You can pull about any gear with a 427. How will it be built/used?

 

Skunkworks,
Sorry for the poor communication, I was referring to rebelrobs first post
"If you got a muncie close ratio 4 speed like I used to have in my camaro back in the day. Then 3:73's will have you engine screaming at 80 mph in 4th. " when I said I didn't agree.
Your information / advice was dead on the money

Tim
http://tandmautomotive-omaha.com/

 

Clams you know what I'm going to say but it's either type on here or get back to work, SO:

'68 SB vert, THM400, stock as anything, I just replaced my 3.08s with US Gears 3.73s from Tom's. I set them up myself, first time ever doing it, and so far they are silent. The car is much more fun to drive in town, and not bad at all on the hiway (IMHO). I haven't tried hiway driving with the top up, but I won't be doing much of that anyway. The gas mileage is not good, but that could be my driving style too . For a small block with a 1:1 top gear, I'd do the 3.73s again in a heartbeat. If I had overdrive, I'd have given serious thought to 4.11s!

 

My bad for not paying better attention.

 

I had 2.73's with a 700R4 in my camaro. With very mild cam (peak torque ad 2200) and a 1200 stall converter.
It was the best daily drivers I've ever owned. Idle'd at 450 rpm and sounded great. good gas mileage on the freeway too.

def not for raicing though. first gear was too long, by the time I was getting ready to shift to 3rd the other guy was already well into their high gear.

 

If you are planning a 427 small block just forget the rear gears for now. I'd put my money into a .82 OD TKO600. Then instead of guessing you would know what you need. I've always thought that a 3.90 or maybe a 3.73 is about ideal when combined to .60 - .70 Od's

I drive a 4.11 rear for the past 20 years

Here is the correct way to get your answer.

http://www.secondstrike.com/Technical/GearCalc.asp

 

It will be used as a "driver" so mostly around town stuff. But it's a 15 mile interstate trip to town. Also I do plan on taking it on at least two long trips, one to NH and at least once to the BG homecoming.

Presume for the sake of this discussion it'll be powered by a 427 SBC with the best intake that will fit under an L88 hood. This mated to a TKO overdrive 5 speed. (assuming the 6 speed does not come back).

Finance at this time does not permit the engine/tranny combo. However I really **don't** want to revisit the rear end again. (ever)Whatever ratio I put in for now will still be noticed by my little 305 / 4 speed muncie combo)

I'm still torn. The speed limit here is 75mph on the highway, gotta be over 80 to even think of getting a ticket.

I appreciate all the input so far.

-W

 

The saw the pics of your car, well sort of, but their were two Goons standing in front of best part.... : - )
Really like to see some more pics. Color looks nice. 68-69, are at the top of my favorite years. Also notice the wheels. Old friend of mine dad had a 70 convertible ls5 454 with those wheels. They kept their dog foot and other crap in the garage on top it. What a shame.... that was.

 

If you or anyone else is interested I have an extra 3.7 I am probably never going to use, it turns over nice, doesn`t leak and has minimal side yoke end play...comes with the rear cover..$400+shipping from the IL/WI state line. send a PM if interested

 

PM sent!

-W

 

Just FYI this did get sold - to me.
I easily agreed to this price and the payment has been sent. Very nice guy to deal with. I'll post another official "good guy report" again to this thread when it arrives.

-W
I guess that was one way to settle the 3.70 or 3.55 question.

 

Mine is 3.08 ('70 AC BB, that's how they came), and for a cruiser, it's fine. I can break the tires loose when I want to, and highway cruising (haven't done much, but...) is comfortable and not too loud. So, given what I use the car for, I am not sure I would go so far as to say I "like" it, but I am definitely fine with it. If I wanted to take the car to the track though, one of the first mods I would do is to lower the gears in the rear.

 

I don't think anyone really "likes" 3.08 gears... but they were the default gears on many many C3's - so it was up to the OP to be knowledgable enough to order performance gears if he wanted them. Nowadays with the overdrive kits out there, they are even less needed for highway use.
-W

 

Knowledgable or not, in 1970, if you wanted big block AND ac, you didn't have a choice, you got 3.08.

That said, you are correct. If I decide to modify my drive train, I would like to have a 5 spd overdrive. If I was going to do that, I am pretty sure I would go 3.70 in the rear. Of course, I have to get a carburetor working on my car (or install fuel injection) before I can even discuss that!

 

Interesting you say that..... what was the logic / technical need for that? Curious.

 

Risk of spinning the belts off the AC at high revs was the given answer. They just prolly figgured that AC types weren't "sports" types anyway. GM had to label it's customers into little groups that fit a certain demographic as they wanted to see it.

-W

 

Apparently :

In 78 L82 if you had AC the redline is 5300

Non AC cars the redline is 5600

I guess if you are running the 1/4 with the air on you should shift early

 

Really, I think the difference is going to be very slim, not really going to matter. Not much spread from either gear. Decide what you want to do with the car and base your decision on that. Just not worth worrying over though, 1st will be as good as muncie/st10 with either and final will be as good as 2.44 or 2.56 in OD vs 1:1 conventional trans. You cant lose. No higher though, as was stated unless taller tires and beefed up drivetrain to be able to launch, first will become unusable.

 

As it turnsout Mr Redvetracer decided it for me. So the case is closed for now. If I can get a cheap set of used 3.55 gears to throw in my old pumpkin then I'll be faced with the much later choice to use it or sell it off. It's almost impossible to sell it off with 3.08's in it.

-W

 

I have 3.08's in mine with 383, TH400, and I don't like them. Just too much freeway gears for me. I'll probably end up with 3.55 or 3.73 later on.