Difference in "performance trans and economy trans"

planetsaturn · 04-28-2005, 10:55 PM

New member here.
Have a 1996 SL1 5spd. 132,000 miles. The spider gear pin came loose and went thru the trans case. A friend put a used '97 5spd in it. Turns out it is the "performance trans". Mech. did not know this at the time.

The local dealer did not know the difference in the final drive ratios.
Does any one know the ratios????
Does this affect the speedo???
If so, how do you correct it in the 1996 SL1.
I assume the performance version of the trans is out of a SC series??
Thanks for help in advance

scottyr94 · 04-29-2005, 01:32 AM

No this will not affect the speedo. It will work for you just fine, you just might notice a slightly higher rpm on the highway and a slight decrease in gas mileage. The plus side to it is you have shorter gears so you have a little bit better acceleration. The MP2 is the sohc manual trans or economy version as you call it. The MP3 is the dohc manual trans or the performance as you say, which is what was put in. The only difference is the gearing and doesn't matter coupe or sedan, they go with the respective engine. A word of advice too, don't spin your tires, it will save the diff pin in your new trans.

SL2 · 04-29-2005, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottyr94

A word of advice too, don't spin your tires, it will save the diff pin in your new trans.

i couldn't agree much more.. damn diff pin fauliers.

planetsaturn · 04-29-2005, 03:12 AM

Thanks for the responses. The local dealer is the one who referred to the trans as "performance vs. economy"!! Probably for simplicity sake.
I prefer to call them by their real names MP3 etc. now that I know that.
My son drives the car. That might explain the tire spinning situation!!! duh.
The car revs 3500 +/- at 80 mph on stock tires. Does this sound right???

Again I hope someone knows the difference in the gear ratios of the MP2 vs MP3.

Just curious.
BTW the car is a lot quicker now, as you would expect.
I hope my son can go easy on the tires/clutch. The next one will be on him. Double duh..
My friend put the new trans in for $600 total. Don't think I will get that lucky again.

PurdueGuy · 04-29-2005, 03:43 AM

I have the MP2 and the RPMs are around 3,000 at 80 mph, so I expect for the MP3 approx 3,500 rmp is about right at 80 mph.

Satyllac · 04-29-2005, 10:24 AM

I know the difference in gear ratios... Along with their respective theoretical top-speeds using a 6,500 RPM redline.

With the MP3, I was at ~2,500 RPM's at 70 MPH (I think...). After I put in the MP2, I was down to 2,000 at 70 (once again, I think...). I haven't had my Saturn since January, so I forgot exactly where the needles used to rest at cruising speeds...

Here's a link to how I obtained the numbers:
View Post: Top Speed!

Here's the chart (all speeds are in MPH at 6,500 RPMs):
http://usera.imagecave.com/rwkerstet...ssionChart.jpg

For everyone's information:
MP2 = SOHC 5 Speed
MP3 = DOHC 5 Speed
MP6 = SOHC 4 Speed Automatic
MP7 = DOHC 4 Speed Automatic

nyce · 04-29-2005, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SL2

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottyr94

A word of advice too, don't spin your tires, it will save the diff pin in your new trans.

i couldn't agree much more.. damn diff pin fauliers.

Just get it welded...

planetsaturn · 04-30-2005, 01:49 AM

Thanks again for all the replys. The RPM/speed/gear chart is a great help.
Many thanks. Don't think we are going to do 6500 rpm pulls though!!

Nice to know the speedo is not off. Seems like there is about 500rpm diff. at cruise. Like the powerband better now in town.

This Saturn is a testimony to its strength and quality. It has suffered much abuse at the hands of teenage drivers

and keeps on going.
Last year someone (I will not mention names) put it into first gear at 75 mph on I-20

. The clutch disc grenaded. Wonder what the rpms went to for that second???We push started it and drove it home(no slippage!!) 100+ miles. Flywheel OK. Belhousing OK. Replaced clutch,P-plate and release bearing.

PurdueGuy · 04-30-2005, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by planetsaturn

Last year someone (I will not mention names) put it into first gear at 75 mph on I-20

.

scottyr94 · 04-30-2005, 07:45 PM

Geez, why would someone do that if not on accident. I couldn't even see doing that on accident as you have move the shifter to the left to get it to first, just something I would not think of going that fast. I also though you couldn't get it in first gear unless going slower than 5 or something. I have accidently put it in the third instead of 5th going 75 and that redlined, couldn't imagine 1st.