Thanks 3 times Veeborg I ordered the parts from moparsupercenter.com today. It was like $80 for the chain, $40 for one gear and $35 for the other gear.

If everything goes right I will pull the engine Wednesday tear it down thursday see what I need order it and rebuild Saturday, drop it back in Sunday. That is assuming I don't have to out of town order any parts.

Sweet. So how are you going to correct the speedo reading?

 

Sweet. So how are you going to correct the speedo reading?

I second that question Warlord. I've decided to do this mod. I'm going to make some time to call Jeff and see what he knows about getting the dealer to recalibrate. If anyone will give us the straight story, it'll be Jeff. I'll post after I talk to him.

-Dan

 

The short answer..... I am not going to fix the speedo gig.

I figure +7% hell that might prevent me from getting a speeding ticket. i mean really hows it going to hurt if you think you are going a touch faster? I mean it's only 7 mph at 100. So if I think I am going 60. Not to bad.

I used to have a 85 ford ranger with the pinto 2.3. I tell you if anyone ever says show me a tough as nails motor point to a ford cast iron 2.3 (pinto motor) or a toyota 22r. Anyways the engine was tough but no ribbon winner. I bought it from my dad with like 180k miles on it. Fixed it up to be respectable. Decided make it run a bit better, I got to researching and I found that the differential in the truck was a 3.04. I figured a 3.7 would make for a good swap, but I couldn't find a 3.7 all I found was a nasty old 3.43. Let me tell you that was the best damn mod ever.

The truck got better mileage and not just because the odometer was reporting more miles, but I mean it really beefed up the MPG. I think the mileage went from about 21 to about 27. I could burn a little rubber in 2nd for the first time ever and a touch in 3rd around a corner. The truck was faster and more efficient. About 10k miles later I rebuilt the engine and it ran much stronger after that strong enough to pull a 2300 pound boat off the steepest ramp I know of, about a 20 degree or maybe a touch steeper.

So I know for a fact that you can get a vehicle that is crippled by gearing from the factory. I think the case is not as extreme in the intrepid, but I really doubt I will see as large of a MPG drop as you will a pep in the step increase.

Someone else has allready said that the name of the game in street cars is not top end up peppy acceleration. Pick any Kia on the lot and it will hit 100 mph if you hold it long enough. What the average person wants is just a little more excitement in every day traffic. 0-40 is where most people squirm around. I used to have a 86 RX-7 that all factory would smoke any Intrepid I have ever seen (it was 10 years old and had fair tires when I got it and worked it up to 137mph the first night I had it). The Intrepid is not on the same playing field as a true sports car, you just make it a bit more fun to drive and be happy. Besides with all the pimp game I play these days I couldn't fit all my girlfriends in the old RX-7..... Hope my wife doesn't read this.

 

There are two chains used not one.

Replace both or replace neither.

 

Two chains? Are you sure about that? on the transfer gears?

 

Two chains? Are you sure about that? on the transfer gears?

1998-2004 Yes I am 100% certain.

Care to bet a years salary?

I have changed out the gears about 6 times. I think I got this one.

 

Look I am not trying to challenge you, I am just trying to verify. I thought I had read all of these threads real well and that is the first mention of 2 chains I have seen so it sort of shocked me. Of course you never hear the truth untill you put your money on the line.

I take it they both don't come in the same box under the part number that veeborg listed? I asked the mopar guy if that was all I needed and he said " Yep that's all we usually do"

 

Look I am not trying to challenge you, I am just trying to verify. I thought I had read all of these threads real well and that is the first mention of 2 chains I have seen so it sort of shocked me. Of course you never hear the truth untill you put your money on the line.

I take it they both don't come in the same box under the part number that veeborg listed? I asked the mopar guy if that was all I needed and he said " Yep that's all we usually do"

Sorry. Didn't mean to come on so strong. Simply meant to unequivocally end all debate on the matter. The setup is known as a Gemini chain. It has the advantage of allowing the engineering limit of a higher speed in feet per second available to a narrow (5/8") chain coupled with the strength of a wider (1 1/4") chain. The half tooth offset also enables a harmonic dampening which has one chain tooth releasing at a time.

The chain part number is for ONE chain. The two chains are identical. One link on one side is a darker color. That side of the chain faces the rear wheels.

I may have a picture on file.

That is a pic of the AFTERMARKET Race gears. They are a SINGLE chain 1.75 inches wide.


I could not find a picture of the full setup with chains as I just reinstalled my stock set two days ago. Below however are pics of one of the special gears I have. It is one of the gears you just purchased.

 

Well it is not supposed to ship until tommorrow. I wonder if I should call and cancel the chain order, and just get the gears. Or do I need to go ahead and get the second chain as well?

