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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 11:31 AM
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Default Any final opinions?

Going to order rebuilt diff today or tomorrow....Planning on ordering 3.90's to go with my 383 and Keisler TKO-500. My goal is streetable but the ability to light the tires on those occasions that call for it.

Any last thoughts or opinions before I do?
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 11:40 AM
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Enjoy, you'll be happy with the results, only concern may be the 3.90 rear, this may be too much for the TKO's first gear, or rather 1st gear may be all but useless. I have a 3.54 rear and 1st gear is very short, with a 3.90 you may only be in 1st as long as it takes you to shift to 2nd.
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 12:53 PM
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Originally Posted by ShaneLU97
Going to order rebuilt diff today or tomorrow....Planning on ordering 3.90's to go with my 383 and Keisler TKO-500. My goal is streetable but the ability to light the tires on those occasions that call for it.

Any last thoughts or opinions before I do?
Shane:
3.90's will render your 1st gear useless. I wouldn't go more than 3.55 with your 1st gear ratio of 3.27:1.
I think I've mentioned this before but my personal car has a TKO-500 and I'm running 3.73's. I have to shift within 30 feet(give or take) of taking off. For me, this suits my driving style but to most, it would drive them nuts. Yes, I can roast my tires at will and in the RARE occasion that I actually hook up off of the line, it will throw you back in the seat hard enough to make John Force smile.
I would really consider a 3.55 if I were you.

Richard
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 12:57 PM
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i would think thats kind of high and would make 1st gear almost useless
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 01:04 PM
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wow so much hating on 3.90's which imo is the perfect ratio!! go for it dont worry about first gear they are exagerating, it's still usefull for whats its meant to do, get you moving!

3.90's all the way!!!!!!!
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 01:09 PM
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Originally Posted by coolerthanethan
wow so much hating on 3.90's which imo is the perfect ratio!! go for it dont worry about first gear they are exagerating, it's still usefull for whats its meant to do, get you moving!

3.90's all the way!!!!!!!
Hey don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of the 3.73's-3.90's and in my case it works well. However, when you couple a 3.90 rear gear and a 3.27 1st gear in the trans, that equates to a GRANNY GEAR. You will be shifting into 2nd IMMEDIATELY and ultimately rendering your 1st gear useless.

Richard
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 01:14 PM
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Originally Posted by coolerthanethan
wow so much hating on 3.90's which imo is the perfect ratio!! go for it dont worry about first gear they are exagerating, it's still usefull for whats its meant to do, get you moving!

3.90's all the way!!!!!!!
There's no "issue" with a 3.90 gear, just that in the TKO as Richard mentions with a first gear of 3.27:1 you won't be in it long enough to do any good other than smokin your tires
That may be fine for some but even from the performance perspective having to shift so quickly actually costs you time which will drop your performance, (time wasted shifting 1st to 2nd after 30 feet or so)

As mentioned a 3.55 or less would be a better option all around. Even with a 3.55 your overall ratio in fifth will be a 2.41 with the 0.68 fifth, or a 3.05 if you have the 0.86 optional fifth gear. I defer to Richard on the details.
Cheers
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 01:22 PM
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted by coolerthanethan
wow so much hating on 3.90's which imo is the perfect ratio!! go for it dont worry about first gear they are exagerating, it's still usefull for whats its meant to do, get you moving!

3.90's all the way!!!!!!!

i might also consider a 4.11...
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 01:34 PM
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You will not be happy with 3.70 or 3.9's. Kind of defeating the features of the overdrive trans. You won't even make a left or right turn without having to shift in the middle, not to mention any gains in 5th gear fuel savings. 3.36 is perfect, IMHO!
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 01:36 PM
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Just for comparison sake, a TKO-500 with a 3.90 rear will have the same starting ratio as an M22 with a 5.80 rear axle and I don't think anybody would recommend that combo for the street. The 3.90s would be a terrible choice with a 3.27 first gear. You would have a 12.75 overall first gear which is almost 18-wheeler like low. About 10 to 1 overall low gear is what you want and even the 3.36 puts you at 10.98 to 1 so I would say 3.36 is about your only choice.
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 01:42 PM
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Originally Posted by wfo76
Just for comparison sake, a TKO-500 with a 3.90 rear will have the same starting ratio as an M22 with a 5.80 rear axle and I don't think anybody would recommend that combo for the street. The 3.90s would be a terrible choice with a 3.27 first gear. You would have a 12.75 overall first gear which is almost 18-wheeler like low. About 10 to 1 overall low gear is what you want and even the 3.36 puts you at 10.98 to 1 so I would say 3.36 is about your only choice.
Exactly...in fact, the same Muncie with 2.20 first gear running 4.56's out back would not be as quick as the 3.27 with 3.36's.
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 03:40 PM
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Originally Posted by wfo76
Just for comparison sake, a TKO-500 with a 3.90 rear will have the same starting ratio as an M22 with a 5.80 rear axle and I don't think anybody would recommend that combo for the street. The 3.90s would be a terrible choice with a 3.27 first gear. You would have a 12.75 overall first gear which is almost 18-wheeler like low. About 10 to 1 overall low gear is what you want and even the 3.36 puts you at 10.98 to 1 so I would say 3.36 is about your only choice.
Sorry for ignorance and I know this is def a gray area but what makes 10 the ideal? Best match between streetability and ability to smoke the tires?

