Driver's Ed-Refresher course...M6 tranny

[adam_knox]

So got a question for all the "old timers" out there. My M6 tranny instruction manual says to use high gear for most driving, save low gear for minimal use for inclines. I live in Wisconsin, so the glaciers took care of any mountains, our highest point is a hill with a chruch on top I do believe. So besides when I'm starting on a hill/incline, when do I shift into low gear? How steep are we talking if I'm already doing between 25-40 mph (the proper speeds for the OD in High Drive)?

My low gear obviously prevents me from going most driving speeds, and shifting from High to Low requires me to significantly reduce speed.

On a related note, will the car in Low gear shift from 1st to 2nd if on an incline. Only have one hill I hit on occasion and never seems to upshift...

~Adam

[greg g]

I think first low range is pretty much usless unless you are pulling stumps, or hauling the grain wagon to the mill. Maybe creeping from the order post to the cashies window at Micky D's. Had a buddy that had a Desoto with the m6 years ago, only time he used low range was when hauling about 15 of us to 2 dollars a car load night at the drive in.

Isn't recommended top speed in high of low range 25 mph??

I'm thinking rockies, alleghenies, and adirondaks regarding hills. Maybe toss in San Francisco,

[PatS....]

On my 49 Chrysler #1, a daily driver in the 70's, I used high range (3 & 4) most of the time. There are a few hills around that need low range, and you just downshift into low range like you would any standard that you needed to downshift.

The trans is pretty bulletproof so you can't really screw anything up.

Just make sure all the wire ends are clean at the trans and carb, the grounds are good and the RPM is at 450 and it'll work as good as it was designed to work.

[adam_knox]

Thanks, looks like I'm doing okay.

There are a few hills around that need low range, and you just downshift into low range like you would any standard that you needed to downshift

Yeah, I grew up in area where "standard" wasn't standard anymore, so my experience with manual transmissions has been on sports cars and the thrill of fast shifting rather than actual practical use in traffic!