new tranny or overdrive...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 832
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota Florida
new tranny or overdrive...
i don't lik my car revvin' above 3500 down the interstate or when i'm cruisin' in the county. i've really been debating whether or not i should put like a US Gear or GearVendors overdrive unit on the Turbo 400 or just swap the tranny out...I would probably go with a manual though unless anyone knows of any great automatics...
here's where the dilemma is: the overdrive can be upwards of $2200, and a rebuilt tranny could be bought for much less...
here's where the dilemma is: the overdrive can be upwards of $2200, and a rebuilt tranny could be bought for much less...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,910
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
i don't lik my car revvin' above 3500 down the interstate or when i'm cruisin' in the county. i've really been debating whether or not i should put like a US Gear or GearVendors overdrive unit on the Turbo 400 or just swap the tranny out...I would probably go with a manual though unless anyone knows of any great automatics...
here's where the dilemma is: the overdrive can be upwards of $2200, and a rebuilt tranny could be bought for much less...
here's where the dilemma is: the overdrive can be upwards of $2200, and a rebuilt tranny could be bought for much less...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 832
Likes: 0
From: Sarasota Florida
i have thought about doing that...actually if anything i would go higher than a 3.73 which is what i have now for better acceleration...i guess i just want the best of both worlds
that's why i would keep a 3.73 or go up, but then have the overdrive gear (~.92:1 something like that) for cruising. my '77's my daily driver, so i want it to be more on the economical side (yeah, like that's possible
), but i want to catch the attention of mustang drivers once in a while
that's why i would keep a 3.73 or go up, but then have the overdrive gear (~.92:1 something like that) for cruising. my '77's my daily driver, so i want it to be more on the economical side (yeah, like that's possible ), but i want to catch the attention of mustang drivers once in a while
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 761
Likes: 0
From: san jose California
this might be way out of your budget but when i swaped my automatic to a TKO-600 from keisler i didnt recognize the car... it was sooooooo much better it was a butt load of money but in my opinion itle pay for itself in gas with todays prices..(might take a while though )
i have zero regrets
jonny
it was a butt load of money but in my opinion itle pay for itself in gas with todays prices..(might take a while though )i have zero regrets
jonny
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,662
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville Tennessee
Like Carguy4sure, I installed a mustang T5 manual 5 speed in my 79 that had the 350 auto. it became a different car that performed better, ran cooler and went from 16 to 20 + MPG on the highway. My swap cost less than $1,500.00 with me doing the work. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
If you want to stay auto, the 2004R is the easiest swap and will serve you well too!
Bernie
If you want to stay auto, the 2004R is the easiest swap and will serve you well too!
Bernie
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,662
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville Tennessee
Like Carguy4sure, I installed a mustang T5 manual 5 speed in my 79 that had the 350 auto. it became a different car that performed better, ran cooler and went from 16 to 20 + MPG on the highway. My swap cost less than $1,500.00 with me doing the work. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
If you want to stay auto, the 2004R is the easiest swap and will serve you well too!
Bernie
If you want to stay auto, the 2004R is the easiest swap and will serve you well too!
Bernie
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 599
Likes: 0
From: New York
Gears...
My car has the 700r4 tranny n she cruises around 2000 n she still has plenty of punch off the line suprisingly with the original 3:08's in her...if u are going 2 get rid of the 3:73's give me a hollar....Jerrylee///
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,323
Likes: 2
From: Castle Hills Texas
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Depending on your motor combo the 3.08 gears with an OD trans will put your cruising rpm to low. If your cam is a low end cam with little duration you might get away with it. My cam will not run worth a crap below 2000 rpm. If I put 3.08s in my car I would have to be doing 80+ to be able to use 5th gear. You cannot just plug in an OD trans without knowing the rest of the combo. My 1st gear goes up in smoke also but on the strip with traction it is great. I'm only in 1st a short while. 2nd gear is pretty tough also when you have a lot of power.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,028
Depending on your motor combo the 3.08 gears with an OD trans will put your cruising rpm to low. If your cam is a low end cam with little duration you might get away with it. My cam will not run worth a crap below 2000 rpm. If I put 3.08s in my car I would have to be doing 80+ to be able to use 5th gear. You cannot just plug in an OD trans without knowing the rest of the combo. My 1st gear goes up in smoke also but on the strip with traction it is great. I'm only in 1st a short while. 2nd gear is pretty tough also when you have a lot of power.
Trust me. I put in 3.08 while I had the TH-350C. Changed to 700-R, and cruise 65 about 1900RPM. I am going to change gears again to 3.55 or 3.73.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
Got a 700r4 and 3.73 on my Formula and agree 1st gear is too tall, anything over 1/4 throttle and the tires are like the Cheech and Chong movie 'Up in Smoke'
Last edited by Fevre; Jan 23, 2007 at 10:38 PM.