This is by no means scientific:
My
first fuel calculation with the new diff ratio- 24 mpg in the city, with spirited driving
. 5 gallons to fuel light was 120 miles. Put another 5 in today and will see if I make 120 again.
I would like to see 28 in the city, but I might need to go back to using the ALDA. 35 mpg on the highway and I would be a happy camper. Remember I turn 2100 rpm at 65 mph.
Other notes:
Drove in snowy/slick conditions today. Even with new snow tires I'm getting wheel spin if I dont watch it. A sandbag or two may be in order(helped in my 400E). Starting in 2nd may be an option, but for now I would rather save the tired clutch.
Shifting is getting better(with practice) but I can tell it's not all coming together smoothly in the tranny. Could be the shifter rebuild I botched and/or the tranny fluid. I'm using redline but it has been suggested that going back to atf or gear oil may help.
Pulls like a train in the 2500-4000 rpm range, anything more seems like a waste. You gotta shift at higher rpm's(ie 2000+) or you will get lugging. And if you dilly dally(hello that's me) in the shifts you will loose too many rpm's and kinda ruin the show.
I'm still only using 1-2"s of "gas" pedal deflection, anything more and the old clutch slips. Will spin the snows tires/smoke/leave tread/kick out at will from a stop... again, trying to save the clutch.
She definitely prefers to be "driven"... try to granny it and she get's all choppy.
Car still seems really jerky/jumpy... I was blaming the shifting but I now suspect the early 124 seats and the front end. It's real tight in the front but has always sat really high.. something like 6"+ from factory tire size to front fender lip. Could have some really odd springs in it for some reason.
If switching fluids will allow be to downshift to 2nd better(w/o a crunch) then the low speed transitions would be a lot better. Now I'm trying to use 3rd from a turn where I would prefer 2nd. But come to think of it..... I had a convo with someone about my botched shifter rebuild and the fact that it might not be disengaging a gear completely before I try to put in in another..... hmmm I will have to swap shifters for the old one and see.
So far I LOVE driving it... I just wonder if the same setup in a wagon would give the same LOVE?