So, my new convertible is supposed to be delivered tomorrow. I ran the VIN through Marti, and am very excited about the results. But I don’t want to post them just yet.
But as it is a factory four speed, I’d like to hear from people that have had factory four speed cars, what the driving experience is like, between the two different transmissions? The car I bought also has a 3.0 rear gear, or that’s what it came with. I don’t have the car yet, or have it running, but that is the starting point…
I always enjoyed my Top Loader car with the 2.78 low (wide ratio) and 3.25 gear. 3.00 gear would be helped by a wide ratio Top Loader as well.
You can work up the RPM drops via an Excel spread sheet…along with total multiplication with that 3.00 rear axle. Using 5000 RPM as a shift point, my new RPM after each shift with the close ratio:
1st to 2nd drops 5000 to 3642
2nd to 3rd drops 5000 to 3817
3rd to 4th drops 5000 to 3876
and with wide ratio:
1st to 2nd drops 5000 to 3471
2nd to 3rd drops 5000 to 3523
3rd to 4th drops 5000 to 3676
The initial total ratio in a close ratio 3.00 axle car is 6.96:1, and in a wide ratio 8.34:1 .
Someone should check my work, seeing as I haven’t had breakfast yet.
R.B.
Why you gotta tease us like that?
I thought the same thing…
I’ve had both. I have had them behind small blocks, big blocks, with low rear axle ratios and with high rear axle ratios. I want the Wide Ratio version with just about anything except the Close Ratio box might be OK with a 3.91 or 4.30 ratio behind a 428CJ. The Close Ratio version is terrible with low (numerical) rear gears and especially terrible with a 289, 302 or 351.
It used to be that having a big input / Wide Ratio top loader was an impossibility. No more because David Kee makes the parts for this conversion.
Royce, as always, I appreciate your input! I’m very Cougar jealous of your fleet and experience.
The guy is running a bit behind, and so the car is now just a couple hours out.
But, the car is a close ratio, with the 3.0 gear. I always thought that the wide ratio would be better on the road, and the close ratio would be better with a performance gear, on like a road course or something. Quick side note, I recently bought some original parts for my 67 from a guy that has an actual Boss 302 E car. His has the close ratio and 3.91 gear. He didn’t know about the Shelby museum or any of the events they have over in Boulder, so I told him about all that. I’m sure the Shelby guys would like his pastel blue Boss 302 car.
I really think that the new car is going to have to keep the CR 4 speed for a while. I know a T5 or Tremec would be a better choice for today’s world, but it is kind of a low number of cars that came this way, and so it will go back to almost original original condition.
I have had several close and wide ratio top loaders in a variety of cars. Most recent was “The Tool” which had a 455 CI stroker with 2 - 4V carbs, headers, and a lumpy cam with a close ratio top loader and 3.00 rear axle. It was a pig to get started at lights. Once started it was fun, but likely was going to be hard on clutches.
My daily driver for many years was a 289 4V with headers, 600 Holley, started out with a stock cam but later I put in a Crane 270 hydraulic cam. It had a close ratio and several wide ratio top loaders. Rear axle was a 3.00. It really sucked with the close ratio box.
Recently I have done a lot of work on a 390GT Mustang that I have worked on for the past 30 years. It had a close ratio box with 3.50 rear gears. The owner two years ago paid David Kee about $2600 to exchange his close ratio small input box for a big in / big out wide ratio top loader. It’s a blast to drive now. The price included shipping both ways. Recently I swapped in a 462 CI stroker 428 in place of the 390. It has Vintage Air, PS, PB and it’s a black fast back with black interior.
IMO it comes down to driving use. Drag/Road racing Close ratio, keeps the RPMs closer when shifting for best torque response.
Wide for a SBF, 3.00 gears in town driving. BBF doesn’t matter. The low 1st and 3.00 gearing will work nicely for starting from stop. If you’re running a 3.50 rearend gears, close ratio works fine. Most factory stuff had 2.80-3.25 gearing. The BBF, 428/429CJs had 3.50 or lower. You have to shift a little sooner due to higher rpms in 1st, but usually not an issue for in town driving. Final for both is still 1 to 1 useless you have something special installed.