I need some input. I'm having my rear gone thru and would like to get some opinions on the final drive. The car is a '76 regal with a hot 350/500hp/ TH350 combo. Should I leave the stock ratio in it or go for the taller set? I plan on a bit of Mustang Mashing but also want it to go on the freeway without being tached'out. The engine will comfortably spin at 6K and its best shift point looks like 5700, but again, I don't want to wind it out in the fast lane. And what about a gear vendors set up, though I'm not up for dropping another 3K right now! Robert
Need more info.... Tire size Engine...Buick? Chevy? etc Stall convertor size? How do you know it has 500Horse? Do we have a dyno sheet to work with? 3.42 usually is a good pick you could use 3.73 if you have taller tires. Just need more info....
the engine is a BUICK of course, and yes I have the dyno sheet showing 551hp@501torque @ 5700 rpm - have not settled on a tire size yet- am going with AR500 rims 17" and probably a 60 series tire or so in the rear Robert
Since you plan to run a tall wheel and tire combo i would go for a 3.73 gear... That 350 has a VERY large cam in it and you will want to make sure you have a 3000 stall converter and a tall enough gear to get the rpms up over 3000 quickly off the line. Once the engine gets over 3000 it will be ALL POWER!
How fast do you want to go on the hwy? if over 70 mph then go with the highway gear. As long as you pick a good stall converter that will let your rpms get over 3000 on launch then you will have no problem with a 2.56 or 2.73 gear the 550 hp engine will pull fine.
Thats what I was counting on- the hp/torque to pull me out, and yes- around here i'll get run off the road at 70!!
