Diff gear recommendations
ohh! now you done did it. just you wait till AJ gets here!
OP,
IMO
there is no better mod to a city-cruizer, than a 2800/4bbl.
In your case, IMO, Rear gears are just to fine-tune the fun factor.
Around town,
with a 2800,
you'll be hard pressed to notice the 10% increase in Torque-multiplication, from gearing. This is because for most of the time, you will be in Second gear, and when you increase the throttle-opening, the PT KD will shift you into First which will give you
an instant 69% boost in torque multiplication, in addition to the horsepower increase from the higher rpm, in addition to whatever might be going on inside the convertor.. What's 10% on top of that?
Therefore. I recommend to install the 2800 FIRST, then just drive it. The increase in stall is/was, to me, ridiculously satisfying.
THEN decide if you still want the gearing.
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As for me;
Ok so, there are exactly two reasons that I run 3.55s over 3.23s , in my M/T car;
1) so I can idle around the parking lot at 3.5>4 mph with a manual trans, and
2) is to hit 93mph at WOT, at a more favorable rpm, in Second-over.
I actually LIKE 3.23s better, but in overdrive, I get NO BETTER mpgs, so the 3.55s can stay.
I actually liked 2.76s the best. And so with the GVod, 3.55x .78=2.77, that's another reason I have 3.55s; they are a means to an end.
If/whenever I had a factory 318, I would also have a 2800 stall, no exceptions. With a 2800, BAM!,
I like 2.76s, with a 4bbl; why? cuz 5500=60 mph in first gear.
What? your factory low-compression 318 won't go 5500?
Yes it will. You just gotta ask nicely.
If it goes 60@ 5500, it will go 50@4600, and thus; 25@2300, which, with a factory cam, is at about peak torque. So then, when you downshift at 25, into first gear, Bam! you are ready to rock with the factory cam. And besides all that;
With a 2800, 2.76s, and a Thermoquad; When you floor it off the line, the TQ will whack wide open, and moan for as long as you dare stay in it. 15/16/17/maybe18 seconds to ~80 mph, which with headers and dual 3inch exhaust, is music to the Soul.
And yes, I tried the A904 with 4.30s as well, lol.
>But with a manual trans/overdrive; I hit it with everything I had up to 5.38's
Did you know that;
4.88s with a double overdrive seven speed is 2.70 for cruizing, lol.
I still have those 4.88s if anyone asks........