Will a three speed transmission with a Pontiac 400 make a seven hundred mile trip

THROTTLE BODY

MEMBER
1979 PONTIAC FIREBIRD
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
75,000 MILES

I am looking to purchase the car listed above it has a Pontiac 400 and a three speed transmission. I asked the owner if the car would make the drive as it seems to be in very good condition and he said that with it being a three speed and driving seven hundred miles with a three speed at eighty mph would be to high rpm's for that amount of driving. This did not make sense to me, what do you think?

Wednesday, September 28th, 2016 AT 2:56 PM

8 Replies

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

It depends what rear end is in it if it has a 3:55 ratio or less you should get about 15 on the E-way, but if it has a 4:56 or something like that maybe about 8 and engine would spin about 5 grand at E-way. About 3500 otherwise.

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Wednesday, September 28th, 2016 AT 3:36 PM

THROTTLE BODY

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5 POSTS

Would driving at 65-70 mph be an issue? I am not sure what rear end is in it and neither does the owner. He said it is the stock transmission that came in it when he purchased it in 1980.
Thank you for your reply.

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Wednesday, September 28th, 2016 AT 4:25 PM

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

Go on E-way for a short distance at that speed see what rpm's you turn it should be okay. See pictures. If you still have tags on rear end and feel like crawling under it the pictures show you where to look and what axle ratio you have unless it has been replaced with a higher gear.

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Thursday, September 29th, 2016 AT 6:02 AM

THROTTLE BODY

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5 POSTS

Thank you.

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Thursday, September 29th, 2016 AT 10:43 AM

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

Just as a footnote; if this is pretty much stock these things always went on the E-way with no problems. So I really do not know what you are worried about.

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Thursday, September 29th, 2016 AT 11:56 AM

THROTTLE BODY

MEMBER
5 POSTS

I am looking very forward to going to pick it up.

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Thursday, September 29th, 2016 AT 2:19 PM

RENEE L

ADMIN
1,260 POSTS

Hi THROTTLE BODY,

Nice looking car. Please get back to us after your trip and let HMAC300 and the rest of know how the car did.

Thank you for visiting 2CarPros.

Kindest regards,

Renee
Admin

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Thursday, September 29th, 2016 AT 3:35 PM

THROTTLE BODY