This one of those areas where the cars I learned to work on we never really went through these types of decisions.
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 04:06 PM
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Originally Posted by ShaneLU97
Sorry for ignorance and I know this is def a gray area but what makes 10 the ideal? Best match between streetability and ability to smoke the tires?

This one of those areas where the cars I learned to work on we never really went through these types of decisions.
Basically, if your in a gear for less than a second at full throttle, you don't get any work done by the engine's torque. The magical number "10" for 1st gear x rear axle ratio has been used as long as I have been fooling with these cars. Go above 10+ or 11 and you need really sticky tires and a 8,000 rpm engine to utilize these ratios. I am coming from a practical viewpoint. I have seen so many people change gears higher (numerical) and see little or no inprovement in E/T. G/L
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 05:47 PM
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Originally Posted by big_G
Basically, if your in a gear for less than a second at full throttle, you don't get any work done by the engine's torque. The magical number "10" for 1st gear x rear axle ratio has been used as long as I have been fooling with these cars. Go above 10+ or 11 and you need really sticky tires and a 8,000 rpm engine to utilize these ratios. I am coming from a practical viewpoint. I have seen so many people change gears higher (numerical) and see little or no inprovement in E/T. G/L
So, in theory, I should be able to maximize the gearing of my transmission, minimize gear changes giving me a good balance of performance and driveability.
Thanks for your patience...
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 06:06 PM
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No problem.....Rear ratio changes have a point of diminishing returns. I have a Richmond 5 speed trans. in my '68, with 3.08 rear. Is 10.08 first gear. With the 383...pulls like hell in first gear.
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 06:31 PM
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I have 3.70s in my TKO 500 and don't mind it a bit. It is a little short in first but it rockets off the line. If I had to do it over I would probably go 3.55 but no lower. The 3.90s are going to be even shorter and unless you have a high rpm motor it might be a little to much. I like the 3.55 or 3.70 gear in a performance motor. 1st and 2nd gear can be smokin at will with my motor but I don't think a different gear would make a difference. Plenty of torque available.
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 06:49 PM
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Alright....So better understanding everything, I put together a chart

And here is my dyno chart (at the flywheel) from when Jasoer built the engine


The more conservative route would say stay lower (i.e. taller), the more aggressive route would say go higher (i.e. shorter). And after going through all of the posts again and again, I beginning to think Richard (who I thought left Keisler but still has the logo as his avatar) is right. Not that this is a surprise to anyone who has dealt with him. The 3.55 will give me just enough crazy but not over the top....kinda like my wife <looks over shoulder>

Shane
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 06:53 PM
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Originally Posted by ShaneLU97
Going to order rebuilt diff today or tomorrow....Planning on ordering 3.90's to go with my 383 and Keisler TKO-500. My goal is streetable but the ability to light the tires on those occasions that call for it.

Any last thoughts or opinions before I do?
That sounds like fun! I bet it ill light them up until you decide to quit.
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Old Feb 7, 2007 | 11:10 PM
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Originally Posted by ShaneLU97
Alright....So better understanding everything, I put together a chart

And here is my dyno chart (at the flywheel) from when Jasoer built the engine


The more conservative route would say stay lower (i.e. taller), the more aggressive route would say go higher (i.e. shorter). And after going through all of the posts again and again, I beginning to think Richard (who I thought left Keisler but still has the logo as his avatar) is right. Not that this is a surprise to anyone who has dealt with him. The 3.55 will give me just enough crazy but not over the top....kinda like my wife <looks over shoulder>

Shane
Shane, you'll be happy with the results, more than enough gearing with the 3.55 to get tail happy when you want to but still within a reasonable performance range.

BTW did Richard leave Keisler?
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