh tunnel, but for some guys, the thought of chopping up an all original, rust free car, can be pretty breathtaking.
With the advances in the technology available for the aftermarket it is possible to equip almost any car with a modern overdrive. Regardless if you favor two pedals or Trio, there is a solution that will fit your needs. The newer electronically managed automatics have the capability to be tuned to your driving style and preferences. No longer are you stuck with a “shift kit” to tune your transmission. The controllers available now will permit you to dial in the shift points exactly where you want them, and in every gear. Match that with a torque converter and transmission that has been built specifically for your car and you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. If you lean more towards the manual shifting side there are some indeed fine transmissions available to treat a broad multitude of power levels, gear ratios, and shifting styles. I don’t know about you, but when you look at a shift knob with a six speed pattern engraved into it, you can’t help but get excited. Besides, if you are going to have a manual transmission, you do so because you like to shift the gears, so why limit the joy to only three or four when you can have 6!
The bright side of the overdrive revolution in our eyes far outweighs any downside. With the capability to lower the engine’s RPMs at highway speeds you not only increase your fuel mileage, but also increase the life of your engine and the accessories that are run by the belt system. Also, with lower fuel consumption comes lower emissions. This may be the last thing on your mind while you’re lowering that five hundred seventy two c.i. big block in inbetween the framework rails, but you can at least feel better about it. Over the life of a vehicle the savings can quickly add up to justify the cost of the transmission upgrade, and most cars that have been upgraded will directive a higher price should you determine to sell the project. Another benefit that is often overlooked, but almost as significant, is lower levels of noise and stimulation inwards the vehicle. Sure, you may be equipping your car with an harass system that violates most noise ordinances, and this may not be an issue, but there are many others who want to be able to love conversations at a normal speaking volume or their beloved disco album through the fresh 6×9’s.
We’ve become habitual to the cars of today that are tooled with more buttons than the Apollo thirteen rocket and creature comforts to keep us spoiled, so it’s not uncommon for us to want that translated into our project cars as well. We’ve realized that what we remembered from forty years ago may be a little fuzzy and it isn’t so much how “nice” those cars were, but it is more about the feelings these cars inspire in us. We need those memories to come alive, but not at the expense of our sanity or safety.