I would like to have a wider ratio four speed (or five if I could do it) in my 65 A-body (GS 401 with factory close ration four speed). Launching the beast is hard and cruizing down the freeway my rpm's are too high. I am thinking of changing to a wide ratio four speed to start with, then later to 308 rear gears. I have a saginaw two ring that I assume will bolt in and give me better gearing, but the shifter would have to be changed. I have thought about a vintage muncie. Anyone have a wide ratio in a GS? Do you like the gearing for everyday driving? I don't plan to drag race the car, so the driving experience is the most important to me. As usual, all responses are appreciated.
Changing the trans probably isn't the best option, especially if it is the original. The final ratio will determine the rpm at speed for the trans. You might consider going to a lower rear gear, such as a 308. A friend of mine in TX has a 66 308 posi rear out of a GS that will bolt in with none of the mods required for a trans swap. The Saginaw may not be able to handle the torque of the 401 nailhead. Dan
I just made this change for our 1966 442. You can just have those gears changed in your existing trans during a rebuild. You will get a steeper 1st gear and a 4th that is better for the road.
Ted had different gears installed in his T10 as well. I imagine it would be expensive..... Another option is a Muncie M20. It has a 2.5 first gear.
Yep, I have one ready to install in my project. Just have to get the inner fenders out of the way to install clutch linkage and heater core + housing. I can't wait.
i have a m-20 that has been rebuilt. it has the 26 spline input and th400 output though. if i were you i would put a tremec 5 speed in it and call it done, keep your rear gears and have o.d.
Jim, The 65-66 GS T10 had high nickel gears, to handle the torque. Do the wide ratio gears that you installed have high nickel content? Dan
I pick the trans up this Friday. There are only a couple of souces for the gears. I use the same guy Ted uses. He will be in Raleigh this weekend for the car show. He is an engineer that got into the manual trans business. I ordered a 2.56 first gear for the Muncie because I went from a 3.90 to a 3.55 rear set up. The rear gear change killed the 442's off the line grunt. So mathmatically I get most of it back with this change while helping the open road situation which is not good with a 3.90 gearset.
Walt--the price would be affected by whether for example you put in a small parts kit while it was already torn down.
D& L trans - larry is pretty well informed (expert) http://www.dandltransmission.com/borgratio.html DME LLC Dennis Maroudas DMELLC@Charter.net 606 237 6648
