My grandpa has a 2wd '87 pickup. (5 speed manual transmission) I was driving around in it and noticed that his doesn't have as much pep as mine has (86 toyo pickup). He bought it brand new and has had it ever since. I figured he just needed his carb rebuilt (mine has been rebuilt). But upon driving it, he was complaining about how I shifted through the gears. Apparently he shifts most of the time from second to fifth. Which I don't think that should be a problem, but he doesn't max out the rpms in second, and that puts the truck straining to get up to speed. I drove it like I drive mine, and I shift when the truck is just under the point at which it opens up the second barrel of the carb. -Anyways- I was wondering if driving it like that for all these years has screwed up the transmission. I might get this truck someday, and the interior is in mint condition. Almost as if it had just rolled off the assembly line. So that is the question I am wanting yall to answer about the trans. Thanks!

 

Well, without a tach for reference it's hard to geuss rpms. But, to give you an idea the shift point should be well above 3000, more like 3400. Fairly, high. That's a traight of Toyota engines, the power band only really starts there and continues through 5500ish.

 

Wow, 2nd to 5th! I would think that his truck has less power because he's been lugging it in 5th for the last 20 years. That's not good for the motor. I don't think it would hurt the transmission in any way though.

 

ditto, what holmtech said

 

3rd and 4th gears will be alot less worn than 1st 2nd and 5th gears would be but thats not hurting it any

 

I figured so, you should drive the thing, little to no pick up at the gas pedal. I just hope that the thing isn't screwed up too bad cause it has a super clean interior.

 

At least the trans should be okay, I might be able to swap my engine over.

 

lol, well, i shift from 2nd to fifth occasionally, but only because im at 60 and dont feel the need to continue accelerating. i dont have a tach, but i think its a good thing, cause if i ever saw what my rpms hit i probally wouldnt like it. oh well.

 

like I said, occasionally should be okay but 20 years is a bit much...