What gears...

noley99 · Post by **noley99** » April 15, 2011, 6:20 pm

... should I run with my new drive train.

302 Carb w/5 speed tranny out of a 92 Mustang GT.

Uncle Skip · Post by **Uncle Skip** » April 15, 2011, 7:07 pm

Noley.
That is strictly a value judgement. Depends on what you want to achieve. If you're looking for some grunt at the stoplight and good fuel milage, I'd say the 3:25 would be a very good compromise for your setup.
But remember, its just my opinion.
U@ss

noley99 · Post by **noley99** » April 15, 2011, 7:44 pm

I guess I should have added a few more details...

"grunt at the stop light"
Fuel mileage
Good mid range pull

frdnut · Post by **frdnut** » April 15, 2011, 9:54 pm

I've always felt the 302s were a little lacking in a truck(my daily driver is a 1996 5.0)..Especially if your looking for "grunt"..Since you have the 5 speed with an over drive gear I would go for a fairly low rear gear to help get you going..Something like a 3.70..

Post by **Greg D** » April 15, 2011, 10:15 pm

The stock "performance" or optional gear ratio for a 5.0 Mustang would be 3.73:1 (3.56:1 were standard equipment most years).
You Uni won't weigh a whole lot more so that wouldn't be a bad start.
With a 6 being original in it you probably have 3.89:1 anyway.

jamesdfo · Post by **jamesdfo** » April 15, 2011, 11:13 pm

Well, I had an '88 roller motor (carb'd) with the stock C6 in my old '81 SB, and it REALLY didn't like pulling that kind of weight with the stock 2:75's.....so I switched to 3:25's, MUCH BETTER!!
With the 5 spd manual, you have OD in 5th, so you should easily get away with 3:55's or perhaps even 3:73's....but 3:55's would probably be the best compromise between zoom zoom & mileage:):)

James

noley99 · Post by **noley99** » April 16, 2011, 10:13 am

I appreciate all the replies, it's really helped me.

As info, the engine will ultimately have around 450 RWHP.

matt2491 · Post by **matt2491** » April 16, 2011, 10:47 am

3.89 and your done. With the T5 ratios, you'll have a stump pulling 1st gear and a sweet cruising overdrive.

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » April 16, 2011, 1:09 pm

pretty sure 3.89 is the ratio used in the d44 posi axle factory installed on slicks.

noley99 · Post by **noley99** » April 16, 2011, 8:19 pm

ICEMAN6166 wrote:pretty sure 3.89 is the ratio used in the d44 posi axle factory installed on slicks.

So your saying that I have a positrac rear end? I have not checked.

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » April 16, 2011, 8:47 pm

noley99 wrote:
ICEMAN6166 wrote:pretty sure 3.89 is the ratio used in the d44 posi axle factory installed on slicks.
So your saying that I have a positrac rear end? I have not checked.

if its a dana 44. if so it will have a removable (bolt on) cover on the back.

MadMaxetc · Post by **MadMaxetc** » April 16, 2011, 9:01 pm

What size tires? What RPM do you want to cruze at in OD at what speed?

450 RWHP will tear up a T-5 in a heavy truck aplication.

ProStreet66 · Post by **ProStreet66** » April 16, 2011, 9:20 pm

I have 4.30 in mine with a 460 and c6 with 33x21.5 tires on the back. But I am looking to jerk the front wheels off the ground when I leave the light.

noley99 · Post by **noley99** » April 17, 2011, 9:40 am

[/quote]

if its a dana 44. if so it will have a removable (bolt on) cover on the back.[/quote]

Then no I don't have one. Didn't think so but was hopefull

MadMaxetc, I have 235/60 on the rear and I would like to see around 1800 to 2K in OD at about 65 to 70 or so. The tranny is a built T5 with a heavy duty clutch. I will post the particulars once I get down to my Dad's shop and take a look.

Post by **Greg D** » April 17, 2011, 12:14 pm

No rear cover = 9" Ford.
There should be a tag on one of the studs on the center section. It will have some numeric codes on it that will tell you all about the rear axle.
post the numbers and we'll tell you what you have.

noley99 · Post by **noley99** » April 17, 2011, 1:16 pm

Greg D wrote:No rear cover = 9" Ford.
There should be a tag on one of the studs on the center section. It will have some numeric codes on it that will tell you all about the rear axle.
post the numbers and we'll tell you what you have.

Thanks Greg, I will check and post.

MadMaxetc · Post by **MadMaxetc** » April 17, 2011, 1:19 pm

In order to hit the RPM you want at 60-75 you will need to run 3.50 gears.

Here is a chart made just for your truck. (I can change stuff if you want, or runn lots of combos.

(Click to make BIGGER)

I can do the same chart for other members, or if you have excel I can send you the file.

frdnut · Post by **frdnut** » April 17, 2011, 11:18 pm

450 rwhp from a 302?..Can you describe the build?..I am thinking it must have some sort of forced induction or it is going to be at a very high rpm..This will definetly affect what sort of gears you want to run..

charliemccraney · Post by **charliemccraney** » April 17, 2011, 11:28 pm

I agree with the above statement.

Unless you're running a supercharger or turbo to achieve that power level, it is very unlikely that it will be happy cruising at 1800-2000rpm.

If the T5 is built, it will very likely handle that power just fine. What is your overdrive ratio? The G Force gears use .59 which will require a pretty short rear gear for cruising.

Motocentro · Post by **Motocentro** » April 18, 2011, 9:40 am

frdnut wrote:I've always felt the 302s were a little lacking in a truck(my daily driver is a 1996 5.0)..Especially if your looking for "grunt"..Since you have the 5 speed with an over drive gear I would go for a fairly low rear gear to help get you going..Something like a 3.70..

I second the 3.70's. My truck came stock with those behind a 240. There is a little less power in the 302 (of course) but you can get much better mileage - also they rev like a motorcycle compared to an big block (esp if you rollerize the entire valve-train). If you are doing a lot of around town driving this may not be the case. I do a little of both so they work out for me. Putting a "towing/economy" cam made a huge difference as well. I run a 302 with an Isky 257 roller, AOD through 3.70's in heavy Traffic (ATlanta proper, not suburbia) and it runs like a scalded dog when asked to.

Wait - 3.89's? Maybe I have a 3.89. Not sure but i can say this:

Grunt at stoplight - check (actually "hell yes").
Fuel Mileage - check (when i keep my foot out of it)
Good midrange - check (highway driving is no joke. you should see the looks when a ricer or BMW pulls up and wants to play followed by a quick "walk-away" by my Slick).

Jim