Is "Overdrive" still relevant?

[Papa Bear]

Thanks, Shannow. What you are saying makes sense.

 

[ls1mike]

I will tell you the best Auto transmission I have ever had is the TH400 in my 89 1 ton. 3 speed non-lockup converter to a set of 4.10's out back. 62 mph is 3000 RPM 70 is right around 3300 rpm. With the big aux transmission cooler pulling mountain passes with my 5th wheel I have never seen temp of over 200 degrees, because it stays in Drive no downshifting or upshifting. On the flats just crusing if ambient air temp is over 75. The temp of the fluid will sit at 165 going 65 pulling the same 5th wheel. 185,000 miles on this transmission. All these fancy transmission now are just something else to go wrong.

 

[RTexasF]

I owned a '58 Ford two door station wagon with a 352ci (I think) Police Interceptor, three on the tree, and a pull lever activated (like pulling an emergency brake back in the day) overdrive. It would activate in 2nd and 3rd effectively giving you a five speed stick. I never found a road long & straight enough to see what it would really do. That's likely a good thing because it wouldn't stop or turn. A rarity then but commonplace these days be it stick shift or auto.

Today with CAFE it is EXTREMELY relevant.