 

I would cancel the chain. I have never seen a damaged chain in any LH installation. I have always reused the chain.

First time for everything I guess but that would be my call.

 

Thanks for the input. Tonight I was getting ready for the engine pull. Accidently broke the petcock while loosening the bottom transmission cooler line. I hope I can get in touch with the supercenter folks soon enough to cancel that chain, I'll need the money to replace the petcock.

 

I thought I'd add my latest to the 3.89 gear thread.

I ordered gears and (1) chain from Jeff Hunter today. Total with shipping was ~$150. Half of that was for the chain. And Don, I asked Jeff twice about the chain. He said he was holding the gears and the chain in his hand and it was (1) chain. So, I'll see when it comes via FedEx.

Whether its one chain or two, I'm going to replace mine. With 92k miles, why skimp on $75?

Also, I asked Jeff about the speedo correction. Jeff said ANY dealer or shop with a OBD II scan tool can change the pinion factor.

I'll find out soon.

-Dan

 

I thought I'd add my latest to the 3.89 gear thread.

I ordered gears and (1) chain from Jeff Hunter today. Total with shipping was ~$150. Half of that was for the chain. And Don, I asked Jeff twice about the chain. He said he was holding the gears and the chain in his hand and it was (1) chain. So, I'll see when it comes via FedEx.

I look forward to what you find.

 

I took my heads,block, pistons, and crank to the shop today and don't have much to do this weekend, so I will probably crawl under there and put those gears in. I am a little nervous about finding a way to secure the tranny while I do this. I am noticing it is just sorta suspended there right now. I have a trolley jack holding it up, but when I have to slide it around to get the transmission crossmember out of the way I am not sure if it is going to crash down and bonk me on the head or what. I think I can get some heavy wire and sorto of hang it by that.

I really need to get that transmission crossmember out and examine the transmission mount. I think it is fubar, but I can't really tell from underneight.

 

Also, I asked Jeff about the speedo correction. Jeff said ANY dealer or shop with a OBD II scan tool can change the pinion factor.

I'll find out soon.

-Dan

They can change the "pinion factor" easily but any good Mopar computer tech will tell you that's only a tire size correction and has limited options. I've seen this screen on the ODBII myself when I had my R/T PCM changed for the 300M Special PCM. There were 3 options listed: 225/60/16, 225/55/17, and 245/45/18 - all factory issue sizes and all within ±1% of each other when you calculate the circumference of the tire. If it were possible to change it I would have changed mine (the other way) since I'm still running the stock 3.66 gears on a PCM programmed for 3.89 gears ...

 

Don,

I look forward to what you find.

See pic below

that really ticks me off. this chain is going back to Rick Hendrick Dodge. I am not paying $75 x 2 for (2) new chains for these gears. Its bad enough I have to pay return shipping after I specifically questioned Jeff Hunter on (1) or (2) chains.

However, 3.89 gears are here. Now I just need to get them installed.


And D76G12,

I've seen this screen on the ODBII myself when I had my R/T PCM changed for the 300M Special PCM. There were 3 options listed: 225/60/16, 225/55/17, and 245/45/18 - all factory issue sizes and all within ±1% of each other when you calculate the circumference of the tire. If it were possible to change it I would have changed mine (the other way) since I'm still running the stock 3.66 gears on a PCM programmed for 3.89 gears ...

I'm sure you're correct. Especially after the above.

-Dan


-Dan

 

Ok I am a noob. So I got back from New Jersey yesterday. Today I crawl under my gutted intrepid whose block and heads are at the machine shop, and tackle the transfer gears. First of all does anyone know if there is supposed to be a gasket on the cover or just black RTV? mine only had black RTV.

I had my digital camera beside me and I kept telling myself to take a picture, but I was like screw it take a picture when you are done. So I popped the retainers off and jerked off the gears. So the dumb question is, does the big gear go on the right or on the left. I think I have it on right with the big gear on the lower right shaft and the other gear on the left. Also I was a dumbie because when I was trying to put the new gears on I accidently rotated one of the gears by a tooth or three. When I realized what I had done I rotated it back in the opposite direction to what felt to be right. Does it matter if one of the shafts were to rotate a little? I hope like hell not because I didn't pay any attention to it before I did it.

So I am hoping someone can answer the question about the shaft rotating. Also there was a small nylon bushing on the back of the upper gear that if anyone else does this make sure you put it back on because mine was stuck to the gear and I almost missed it. So in a few days I will RTV the cover back on after I have hopefully figured out if the rotation will matter.

