How does the manual version of the srt4 have over drive. correct me if im wrong.

How does the manual version of the srt4 have over drive. correct me if im wrong.

Overdrive in a manual trans is fifth or sixth gear. It all has to do with the gearing in the trans. Over drive is geared so you get one turn of the drive shaft too one revolition or the crank shaft.

Overdrive in a manual trans is fifth or sixth gear. It all has to do with the gearing in the trans. Over drive is geared so you get one turn of the drive shaft too one revolition or the crank shaft.

Overdrive is actually geared so you get *more* than one turn of the drive shaft per engine (crankshaft) revolution. According to http://nittofranchise.tripod.com/id11.html, the gear ratios of an SRT4 are
1st Gear - 4.645
2nd Gear - 2.350
3rd Gear - 1.574
4th Gear - 1.160
5th Gear - 0.833
6th Gear - 0.610
so anything less than 1 is overdrive. In 5th, you will get .833 turns of the engine for every turn of the driveshaft (ignoring the effect of the final drive ratio). To a point, the slower the engine turns, the better the gas mileage, the quieter and more relaxed the cruising, and the engine lasts longer. The down side is you are lower in the power band and have less acceleration and may have to downshift just to climb hills.