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The first Vette I owned was a two-tone bronze '85. I bought it with 111,000 miles on it and it ran great. The only major repairs I did to it was a transmission rebuild and had a modded engine put in it (the original one had 142,000 on it and ran, but I wanted more power). The car was reliable, never left me stranded, and was easy to work on. I miss it sometimes. If I have a chance to buy another '85, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
So how do you shift through the gears? 1 to 4, push OD button, shift back to 2 and then back up? Sounds scary
I treat my 4+3 like a 6 speed....1-4, then push in clutch, hit button and shift down into 3rd (5th gear) then back into 4th OD (6th gear). This is done very naturally. Flat roads with 45mph speed limits are great for 3rd OD. The short shift levers are a great mod. I love the 4+3, even if it needs replaced, rebuilt or worked on, it is still a way cheaper and less of a hassle than a conversion. It has a regular clutch and flywheel. if you shop around, it's even cheaper than a rebuilt automatic. I bought a used low mileage unit out of an 88 for 500 bucks. I have seen them cheaper since then. The later model OD's have a lot of the problems engineered out of them. The motor is all Gen1...very cheap to rebuild. I did my whole long block for less than a grand. No Opti, no ABS, no VATS. No brainer. 85 is a good choice.
So how do you shift through the gears? 1 to 4, push OD button, shift back to 2 and then back up? Sounds scary
Yes, you can do that if you want but it's not really needed. I think most of us 4+3 owners just shift through the first four gears as normal gaining speed. The Super T10 four speed transmission is just a normal 4 speed transmission like all others. Just a very strong one though. The O/D can then be switched on and it goes right into O/D. It feels like a fifth gear. You can cruise very nicely with very low rpm's and very good gas mileage too. If you tromp down on the gas pedal in fourth gear with the O/D on, it will automatically kick out of O/D and go into 4th gear for powerful passing and then go back into O/D when you ease up on the pedal. Mine had no trouble cruising at 148 mph in O/D. (closed highway of course) All the 4+3 means is 4 normal gears PLUS the availability to put it into O/D in second, third or fourth gear if you want lower rpm's. You don't have to use the O/D at all if you don't want to.
Last edited by FOURSPEEDVETTE; Sep 28, 2010 at 07:41 PM.
I've come from the C3 side as well, so I hear what you're sayin. After having four C4's with two still in the driveway, I'd say if everything looks, works well, and the car isn't rattling to pieces, it's probably been reasonably well taken care of. See if the dash lights flicker...if so, that may need replacing soon. Also, if it has the Bose set up that may be a problem down the road. If it has automatic climate control, the head unit has been known to be problematic occasionally. All in all, it's a great car though and if everything works, he'll be happy with it.
I had a 4+3 in an '88 vert before and had no problems with it at all and I wasn't afraid to dog it either.
I am not sure how to post a question, but I took my '85 out of the garage this morning and parked it on our driveway (very slight incline) and now I can't turn the key in the ignition. I also cannot shift into any gears now.
Any suggestions?
I am not supposed to be able to turn the ignition to LOCK or get the key out without it being in Reverse, but it came out this morning like normal and now I cannot turn the ignition.
Fun Doug Nash fact about 85'. Only 84s and 85s have "Overdrive Engaged" lights, in 96 they went to the D with a circle around it. BUT WAIT...THERES MORE! 85' is a split year for the overdrive engage button. 84's and early 85's had switches next to the power mirror switch on the console...later 85's have the switch built into the button on top of the shifter...SOOOO, only late 85's have the button on the shifter and an "Overdrive Engaged" light.
I love my early 85! After sorting all of the issues related to old age and having been off the road for a while it is all sorted and is a blast to drive! 4+3 with 32k miles.
Although I don't have the DN 4+3, a few of my friends do or did. They use the trans as a regular 4 speed and only put it in OD while on the highway in 4th gear.
This is the way to do it.
For fuel economy, the rule of thumb (and it's a good one...) is to get into the highest gear possible as early as possible and stay there. That's the whole Skip-Shift thing with the 6 speeds that used to get people's panties in a wad for no reason whatsoever. If you didn't like skip shift, either hold 1st gear a little longer, take 10 minutes and $20 and install an eliminator or just step on the gas... ***POOF*** no skip shift.
L98's literally couldn't give a **** less about what gear they are in from just off idle if you are just putting around.
All the 4+3 means is 4 normal gears PLUS the availability to put it into O/D in second, third or fourth gear if you want lower rpm's. You don't have to use the O/D at all if you don't want to.
