During the course of running from San Anotnio to Michigan to drop my girl off for the summer I picked up a T5 outside of indy. It will replace the 3-speed in my '41 chevy behind the 235. The transmission is from a '89 S10 with gears: 3.76 4.03 2.37 1.49 1.00 0.86. My question is rear gears. The one aspect of cars i have never understood (never had any teachin) was rear ratios. I understand the numbers, but not how they will work in conjunction with the transmission. Can someone please offer some opinions on rear gearing to compliment the 235 and T5. I will be searching out a S10 rear end as well. Had a lead on a 3.42 posi, but dont know if that would work well. thx
I am running the t5 from an S10(2wd) with the s10(4wd) rear end. This is a 3.42 ratio limited slip, 10-bolt. Cheap, easy, reliable and the perfect gear ratio. My 235 chugs along at 2000-2100 RPM at 70-75mph on the freeway.
For starters, you have 6 gears listed....Is it 3.76 or 4.03 first gear? I would shoot for 2200rpms @ 65mph (or whatever your target mph is) There are gear calculators on various websites that you can use to figure out what rearend gear would get you to that. If using an S10 4x4 rearend, your best options are 3.42 or 3.73. Both will work, but how you intend to drive it would be the deciding factor. You will also need to change the bellhousing or use an adapter plate. If you change bellhousing, you will need to modify the trans as has been described many times before. You would want a '48-59 truck bell if you intend to keep the foot starter, otherwise a '55-62 car will work.
Glad to hear that. I put a T5 in my '52 and a Monte Carlo rearend. Installed 3.42, in place of the stock 2.29!!! Still haven't be able to drive it yet, but glad to hear that this combo is proven somewhere other than in my head.
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