Ordered a gear vendor, help with deciding gears

-

RogerCox

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2020
Messages
131
Reaction score
28
Location
Visalia Ca
Ordered a gear vendor today, was told to go 3:55 gears, but I was thinking higher since I was originally going to go 3:23 without gear vendor.

1974 duster
Blueprint 408 stroker (465hp,550ftlb)
Dana 60

will be doing more street driving that track. Tires will be cobra Gt 295’s, but will also have a set of 315 nitto Nt05’s.

Want it to have great acceleration to keep up with modern sports cars on the street, but not be too geared up that the pedal is so sensitive it becomes not fun to drive
 
a friends car has a gear vendor, his car runs at 2300 rpm at 70 mph using 3.73 gears and a 28 inch tire very nice setup.
 
Nothing to with gear vendor...
originally had 3:91s
Now I have 3:55s
And still need to keep to right on the highway.
But staying away from 3:23s, if I want to chirp around town.
 
I think those units are stupid. Like a passing fad.
 
One thing to consider with a overdrive (GV or transmission) is your cruise rpm in relation to your cam power band and torque converter. Too low of a cruise rpm with to radical of a cam and/or high stall converter and you have issues.
 
I think those units are stupid. Like a passing fad.

haha I hope I didn’t make a stupid purchase. Makes sense to me to split 2nd and 3rd gear, have more range in the power band, higher gear for more acceleration and the OD to drop rpm ~600 on the highway.
 
One thing to consider with a overdrive (GV or transmission) is your cruise rpm in relation to your cam power band and torque converter. Too low of a cruise rpm with to radical of a cam and/or high stall converter and you have issues.

engine is blueprint engines 408 stroker with hydraulic cams matched to there built 727.
 
haha I hope I didn’t make a stupid purchase. Makes sense to me to split 2nd and 3rd gear, have more range in the power band, higher gear for more acceleration and the OD to drop rpm ~600 on the highway.
I can reason out and mathematically prove how a GV is an advantage. In the real world, I have zero experience, in my head, I think about it all and I can not find a single reason to purchase or use one. IMO, it is not cost effective. My wallet is to thin to play with one. I myself would rather use a factory 4spd auto or a manual trans that has a OD gear, be it a A-833 or Tremac variant.

BUT! This is just me.
Did YOU make a big MISTAKE?
IMO, I don’t think so since you thought about it and decided to make the leap. Your reasoning was sound in your head, go for it. And enjoy it! I called out to AJ/FormS because he has one and loves it.

AJ is a good man and a solid dude that will help you out.
He gets my stamp of approval and a big thumbs up.
 
I can reason out and mathematically prove how a GV is an advantage. In the real world, I have zero experience, in my head, I think about it all and I can not find a single reason to purchase or use one. IMO, it is not cost effective. My wallet is to thin to play with one. I myself would rather use a factory 4spd auto or a manual trans that has a OD gear, be it a A-833 or Tremac variant.

BUT! This is just me.
Did YOU make a big MISTAKE?
IMO, I don’t think so since you thought about it and decided to make the leap. Your reasoning was sound in your head, go for it. And enjoy it! I called out to AJ/FormS because he has one and loves it.

AJ is a good man and a solid dude that will help you out.
He gets my stamp of approval and a big thumbs up.

Appreciate that! Would like to get this build right the first time without taking the Dana 60 out again to change gears haha.

yeah originally I was going to do a 4L80e built trans by Jake’s performance m, but didn’t want to cut up my tunnel that bad and Blueprint Warrenty covered there engine and 727 trans. When I put my nitto 325 tires in I’d like to have a high gear and get those tires to hook for some serious acceleration.

so guess I’m stuck with deciding 3:55, 3:73 or 4:10 gears.
 
engine is blueprint engines 408 stroker with hydraulic cams matched to there built 727.
Which tells us nothing. You will need to dig up the engine and cam specs for when AJ shows up. Also rear tire size you are going to run. It all comes into play.
 
Appreciate that! Would like to get this build right the first time without taking the Dana 60 out again to change gears haha.

yeah originally I was going to do a 4L80e built trans by Jake’s performance m, but didn’t want to cut up my tunnel that bad and Blueprint Warrenty covered there engine and 727 trans. When I put my nitto 325 tires in I’d like to have a high gear and get those tires to hook for some serious acceleration.

so guess I’m stuck with deciding 3:55, 3:73 or 4:10 gears.
A4l80 is a overbuilt waste of money for a small block stroker. Good thing you didn't go that route.
 
Appreciate that! Would like to get this build right the first time without taking the Dana 60 out again to change gears haha.

yeah originally I was going to do a 4L80e built trans by Jake’s performance m, but didn’t want to cut up my tunnel that bad and Blueprint Warrenty covered there engine and 727 trans. When I put my nitto 325 tires in I’d like to have a high gear and get those tires to hook for some serious acceleration.

so guess I’m stuck with deciding 3:55, 3:73 or 4:10 gears.
The GM trans from what I remember doesn’t require cutting up the tunnel. BUT.....
The required parts to swap it in and associated parts to modify (IE; driveshaft) make the swap expensive vs a factory OD or other manual transmission “kits” that do the same thing.

What is the final OD ratio of the transmission?
Size of engine and the cam specs?
 
The GM trans from what I remember doesn’t require cutting up the tunnel. BUT.....
The required parts to swap it in and associated parts to modify (IE; driveshaft) make the swap expensive vs a factory OD or other manual transmission “kits” that do the same thing.

What is the final OD ratio of the transmission?
Size of engine and the cam specs?
The 4l60 and 4l80 does. (350 and 400 turbo's are quite large.) The 200's don't but they are weaker than our 904's unless you build he heck out of them. A street stroker would work fine with a 904 overdrive that has been purposely built.
 
Just for comparison, I had a 4l80E in my diesel powered tool truck. 18,000# GVW. Way overkill for a small block Mopar.
 
I'm going on what some people here have reported and the fact that the GV doesn't have "that good" of an OD ratio on paper. There have been a number of people on here through the years disappointed with them. For 3K dollars, you ought not to have to modify the floor, either. JMO
 
Depends on the OD’s ratio and rear ends gear ratio.
Using an OD trans, 4 or 5 spd is IMO, a good idea. YOU just have to figure out what you want your cruise speed to be and at what MPH. Which works in conjunction with your tire size. This equation should work well with your cam.
 
Depends on the OD’s ratio and rear ends gear ratio.
Using an OD trans, 4 or 5 spd is IMO, a good idea. YOU just have to figure out what you want your cruise speed to be and at what MPH. Which works in conjunction with your tire size. This equation should work well with your cam.

what do you mean cruise speed? Like highway cruise speed. If so 70-72mph.

I originally ordered it (late Friday) because I wanted to run high gears like 3:73 or 4:10, and thought if I had a hood nitto 325 tire and could get it to stick I could have a hell of a launch.
 
what do you mean cruise speed? Like highway cruise speed. If so 70-72mph.
Yes
I originally ordered it (late Friday) because I wanted to run high gears like 3:73 or 4:10, and thought if I had a hood nitto 325 tire and could get it to stick I could have a hell of a launch.
So, third time! What is the OD ratio? What is the tire size. Please don’t list “Nitto 325....” give me the actual tire diameter.
 
-
Back
Top