That grand wagoneer also didn't downshift so easy cuz it only had 3 gears......took a lot to get it to downshift compared to today's transmissions.
Today's transmissions downshift faster cuz it's means the engine revs and doesn't lug, which helps emissions and mpg.
Thing is, it didn’t “lug” the engine at all. That’s exactly the point I was trying to make. The older engines made their peek power much lower in the rpm range, and didn’t need to spin up to 6k just to pass someone.
Perfect example of this is the 4.0 (I6) vs the 3.8(V6). They are similar in displacement and peek output, but the 3.8 has to rev much higher to make those peek numbers.
This lead to a lot of people feeling like the 3.8 was under powered or “doggy” because they were used to the 4.0 having its torque so low in the rpm range.
My current truck for example (2012,5.7,6speed) is no slouch, however, it pulls considerably harder above 3000rpm.
Example: rolling start, hit the gas, it down shifts and pulls ok. But once it hits 3K, you can feel it come alive.
While the engine in my old truck did make slightly less peek power(350 vs the hemi’s ~400), it hit those peek numbers much lower in the rpm range. It was “all in” under 3500rpm, which is where the hemi is just starting to come alive.
It is a completely different driving experience, and one that I sometimes miss.
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