240 General: New (to me) 1980 Volvo 244

[Stephen Edwin]

Originally Posted by 360beast

We got there in the end then haha, so it is a 4 speed with hydraulic lockup.

I'm not a fan of automatics simply as I don't feel as engaged when driving them and for my purposes the M90 gearbox is stronger than the AW71L, I have seen people do an "accumulator mod" which literally means cutting some bolts down and putting them inside the gearbox, but I'm not in to such dodgy mods, longevity is the name of the game for me.

Also the M90 is such a smooth and positive feeling gearbox for me it is perfect. I do however agree that the auto in my 940 is perfect for town driving and stop start traffic.

good also at long distance

My 240 has a five speed manual which is very good.

My long gone 740 GLT 16 valve had an auto box with a button on the selector basically restricting to lower ratios.

The auto was good both in town and long distance.
When doing a working tour, there are better things to occupy one's mind and energies than, changing gear!
That auto helped to keep me alive.)

Each to their own. If I changed car now I'd prefer an auto.

Stephen

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[Stephen Edwin]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

There's nowt wrong with automatics .... half the reason many people don't like them is simply because they don't understand....

Yes.

Sometimes they don't understand how to use them.

And they want the "control" of a manual but ahem, sometimes have no real idea how to use a mnual. Did I say that? How mny drivers change down through the gears, with the clutch pedal continuously depressed?

Coasting with the transmission disengaged ... FAIL init?

Stephen

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[360beast]

Originally Posted by Stephen Edwin

Yes.

Sometimes they don't understand how to use them.

And they want the "control" of a manual but ahem, sometimes have no real idea how to use a mnual. Did I say that? How mny drivers change down through the gears, with the clutch pedal continuously depressed?

Coasting with the transmission disengaged ... FAIL init?

Stephen

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My friend was telling me how her boyfriend gets up to the speed limit then puts it in neutral and coasts along until the speed drops then goes back in to gear to get back up to the speed limit and then coasts again as "he gets better economy"

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by 360beast

My friend was telling me how her boyfriend gets up to the speed limit then puts it in neutral and coasts along until the speed drops then goes back in to gear to get back up to the speed limit and then coasts again as "he gets better economy"

If he's doing that with an automatic he won't do it long!

Also he probably wastes more fuel getting back up to speed than he saves by coasting at idle, especially as the mixture goes extra lean when cruising or perhaps he keeps jabbing the loud pedal while cruising.........

Not sure how the law stands on this but i know that you're not in full control if the car is out of gear - it's a bit like driving without your hands on the wheel

[360beast]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

If he's doing that with an automatic he won't do it long!

Also he probably wastes more fuel getting back up to speed than he saves by coasting at idle, especially as the mixture goes extra lean when cruising or perhaps he keeps jabbing the loud pedal while cruising.........

Not sure how the law stands on this but i know that you're not in full control if the car is out of gear - it's a bit like driving without your hands on the wheel

It is a manual but even then like you say he is probably wasting fuel if anything and I'm pretty sure it would be considered dangerous driving as he isn't in full control of the car.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by 360beast

As far as I'm aware it is a 4 speed gearbox but several people have been telling me it is a 3 speed with an overdive and a hydraulic lock up.

After googling I was right in the first place that it is a 4 speed gearbox, however it says 4 speed with overdrive and a hydraulic lockup for European models. So maybe the overdrive is being counted as a 4th gear, who knows! The lockup occurs at 65mph, drop to about 63mph and it disengages, you can physically feel the gearbox change how the car drives at these two stages.

http://www.nuceng.ca/bill/volvo/data...ranny.htm#AW71

If you press the "overdrive" button it actually just stops it from engaging 4th gear and an orange arrow appears on the dashboard.

All I know for sure is that I don't like automatics and my 940 is getting a manual

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

A three speed + overdrive is still a 4-speed box though.

Hence the data in the link you provided :

Transmission name: AW71

Type: 4 speed automatic
Manufacturer: Aisin-Warner (Japan)
Gear ratios: (1) 2.45:1 (2) 1.45:1 (3) 1.00:1 (4) 0.69:1
Notes: With overdrive (AW71), or with overdrive and lockup torque converter (AW71L).

There's nowt wrong with automatics as long as they're maintained correctly and in some cars are more economical (round town at least, sometimes on the open road as well) and half the reason many people don't like them is simply because they don't understand the "witchcraft" that makes them work.

Excellent discussion there Luke and Dave, I was busy yesterday and so missed it, but I'm delighted the outcome has been that I'm getting exactly what I want:

- a 4 speed automatic.
- a higher top gear (0.69:1).
- a hydraulic lock up in top gear from about 65 MPH.
- use the shifter in the RB (to maintain the look).
- simple electrical connection (keeping the old shifter should make the starter immobiliser and reversing lights the same, just one more ignition switched live needed for the 4th gear solenoid - no need for the overdrive defeat).

Perfect

[loki_the_glt]

The 5-speedbox fitted to VX490s had a direct 5th, as do some older BMW 5-series cars - the shift pattern has 1st opposite reverse so you're dog-legging to get second gear; the reasoning was to give a "sporting" feel whereas the conventional 5-speed pattern BMW used offered a touring (i.e. over-driven) 5th, with the out-on-a-limb ratio normally not required.

My preference is for the M47 over the M90 - sacrilege to many but I prefer the former's feel and pattern.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Othen

Excellent discussion there Luke and Dave, I was busy yesterday and so missed it, but I'm delighted the outcome has been that I'm getting exactly what I want:

- a 4 speed automatic.
- a higher top gear (0.69:1).
- a hydraulic lock up in top gear from about 65 MPH.
- use the shifter in the RB (to maintain the look).
- simple electrical connection (keeping the old shifter should make the starter immobiliser and reversing lights the same, just one more ignition switched live needed for the 4th gear solenoid - no need for the overdrive defeat).

Perfect

You could probably pick up the feed for 4th solenoid from the reverse light feed on the inhibitor switch Alan as it is ignition fed.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

You could probably pick up the feed for 4th solenoid from the reverse light feed on the inhibitor switch Alan as it is ignition fed.

Exactly Dave, a short jumper from wherever I find a nearby switched live will be fine (reverse switch input should do fine). I think that is that engineering problem solved.

[Stephen Edwin]

Originally Posted by 360beast

My friend was telling me how her boyfriend gets up to the speed limit then puts it in neutral and coasts along until the speed drops then goes back in to gear to get back up to the speed limit and then coasts again as "he gets better economy"

Thanks.

Nice one!

I think I've heard that idea before.

Stephen

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