235cui/700R4/2.73:1 combo - would it work?

842.00 here in washington for a gear swap including the gears. Have you considered looking around for another 73-77 chevelle rear that has different gears in it? It will probably be difficult to find 4.11's but if you could find even find a rear with 3.23's or something better for 150.00 it would be worth it. Talk to some dirt track guys, they use these frames all the time and might have something laying around or know someone who does. If the money wasn't a problem, I would go with the 3.73's in the existing rear personally.

 

If that's the case, I'd go ahead with the V8 swap and never look back. I mean, what difference does it make what it looks like under the hood? You can't drive down the road with it open. Not that the 235 is a bad motor, but compared to a late 350 is like night and day - even from the standpoint of changing the oil, 235s don't even have a full flow filter without you modifying them for it.

 

This subject has been beat to death on thread after thread. Relatively heavy car and low output engine just flat needs more gear.

Find yourself a T2004R, with it's more evenly spaced gears, there is less chance of a 1-2 gear change bog, and aside from moving the rear mounts rearward a few inches, it fits in place of a T350 or Powerglide. I've been finding Pick a Part cores for 50 to 125 bucks. Best stock ones came in SS Monte Carlo and Turbo Buicks. Not a hell of a lot more expensive than a T350 to rebuild if you can do it yourself.

Turbo T-birds came with a 10" disc brake, four link, limited slip 8.8 in 87-88. Ratios were 3.55 in the stick shifts, 3.73 in the automatics. Using the fox body axles and drum brakes makes them 1 1/2" narrower (3/4" per side). Mark VII axles and disc brake ***emblies make them 1" wider. Last Turbo Coupe rear I found in a junkyard was just a couple of months ago- 100 bucks out the door.

For that kind of money, it makes any mount changes and u-joint adaptation seem rather minor doesn't it.

 

Yeah,the engine works hard at road speed with very low rpm ,the manifold vacuum drops down real low and the carb power valve or hi speed circuit opens and you get get **** fuel mileage.And manifold vacuum helps to vaporize fuel at part throttle.Need about 10 inches vacuum at crusing speed for good mileage.

 

Well, I am glad I asked you all for your feedback. After weighing my options and cost, I've decided to go forward with the original plan and use the '99 350cui, 700R4, with 2.73 gears in the rear.

My genre of cars are bombs...cars and trucks. Hence, we aim for the "stock" look, lowered, and with the rapping dual pipes off an inline 6.

So, for this project, I am going to go forward with the 350cui and be on the lookout for a 700R4! THANKS AGAIN fellas and feel free to visit our site, www.chevybombs.com

 

That'll work! Don't forget to post pictures!

 

How about a turbo on the 235?
Can't go wrong with the 350 though.

I have a 4 barrell quadrajet on a stock 455 in by 54 Buick. 2004R trans, 2.42 gears... Idles down the highway at 75mph. Great gas mileage, and is like going into Hyperdrive in The Millenium Falcon when I put it in overdrive. The 455 torque with the Quadrajet is the trick.

have fun, I am sure it will all work out great.
Wil
www.sakowskimotors.com
www.ridefree.com

 

Even though I did not get the improvement in gas mileage I will never put a V8 in my 37 and I would go with a modern carb but I have been trying to get the 235 to look like a 216 so thats out of the question,I have been playing with the spring in the power valve system and its getting better and the 2.79 gears will be going soon. I have a 8 inch in my 37 and a gear change is alot easier and hope to get a set of 3.55 gears for it.

 

Alright, you are going to throw me tomatoes but I have been bouncing between the inline 6 and V8. I've decided to just bite the bullet and re-do the entire drive train (I don't have much but the axle mounted on the frame per the images).

How about a 235cui, a '60's manual Chevy 3-spd, and rear end with 3.42:1 rear axle ratio. There is a rear end for $100 off a 2001 GMC Jimmy SLT 4x4 with disc brakes.

What do you guys/ladies think?

 

I had a hopped up 235 and 700r4 in my 52 p/u. Got lucky and found a 82 camaro IROC rear end w/373 gears and disc brakes for $200.
The combo was perfect around town and on the highway.
Do you have the adaptor yet? I think Tom Langdon still has these at stovebolt engineering. Good luck!!!

 

hey Promachine, I am planning on using a manual transmission, column shifter.

Do you think 3.42 gears are enough to get me cruising on the highway and take off the line with no hesitation? Thanks!

 

The 2.73 700R4 combo doesn't work with any motor really - not with a 28.5" tall tire anyway. At 65 it would be turning, are you ready -- 1464 RPM! That's really to low even for a 350! What would happen is it would be hunting in and out of overdrive like crazy and be really hard on the trans

 

Thanks, I am ditching the 2.73/700R4 combo all together.

going with a 235cui and looking into a 3.42:1 rear, with 3spd manual ****** from a 60's truck.

 

The lowest cost and quite efficient combo would be to use a TH350 automatic with the existing 2.73 gears. You need not change the rear end, you can use your 235, and the highway cruise will be very suitable........about equivalent to an OD with 3.73/4.11........TH350 are dirt cheap to buy and build, the TV cable is easy to set, stone reliable ******. People get all in a tizzy about OD trannies when 90% of their driving is urban and OD isn't even a factor. On intial acceleration the torque converter will provide adequate take off power, that's why they are in there.

Ray

 

I like Ray's solution.

 

Really???!!! I am liking this option!

 

With the OD trans, Find an S10 4x4 rearend with a 3.42 or 3.73 rear gear. It will be the right width and you will be much happier with the overall performance.

I think that if you were to try and redo the rearend you already have by changing the gears, you may find that a mid 3's gear will not work on 2-something ring carrier. Switching to the S10 rearend will be easier and cheaper in the long run.

 

TH350 doesn't have a TV cable.

Of course, you could run the 700R4 and just not put it in OD....

FWIW, I ran 29" tires on my Suburban with the 2.73. It went down the highway allright, no hunting, although if I didn't pay attention I would find myself doing 75-80 and not notice.

 

They both have cables. A TH350 has a kick-down cable, and the TH700R4 has a TV cable. The 700R4's cable has more responsibility than the one on the TH350, and must be hooked up properly, or you will smoke the transmission. The TH350's cable could be left off without harm.

The WORST "crime" Ray might be guilty of is using the wrong term, and you all knew what he meant anyway.

 

I believe the original post says a 73 Chevelle rear axle.That should be a 10 bolt 8.5.The 2.73 is the "carrier break" and will accept higher gears like 3.42,4.11 etc.On 7.5 inch 10 bolt S-10,G body,later Camaro, the carrier break is different,maybe 3.42