 

First of all does anyone know if there is supposed to be a gasket on the cover or just black RTV? mine only had black RTV.

Nothing but RTV.

So I popped the retainers off and jerked off the gears. So the dumb question is, does the big gear go on the right or on the left. I think I have it on right with the big gear on the lower right shaft and the other gear on the left.

You got it correct. Small gear on trans output shaft. (Drivers side) Large gear on the transfer shaft (passenger side)

I accidently rotated one of the gears by a tooth or three. When I realized what I had done I rotated it back in the opposite direction to what felt to be right. Does it matter if one of the shafts were to rotate a little? I hope like hell not because I didn't pay any attention to it before I did it.

Does not matter at all UNLESS you mean you might have put it on BACKWARDS. Rotation of teeth (as in timing) is completely irrelevant.

Also there was a small nylon bushing on the back of the upper gear that if anyone else does this make sure you put it back on because mine was stuck to the gear and I almost missed it.

Yes. That is on the driver's side gear if I remember correctly.

So in a few days I will RTV the cover back on after I have hopefully figured out if the rotation will matter.

You will be fine.

 

I think I answered my own question about rotating the shaft. It can't matter because the gears being different sizes there is no way that in normal operation the shafts would maintain a consistent relationship to one another. In other words they would get screwwed up if they were not allready screwwed up, so it should work.

Anyone know about the RTV or gaskter on the cover?

 

Ok I just wanted to drop my 2 cents on the 3.89 mod. Remember my engine only has like 160 miles on it since rebuild so it is not quite broke in yet.

Regardless of what anyone says this is not that hard of a mod. It looks very daunting when you look under there. My advise for someone who is sitting on the fence on this mod is just order the parts filter pan gasket and 6 quarts of ATF and do it. If you have any mechanical skills and have read our tips and howtos here you should be able to do it. Timeframe I would guess between 2 and 4 hours.

If you have good jackstands and can get the whole car off the ground enough to lay on your back on a creeper under if and have a 10, 13, and 15 mm sockets that is most of it. I also used a painters 5 way tool to help get the little retainer off, but you could use a small screwdriver of hook pick. You will need something to scrap the gasket with I used the 5 way tool. A tube of black RTV and you should be good to go.

Like I said my engine is not broke all the way in so it has more ring pressure right now then it will in a few hundred miles, but I can tell a difference. To me it seems like the engine is not as burdened right after a shift. Like if you floor it in 1st when it shifts to 2nd it used to drag for a minute, but not anymore. So you get a more fluid power band. Also I did not correct my speedo and don't plan to so you don't have to worry about that if you don't want to.

I really like this mod because it WILL make a difference. It isn't like soft science you are dealing with here it is hard mathmatics. You affect the gear ratios it will perform differently.

If you want to screw with your buddies put his on backwards so it is like a permanent overdrive.

 

Don,




See pic below

that really ticks me off. this chain is going back to Rick Hendrick Dodge. I am not paying $75 x 2 for (2) new chains for these gears. Its bad enough I have to pay return shipping after I specifically questioned Jeff Hunter on (1) or (2) chains.

However, 3.89 gears are here. Now I just need to get them installed.


And D76G12,




I'm sure you're correct. Especially after the above.

-Dan


-Dan

???? 's i got the gears today from the dealer. When i got home i opened the boxes. I found rust on the gears like you show in the photo. Not as bad as your's. But way more than i thought, for a brand new part from the dealer? Any body else find this on their new gears form the dealer?

 

???? 's i got the gears today from the dealer. When i got home i opened the boxes. I found rust on the gears like you show in the photo. Not as bad as your's. But way more than i thought, for a brand new part from the dealer? Any body else find this on their new gears form the dealer?

Got mine brand new from the dealer with rust spots as well..

They were installed with no problems.

 

Yes, the rust does look weird on a brand new part. The shop that installed mine didn't bat an eye at them.

-Dan

 

Don,




See pic below

that really ticks me off. this chain is going back to Rick Hendrick Dodge. I am not paying $75 x 2 for (2) new chains for these gears. Its bad enough I have to pay return shipping after I specifically questioned Jeff Hunter on (1) or (2) chains.

However, 3.89 gears are here. Now I just need to get them installed.


And D76G12,




I'm sure you're correct. Especially after the above.

-Dan


-Dan

Am I looking at that pic wrong? According to that pic, you only need the one chain as it looks like the width of one chain is the same width as one of the gears. What am I missing?

 

I don't know about the chain. I am using the old one. Being the tranny only has about 4,500 miles on it. Thanks for everybodies help. It just did not look right opening the box. And finding a new part with rust on it. I guess i will be calling SS Performance Wed to get a appt to get them installed.