hello ll i got a 350 gm good wrench engine proformer intake 4 barrel carb 2 1/2 inch exhaust with a 350 thm trans with a 273 rear not very peppy what gear would work the best and can i get a open rear to hook if i put in air bags with he right side inflated a little ..this is street driven thanks for your input
best gear ratio
- Thread starter jcelk
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This depends on a ton of factors - what is the tire height? You say it's a turbo350 so no overdrive. "Street driven" can mean a million things - lots of highway cruising? Will you be taking it to the strip? I had 3.90s with no overdrive and 26" tires before...lots of rpm on the highway, but worked perfectly at the track for what I wanted. I'm now going with 4.10s and a 28" tire with overdrive - best of both worlds to me.
right now i have 25 1/2 tires thinking of going with 26 inch tires could go bigger i will not take it to the track a little highway not much was thinking about a 7 1/2 open rear with air bags in the springs inflated a little on the right side to get traction has anyone had luck with that ?? and to make it fun around town. the 273 rear is underwhelming
Stock, low power goodwrench engines could use a bit of a sloppier converter and 3.42 or 3.73 on the street light to light without much highway driving. If you're concerned about traction, don't be. Get a limited slip unit while changing the gears and don't worry about bagging it. You're nowhere near the power level required for worrying about bag pressures. Unless you build that engine up, you're not going to be doing smoke shows with it most likely.
Since there wasn't much detail given, I'll stop right here.
Since there wasn't much detail given, I'll stop right here.
This topic comes up alot on old car forums. New car forums, almost never.
The answer is, there is no best gear ratio. Any choice will have compromise on either end. The best solution is more gears in the transmission. A lower first, a taller top gear and less spread between gears.
The answer is, there is no best gear ratio. Any choice will have compromise on either end. The best solution is more gears in the transmission. A lower first, a taller top gear and less spread between gears.
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If you're not trying to win races w/that mild small-block, 3.42's are a good compromise. More than what you have but not so much you can't stand a longish highway trip if warranted/desired (3154rpm @ 70mph). 3.42's would also work well if an overdrive trans is a possible future option.
After that? 3.73's. Extended highway jaunts won't be as friendly (3440prm @ 70mph).
Both will get you around town fine but over 3k rpm on the highway for more than an hour grows old fast.
After that? 3.73's. Extended highway jaunts won't be as friendly (3440prm @ 70mph).
Both will get you around town fine but over 3k rpm on the highway for more than an hour grows old fast.
It depends on how the car is driven overall. I'd say with a relatively stock Goodwrench 350, stock or mild street cam, 3;08's or 3;23 gears would give you some decent highway cruising and street performance with a TH 350. With overdrive, of course I'd go with 3'42 or 3;73 gears.
Shame you don't have a manual. Have two cars in the stable that's got 2.73 rears/26" tires but running wide ratio Saginaws (3.11/2.20/1.47/1.00) & will have the take off like they have 3.31's but won't scream at highway speeds (1941 @ 55, 2294 @ 65). Both will be just cruisers but still will have something to get moving if needed. But I'd go with 3.08 with an auto with out overdrive, 3.42-.3.73 with overdrive.
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