Close ratio VS Wide ratio?

[Sieg]

Close ratio is the right ratio Mario! My under-powered gen 1 SBC with a 3.42 and T56 Mag close ratio is great. No problem with the taller 1st gear and it feels gap-less through the gears, 5-6 is the most noticeable and it's not bad. 1st gear is actually useable. I had a wide ratio in a '93 1LE Camaro and the low first gear typically created a situation of get it rolling and into 2nd asap to get business done.

I think you'll be very pleased.

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by Sieg

Close ratio is the right ratio Mario! My under-powered gen 1 SBC with a 3.42 and T56 Mag close ratio is great. No problem with the taller 1st gear and it feels gap-less through the gears, 5-6 is the most noticeable and it's not bad. 1st gear is actually useable. I had a wide ratio in a '93 1LE Camaro and the low first gear typically created a situation of get it rolling and into 2nd asap to get business done.

I think you'll be very pleased.

Thanx Sieg!!! I'm new to this stuff and have a lot to learn !!

[Sieg]

Originally Posted by DOOM

Thanx Sieg!!! I'm new to this stuff and have a lot to learn !!

You're welcome Mario.

Your 3.50 gearing should make for a very good combination. After having some time with my 3.42's I'd like a little lower gear for my little motor but 3.73's would raise the optimal cruise rpm's in 5th and 6th. I can't tell you how much I enjoy the car now, after 20+ years that T56 trans makes me want to drive it all the time. It's so good I could care less about the price and time invested in the project, the rewards are easily worth double.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by DOOM

I'm on it Todd! Am I calling it the wrong thing??? My rear is a 3.83 keep it the same?

Close ratio vs wide ratio is the correct terminology. It's been around for 50 years. Todd's just had his head in the sand with that junk TKO.

The main reason I've seen people go with the wide ratio (2.97 1st) is for the .5 overdrive 6th gear. But those people are usually more cruising and touring oriented than performance. And with any kind of decent power level you'd likely be better off with the close ratio.

I had a TKO with a 3.70 rear gear before and it sucked.

[intocarss]

Originally Posted by Flash68

Close ratio vs wide ratio is the correct terminology. It's been around for 50 years.

That's the way I remember it

[blazer1970]

I'm running the 2.66 1st gear in my T56 Magnum with a 4.10 gear and 28" tire.
Works great at the strip and on the highway. Just my .02

[gnx7]

The 2.66 1st gear version is what 99% of people are buying. You don't need a deeper 1st gear gear or you will simply blow the tires off and the nice thing is that 5th gear is .80 which is a closer ratio if you were to do some top speed accelleration "runs."

While the .50 overdrive is nice in the other unit.... i doubt any of us are building these for commuting and the end all be all in fuel economy.

I have the 2.66 1st gear version and 3.25 gears out back. Hoping for 750rwhp/750rwtq+ on e85. Holley EFI just announced their partnership with Davis Technologies (www.moretraction.com) for a traction control module. I won't be having traction issues when trying to ramp up the boost thru the gears. It is rather affordable too. ($599 base model or $999 for a self learning fully tuneable unit) Uses a driveshaft sensor to operate.