I have the 1.6 engine and my brother thinks i keep it in gear too long . Ok i do have size 10's but if i change to early the engine will struggle so i do tend to keep it planted longer than i should sometime. My question is at what speed on a normal flat road is the best time to change into each gear? Am hopping you guys and girls will have many good points and i would like to hear them please.
Just listen to the engine. You'll hear when it sounds strained. Better to rev a 1600 than let it lug. Better still, fit a rev counter: you'd prob be surprised how little it's actually revving. "What speed to I change gear" is a bit arbitrary.
Here's a pic of an old MGB rev counter that I recently fitted. As snotty says you would be surprised how little revs you are doing when the motor sounds like it is being revved hard, Mine is a 1600tp.
when you feel that the engine is trying to exit the engine bay change gear. With a small engine and a big van you need all you can get, you should be able to feel when the engine is at it peek
At about 30 I go into 3rd and as soon as I reach 40/45 I go 4th x dropping it down to 3rd if it just isn't right... You usually know whether to change gear or not but as people say it soon lugs so just feel what's right for your engine x
Thanks for that,my bro is a perfectionist and he dosn't like me to push my bus to much lol. Bless him,i do do it on purpose some times Atleast when i show him this thred he can take your points of veiw. So keep them comming. I am thinking of putting a rev counter in place of the non working clock. Will have to let Techenders know this is what i might need help with. If anyone have's a spare working rev counter for pennies they would like to get shot off then am your man (no comments about that lol).
MGB rev counter is ideal, it is triggered by a feed from the -ve terminal on the coil and its calibrated for a 4 cyl engine. You will need an 80mm mounting ring from vw heritage, rev counter off eBay, 4 connections - a wire off the coil -ve terminal, an ignition feed behind the dash (the black wire), splice into the dash lights wire (grey and red) and run an earth to the existing earth (brown wire behind the dash). I think I spent about £35 in total.
mines a 1600 t1 too, i just go with what feels right too.... liking that mg rev counter mod too, top work sailor bill!
I recently fitted a rev counteer to my t25 and when driving it normally i found i was changing up at just under 3k. Its rev limited to 5400. My 1600 bay westy usually gets taken up to around 3000-3500 on a flat road.
