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Re: It's Okay to be Shiftless
<<As far as it being okay to be shiftless...when my fiance' insisted on an ovlov
wagon for her "mommiewagon" kid hauler I was told by a very good ovlov wrench
that the slush was the only way to go on the NA4 motor cars. The slushbox has
fewer long term problems, and actualy gets better fuel economy than the stick-
shift version of those cars. >>
As a long-time "ovloV" guy (since recovered), I have to disagree with this
point.
I've worked on numerous 240's with well over 200K miles and have yet to see
a manual gearbox problem (though clutches are needed often... heavy car, little
torque... but a clutch job is a couple of hours and $150 in parts.) OTOH, I've
seen very few ovloV slushboxes make it past 100K.... and they're not cheap to
rebuild _and_ most shops do a very poor job of rebuilding them. I avoid the
slushboxes with the same fervor I avoid the nasty PRV V-6. As far as better
economy, I just don't see it. Most of my 240's have had a 20% OD and mileage
was consistently in the 30's. However, were I to buy a "mommiewagon" (perish
the thought!), I, too would opt for the slushbox, despite my misgivings about
it.
<<Also, FWIW, factory rated tow capacities are much
higher with slushboxes. Case in point...the ovlov has the same factory tow
capacity as my (now gone) 92 dorf F-150 supercab with a 4.9L I6 (5spd thank
you ;-)...). Said pickemup with slush had twice the tow rating.>>
Agreed. I specifically bought my Bronco because it was one of the last years
that
a C6 was available as an optional transmission. (Much stronger than its 4sp
successor) Of course, serious off-road stuff is better with a manual, but as
a work truck (no SUV here!) that occaisionally gets off-road action, the
slushbox
simply makes more sense.
<< Slushboxes do have their place...just not in performance cars.>>
Completely agree.
Bill Elliott
Lake Mills, WI