Gears for a street driver
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 943
Likes: 73
x2 on not doing the 3.36 youll never notice it
Went from 3.08 to 3.73...noticebale under most driving not what I thought. WOT it was better, course fwy rpm was up there
Finally went 4.11, now that I could feel. Added an OD trans best thing I ever did.
Sure hated paying for it but the first time I drove it and got it on the fwy had a big old smile.
It seems like opening pandora$ box but you will want to drive the car more, farther etc. Will pull hard and be easier on gas.
Before all the resale arguments start, doubt it would affect it one bit. fact Id pay more for a well done OD car
Went from 3.08 to 3.73...noticebale under most driving not what I thought. WOT it was better, course fwy rpm was up there
Finally went 4.11, now that I could feel. Added an OD trans best thing I ever did.
Sure hated paying for it but the first time I drove it and got it on the fwy had a big old smile.
It seems like opening pandora$ box but you will want to drive the car more, farther etc. Will pull hard and be easier on gas.
Before all the resale arguments start, doubt it would affect it one bit. fact Id pay more for a well done OD car
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,194
Likes: 109
From: Las Vegas NV
For the record, I've been dreaming about a T56 6-speed / 4.11:1 gearing ratio setup for quite some time now. I did recently have my rear end rebuilt, but left in the same gears. I'm hoping that a gear swap in the future wouldn't be a big deal. We'll see if I can ever manage to find a T56 at a reasonable price, they are commanding a lot of cash these days.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 142
Likes: 6
From: Indianapolis, Indiana
I am running a Tremec T-56 Magnum in my Chevelle. It has the 2.66 low gear and IMO works very well my 4.56 gear and 30 inch rear tires. If I was running a shorter tire, I'd probably go with a 4.10 or 4.30.
As far as this OD transmission, I love it. This thing changed the whole characteristics of the car. Driving on the interstate is actually pleasurable. Even with the 4.56 gears, in 6th gear, it cruises nicely at 70 mph at a little over 2200 rpm. It's fully syncoed, shifts like a dream, very positive and has no issues shifting at 7000 rpm. I can't remember ever missing a shift with this thing.
Some wonder why do you need 6 gears? With a 5 speed, the 5th gear, IMO is either too tall and a huge rpm drop between 4th and 5th, or not tall enough, which means turning more rpm's on the interstate than you want. The beauty about the 6 speed is 5th gear is like an "in-between gear". I use 5th in what I call "back road" speeds, 45-60mph. 6th gear is for the interstate; 60+ mph. 5th gear is .80 ratio and 6th is .63.
As far as this OD transmission, I love it. This thing changed the whole characteristics of the car. Driving on the interstate is actually pleasurable. Even with the 4.56 gears, in 6th gear, it cruises nicely at 70 mph at a little over 2200 rpm. It's fully syncoed, shifts like a dream, very positive and has no issues shifting at 7000 rpm. I can't remember ever missing a shift with this thing.
Some wonder why do you need 6 gears? With a 5 speed, the 5th gear, IMO is either too tall and a huge rpm drop between 4th and 5th, or not tall enough, which means turning more rpm's on the interstate than you want. The beauty about the 6 speed is 5th gear is like an "in-between gear". I use 5th in what I call "back road" speeds, 45-60mph. 6th gear is for the interstate; 60+ mph. 5th gear is .80 ratio and 6th is .63.
Last edited by 71454Chevelle; Jul 29, 2014 at 07:14 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
yes, T56 out of an LT1 F body
If you run a mild motor perhaps a little less gear will do ya
My car could probably use a 4.30 or 4.56 due to the size of its cam but get by with a short tire
5th on the fwy at 65 puts the motor in its sweet spot I actually enjoy hearing a little rpms at cruise. If I want 6th go a little faster and cruise around 2300. I use a 26in tall tire.
Think most cases a 5 spdwould be enough
If you run a mild motor perhaps a little less gear will do ya
My car could probably use a 4.30 or 4.56 due to the size of its cam but get by with a short tire
5th on the fwy at 65 puts the motor in its sweet spot I actually enjoy hearing a little rpms at cruise. If I want 6th go a little faster and cruise around 2300. I use a 26in tall tire.
Think most cases a 5 spdwould be enough
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Careful not to end up with 1st being somewhat of a granny-low gear. I ran a 1st ratio of 14.14:1 (3.44 x 4.11) in a C3 for a short time, and can promise you that anything close to that sort of range is heading into dump truck territory for most street or any AX/RR type use.
As for a 5-speed with tall 5th vs 6-speed with stronger 5th plus a cruising only gear, the latter is probably the better compromise between the two. Yes, there's the extra weight thing, but IMHO having a big step from 4th to 5th isn't going to quite satisfy if you want to keep having some fun after 4th gear runs out. (I hate when that happens.)
FWIW, of the typical street 5's and 6's out there (without endorsing any particular one), something along the lines of the TKO-600RR or Richmond SS 5 w/OD would happen to best suit my own trackday oriented purposes, but I'm leaning heavily towards just doing a racing dog box (non-syncro) next.
As for a 5-speed with tall 5th vs 6-speed with stronger 5th plus a cruising only gear, the latter is probably the better compromise between the two. Yes, there's the extra weight thing, but IMHO having a big step from 4th to 5th isn't going to quite satisfy if you want to keep having some fun after 4th gear runs out. (I hate when that happens.)
FWIW, of the typical street 5's and 6's out there (without endorsing any particular one), something along the lines of the TKO-600RR or Richmond SS 5 w/OD would happen to best suit my own trackday oriented purposes, but I'm leaning heavily towards just doing a racing dog box (non-syncro) next.
Last edited by TheSkunkWorks; Jul 29, 2014 at 07:54 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
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From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
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From: San Jose CA
My 70 Torino originally had a 3.00 rear end. I went to a 3.89 rearend and thought there was very little difference between the two. Later I swapped the 22 inch tall rear tires for 28 inch tall which was essentially the same as switching back to a 3.00 rearend and I felt like it was a huge difference in acceleration. So, for me whether or not switching 3.89 and 3.00 rear gears had a noticeable effect depended almost entirely on which way I was going.
But I think your point still holds... it's always hard to go "the other way".
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 943
Likes: 73
3.54 would put the rpm's at 70mph at about 3300 (T10). The 3.73 would be at around 3500 rpm. With the original 3.08, it's turning about 2900 rpm, so the 3.54 is not really going to make it scream on the highway. Anyway, its not like the gears are welded in! As usual, your recommendation is well thought out.