1971 Firebird Build ("The Other Woman", a.k.a. Project "T.O.W.")

[carbuff]

Roger,

Yes I am running the close ratio box. And the diff ratio is 3.89:1. I'm contemplating something around 3.5:1 if I make a change now.

[68LS1]

Originally Posted by carbuff

Roger,

Yes I am running the close ratio box. And the diff ratio is 3.89:1. I'm contemplating something around 3.5:1 if I make a change now.

Thanks, I've also got close ratio with 3.7 going into 2nd gen, hp should be slightly under what you have. I'll be interested to see what you end up doing

The 68 has normal ratio with 4.11, 1st is near useless and 6th is not real nice till 70 mph (which is above any speed limit in my state )

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by 68LS1

Thanks, I've also got close ratio with 3.7 going into 2nd gen, hp should be slightly under what you have. I'll be interested to see what you end up doing

The 68 has normal ratio with 4.11, 1st is near useless and 6th is not real nice till 70 mph (which is above any speed limit in my state )

In my last car I had a standard ratio T56 (with the 0.50:1 6th gear) and I ran a 4.56:1 rear gear. Of course that engine was a solid roller 377 built to spin 8k rpm.

[GregWeld]

Gearing is always going to be an issue once you start hitting the "track"... what's just right for a GG peanut course - is going to be wrong for the road race track... toss in different tire diameters - torque curves - trans gearing.... car weight....

Bryan -- I think the BBQ pit rotisserie at The Salt Lick is wound up to about 5 rpm... but I think it's a torque monster.


I'm running 4:30's in the '32 and 3:50 something in the '33..... LOL

[chichirone]

We are running 3.42's in KLRBRD. It cruises along at 70 mph at around 2000 rpm. Running the GG's auto cross at TMS I leave it in first gear and Amy runs it in 2nd gear. Driver preference.

Amy told me she was stuck choosing between 1st and 2nd on the auto cross and the speed stop at USCA. She ended up most comfortable staying in 1st gear during the speed stop and then 2nd gear on the autocross.

Out on the road is what she enjoys the most with the 3.42's just cruising along.

[WSSix]

I kept the drivetrain stock in my 96 Formula and really liked it for autocross around here. I'd leave it in 2nd for most of the courses.

I'm trying 3.90s with the TA now. Trans and engine are the same ones from the Formula for now. I don't plan to modify the trans gearing at all. The engine will be a 383. I just wanted to try something different.

I've driven cars that make as much power as your car and had 3.90 gears. They were no fun on the street for the reason you described. You blow through 1st and 2nd so fast.

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Gearing is always going to be an issue once you start hitting the "track"... what's just right for a GG peanut course - is going to be wrong for the road race track... toss in different tire diameters - torque curves - trans gearing.... car weight....

Agreed. I'm not trying to be perfect for every scenario, but I think for most of the events I run, the higher gear may be the better choice. I have enough torque that even a slow autocross course in first gear shouldn't be a problem.

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Bryan -- I think the BBQ pit rotisserie at The Salt Lick is wound up to about 5 rpm... but I think it's a torque monster.

Nothing like the 1000HP steam engines on a steamboat which appeared to be moving at about 50rpm that I saw yesterday. Now THAT'S some torque!

Originally Posted by GregWeld

I'm running 4:30's in the '32 and 3:50 something in the '33..... LOL

One for you, one for Gwen.

Originally Posted by chichirone

We are running 3.42's in KLRBRD. It cruises along at 70 mph at around 2000 rpm. Running the GG's auto cross at TMS I leave it in first gear and Amy runs it in 2nd gear. Driver preference.

That sounds about right at 70MPH. I don't actually want to have my RPM too low or I'll end up with a lot of exhaust noise at cruise speed.

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Amy told me she was stuck choosing between 1st and 2nd on the auto cross and the speed stop at USCA. She ended up most comfortable staying in 1st gear during the speed stop and then 2nd gear on the autocross.

Same here. I finally stuck with the 1st gear after I figured out the shift was hurting me. I was running the USCA autocross in 2nd after the initial shift. Steve was actually launching in 2nd on some runs as an experiment.