New Guy Ventura CA 88 RT Wagon manual high revs on hwy

fivestaplesfivestaples Band Wagon
in New User Introductions
Hi all,

Heard these were fun, giving it a try--mine does about 3500 rpm in top gear at 70 mph-- I'm looking for another lever to throw!! :) I'm guessing it's the gearing for 4wd, or else something is stuck--
Wheels are little 13's too, which isn't gonna help.

Thought to ask you guys as you would know--is this normal?

Thanks,

Comments

  • MrLewayneMrLewayne Wagonist
    Haha, yeah, its completely normal. And there isn't anyway to 'fix' it. Unless you had the 2wd wagon. Then you could swap in a higher ratio geared transmission from another model D-series engine...but yeah. Its fine man. Honda's rev high. :) enjoy it. And it doesn't matter if you change your wheel size unless you had like 35" wheels would you even begin to see a difference. :lol:
  • NZ-DB8RNZ-DB8R Moderator
    Welcome

    As said above, dont worry about the revs, my Integra would be doing about 4300rpm at 70mp/h.
  • jt223539jt223539 New Wagonist
    Drove my new RT Wagon home yesterday, and was thinking the same thing the entire way home. Read somewhere that even though you are at that high of RPMs, due to the gear ratio of the RT transmission you still get decent gas mileage. (Could be wrong, please don't castrate me if so)
  • leWolfleWolf Senior Wagonist
    jt223539 wrote:
    Drove my new RT Wagon home yesterday, and was thinking the same thing the entire way home. Read somewhere that even though you are at that high of RPMs, due to the gear ratio of the RT transmission you still get decent gas mileage. (Could be wrong, please don't castrate me if so)
    CASTRATE?!?!?! Who do you think we are? Honda tech? D-Series.org? Were much more civilized than the typical boards. We use branding irons instead. :lol:
  • fivestaplesfivestaples Band Wagon
    Thanks guys--thought it was made like a motorcycle that way =)
    Body has some rust issues, and it's over 200k miles, but it is fun to drive, just need to tighten up that shifter somewhat and squirt some silicone ( around front windshield--really ugly rust there) and just run it like a trophy truck. =P
  • jt223539jt223539 New Wagonist
    AlexanderleWolf wrote:
    CASTRATE?!?!?! Who do you think we are? Honda tech? D-Series.org? Were much more civilized than the typical boards. We use branding irons instead. :lol:

    Oh ok, good to know.
  • ScallyWagScallyWag Wagonist
    I beg to differ.... I drive an 89 RT and I've got a set of 13" rims with 70 series rubber AND a set of 14" rims with 70 series, and I notice a big difference between them. The 13's make the car accelerate faster, but top out sooner (revs) and throw off the speedo too.

    Long story short, those rims are too small (RT's are 14" OEM) and will make the engine rev highER for the same speeds, HOWEVER, Hondas all rev pretty high anyways. I'd say the difference at 70mph may be only about +/- 500rpm between 13" and 14".

    At highway speeds I'm wishin for a 6th gear too... and not SL!
  • fivestaplesfivestaples Band Wagon
    I hear ya--might be worth it to put some 14's on it once I get some other stuff pinned down. I notice it's got low end gearing for days--wouldn't barely feel a taller tire on there. 500 rpm is still less screamin' on the freeway... =)
  • NoseNose New Wagonist
    Not to beat a dead horse, but allow me to second the motion to upgrade to 14's. I went from stock 13 inch steelies to no-name 14's with some Cooper 195/60 tires and it completely changed the way the car rode and drove. It's like you're driving a different car afterwards.

    Well, that or maybe I'm just easily amused. :)
  • ChaifeChaife Instagram grand master
    ScallyWag wrote:
    I beg to differ.... I drive an 89 RT and I've got a set of 13" rims with 70 series rubber AND a set of 14" rims with 70 series, and I notice a big difference between them. The 13's make the car accelerate faster, but top out sooner (revs) and throw off the speedo too.

    Long story short, those rims are too small (RT's are 14" OEM) and will make the engine rev highER for the same speeds, HOWEVER, Hondas all rev pretty high anyways. I'd say the difference at 70mph may be only about +/- 500rpm between 13" and 14".

    i would have to concur, i too did this testing; noticed the difference and stuck with 14". Not to mention it rides a spec smoother w/ 14".
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