I'm running 5.13s in a 4 spd, 54 Olds. W A Y too much gear. 3K RPM at 46 MPH with 28" tall tires isn't making my 394 very happy. I'm going to 3.42s as soon as I get a chance. Anyone running anything "more stupid" than 5.13s? or do I win?
Yeah, I have stupid gears too... 4.88 in my 55 with a rockcrusher muncie and a 7500 rpm smallblock. Your only problem is not driving fast enough! Mine turns 4000 rpm at 60 mph on the interstate and about 50 miles is far enough, but around town it is a blast. I will keep the gears but move to an OD manual trans at some point...
3.55's in a 8.8 rear and a 5-speed manual.. On the street, ya just can't beat it!! Great on gas and has the balls to get out of the hole in a hurry..
I went the other way. My first new car was a (maybe O/T) '67 Corvette. Ordered it with a 327/350, a wide ratio 4-speed, and 3.70 gears. Turns out that was a world beater combination. When I first got it, I didn't street race anyone, because I thought, what can a S/B chevy beat? After a friend of mine bought a '65 GTO that ran well, we raced just for the hell of it. I beat him like a red-headed step child. After that, it was Lake Street in Minneapolis every Saturday night. I won a lot more than I lost. Well, I just went back to my childhood, and bought another '67 350 HP coupe. Restored it, had the engine rebuilt to 336 HP on the dyno, and changed the rear end out for a 3.08 (I was going to travel the country; which, if you try it, is almost an impossibility in a non-AC Corvette Coupe). Anyway, here I am stuck with a slug, and with my arthritis, and the economy the way it is, it looks like it'll be a long time before I can have those gears changed out.
The major issue is I don't really want to spin up the 59 394 engine to 5K. I don't think it will like it too much. Its a torque monster engine, but wont spin up like a SBC. Its just crazy; 8 shift, 18, shift, 34 shift, 50? more than 3K. dual quads, 2" primaries into 4" collector through 2 chamber Flowmasters. NOT a neighborhood friendly combo.
I used to have an OT big block "pro-street" car with 5.13s. The 5.13 were actually quite sreetable since I also ran 33 inch tall rear tires. I didn't have a working speedo in the car but I drove it to work on the freeway a few times and and staying mostly in the right hand lane and keeping up with 60-65 mph traffic there, I was revving between 3000 and 3300 rpm. Maybe not what you'd want for extended highway cruising or for the ultimate in fuel mileage, but that wasn't what the car was built for and a 3000-3300 'cruise' rpm, I don't think was excessive. Mart3406 ============================================
My 68 GTO was running a 428/th400 and 4:56 gears w/26" tires. The speedo wasn't corrected and no tach , but doing 50-55 mph speedo said about 120!
I ran 4.11's for two years in my T, 3 grand to do 55mph and get p***ed by everything out on the thruway. I went to 3.25's over the winter and kind of wish I went to 3.50 range, it lost it's snap but does cruise nice on the thruway now. I had a 69 low rider chev p/u that had 4.56's, that was a smoke show waiting to happen but again screamed on the thruway.
5.86olds summers spoolaxles...b/m hydrostick same since 69 still running still enjoy the hydro low gear 12ft gets the rpm's way way up there then 2nd gear pulled the wheels... was my only car for awhile /not stupid built to race&win..............
Like the Brits say, "Horses for courses." Anything in the 4s is probably going to relegate you to the right hand lane on the thruway. It's up to you to decide how fast you want to go slow. 5s would be pretty tough to take outside of the drive-in or strip!
My 55 has 4:56 gears in the original Chevy axel. They have been in it since I put the car together, back in 1977. How the axel has survived this long, is a mystery.
3.55's in an 8-3/4 chrysler with 33 in tall tires. No tach or speedo so at 65 I don't know. At 165 it depends if it's spinning the tires as to rpm. At 180 to 190 it still depends if the tires are hooking. Lippy
------------------- Spinning the tires at 190 mph?? Uh..what did you say you were running for power again.....a Rolls-Royce Merlin er somrthin'????? ============================================
I ran 4.56s on the street for a while behind a muncie M21 and BB 427. It was fun but 4 mpg ****ed. Devin
Not anymore but when I had my '67 R/T 440 wedge I ran 5.13's in the stern. Sooooo much fun around town but yes............stupid on the highway.
When I first put my T on the road. all I had for the Olds rear were 5.38s and it ****ed! I quickly found a set of 3.55s and all was well for road use. But, it was a great instrument in teaching the difference in gears and the "wheelie" effect of a light car (1700 lbs) and lift!
54 Update: Pulled the rear to do the gear swap. It turns out what I thought were 5.13s, were actually 5.38s. In go the 3.42s. Thats quite a jump down in gear. I'll pick up a little more when I take off the 28.5" tall rubber and go to more modern rubber with 26" or so overall height. All rear bearings were good. Axle bearings and seals shot.
I ran 5.14 with 4 spd, 2750 rpm at 45..Drove to the Drag Strip, raced it, drove it home..Went to 4.11 with Nash 5spd so like 5.14 through the first four gears, 3k at 60 mph...Went to Richmond 6spd [.76 6th], makes 4.11 become 3.12, 3k at 75 mph..Only use 6th if I go on interstates [boring]....I have the most fun on two lane black top..
I've had 3.00, 3.25, 3.50, 3.70 and lastly...3.89 gears in my sedan over the past 4 years. I put the 3.70 gears back in it that I originally started with and I was right-on in the beginning. The 3.70 gear is perfect with an overdrive trans and 29" tires.
Well since you brought it up. I have a 429+ w/ a C6 and 4.11 gears in my Ford. 31" tires 3000 around 55mph. ( speedo's way off ) Decent but bad for the long haul. I think I'm going to 3.55 s Now my current project is a '34 PU. 347 dyno'd at 440 flywheel HP. Got a T5 and am thinking the 4.11's would be great with the OD ****** and 31' tires. What ya thunk?
your 4.11 rpm is closer to 2700..with a 5spd od, .68 fifth, makes the 4.11 into 2.79 and 1800 [hair over] at 60mph...The dyno place should be able to tell you if your 347 will be happy at 1800 with the weight of the intended vehicle considered....your 429 would probably like the 4.11 way better with a 4spd od auto..
I have a versailes rear in my 38 chevy and it came with a 2.50 gear. Overdrive was usless till i put in a 3.25.
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