I don't know what ACW is.  I have an '87 Westfalia, 2.1 L, and was
under the impression I have a three-speed automatic.  Is that not the
case?

Regarding the third paragraph, it feels condescending to say that
something is "obviously designed" a particular way.  There isn't
anything inherently obvious in this to most people.  If transmission
design were obvious to me, I don't think I'd be asking the question I
asked.

Thanks for trying to answer my question though.
Marc

On Wed, Aug 26, 2009 at 11:06 AM, Mike S<mikes@flatsurface.com> wrote:
> At 09:43 AM 8/26/2009, Marc Perdue wrote...
>
>> So, who the heck designs an automatic transmission that, when the
>> pedal is to the floor, kicks down to 2nd at 45 and back to 3rd at
>> 55?!?
>
> On a "ACW" 4 speed tranny, 45 MPH in 3rd is about 3570 RPM. 55 MPH in 2nd is
> about 7350 RPM (way above redline).
>
> No doubt you meant to say it's bouncing between 3rd and 4th. 45MPH in 4th is
> about 2500 RPM. 55 MPH in 3rd is about 4400 RPM.
>
> The transmission is obviously designed to keep the engine running at the
> high (more powerful) end of its "comfort zone" (the green area of the tach
> between 2K and 4K RPM) under full throttle.
>
>
>
>
>