what gears are you running

[RGA]

I am trying to decide what gears to put in my 69rt. I have narrowed it down to 3:91s or 3:73s. I want as much power as possible off the line, but also want to cruise the freeways comfortably. Its a 3 speed torqueshift by the way. What gears do you guys run? 

[A383Wing]

anything more than 3.55's and you will be screaming the engine down the freeway

most stock autos came with 2.76 or 2.94

most stock manual trans came with 3.23, 3.31, 3.55, & higher

I got 2.76 in the Daytona with auto trans & 3.23's in both 66's with stock 4spd trans

Bryan

[1BAD68]

Yup I have 3:55's and run about 3200 rpm at 65mph

[charger Downunder]

323 440 auto had 276 in for a while its good for highway prefer 323 good all round ratio.

[471_Magnum]

You might consider letting us know what size tire you're running...

That being said, even with 28-inch tires, anything over 3.55 is really uncomfortable at highway speeds, and you can expect horrendous fuel mileage.

I generally run 3.55s. I keep a set of 2.76s handy for long trips.

[BIGBLCK11]

3.73's here.  I am mostly around town with it, lots of fun there.  But, 3.55's would be a lot nicer on the E-way or an overdrive.  The tires I am running are 255/60/15 = 27.05 tall. 

[472 R/T SE]

Taking the 3:55's out & putting in a fresh Power Lok 3:91 set.


What size radiator do you have, 22" or 26"?

[jaak]

440, automatic, 3.23 gears.

Jason

[Kern Dog]

The more cubes you have, the LESS gear you need. A smaller motor will need 3.91s to get the mass moving.
I have a 440 based 493 mill, 727 with a Gear Vendors .78 overdrive and a 3.91 diff. The OD results in a 3.05 final drive. I have 27 3/4" rear tires. Great combo for me, though I'm leaning toward a tighter converter. The 9 3/4" unit I have feels a little soft at freeway speeds.

[thedodgeboys]

I'm running 4.10's with a 28 inch tall tire,















But I also have a .5 6th gear.... 

[tan top]

   727 Auto   with  2.94 gears with a surgrip  &  255-60 -15   (27 inch tall)  tires  

[Fred]

3.23 - 28" tyre 

[Cooter]

Better to gear the trans than the rearend. Remember, the more rearend gear you run with an OD, the faster the driveshaft speed. Therefore, the more chance of a vibration. Some of the local hardheads here are running 4.56 :1 rear gear and tall OD...Can't figure out where their vibrations are coming from....


Agreed, if you have enough engine, you don't need all that gear.

[bill440rt]

3:55's here, and 3:91's in the Charger with overdrive.
Plenty of gear for the street, IMHO.

[440]

3.73 too much of an all round gear for a 4 speed?

[Stretch]

I run 3.55 with 295-50-15's (26.7" on a 8"wide rim) in my '73. Its a 340/727.

Here's a look at what I see.

[GOTWING]

3.23 is a great all around gear.

[68RT4ME]

3.55's running 275-60-15's on 8" wide wheel. Decent on the freeway.

[Troy]

I've tried 2.76, 3.23, and 3.91. Even with 28" tires the 3.91s were horrible on the highway. If you like to drive like an old man they may be fine - but then you probably wouldn't want 3.91 gears! I never had a tach in my cars with 2.76s but the 3.91s turned just over 3100 RPM at 61 mph. I got passed by everyone - including a Smart car! The same car with 3.23s will go about 73 mph at the same RPM. If you have anything smaller than 28" tires it will only be worse.

Troy

[440]

Anything over 3k at the speed limit is starting to get uncomfortable IMO.

[Charger_Dart]

3.91's with 28" tires and a OD. without the OD it would be no fun on the highway. The Dart runs 3.55's with a 727 and it seems perfect for that setup. 

[OldGuy]

Currently running 3:55's with 3 speed Torqueflight trans - 275x60x15's on rear.  Good for side streets and neighborhood.  I would prefer 3:23's for the highway.  If going long distances - 2:76's.  3:23's are a good all around gear.

[bakerhillpins]

I have a 440 with 727 and 3.91s. Might be fun if you don't really plan on going anywhere but it drives me nuts. Looking to put in 3.23, which were OE on the car anyhow.

[TK73]

3.55       28" 275/60/15 on 8.5

Don't do much highway... local mostly

[GPULLER]

3:23 440 auto with 295/50/15's.  Always wanted to go lower but the 3:23's are perfect all around gears.

[Brass]

I took this from Mopar Action a couple months ago...

3.23 Rant:

"Have we ever gone on a good rant about 3.23s?  No?  Well, why don't you just cinch down that lap belt while we tell you like it is.  3.23s are sheer genius.  Brilliant.  The perfect gear.  Ever try actually living with 4.11s or 3.91s or even 3.55s?  Your crankshaft ends up spinning like a turbo impeller, you go insane from the noise, your top end is like 48 mph, and you get the same mileage as the Exxon Valdez.  Don't tell us about some TKO II overdrive tranny and carbon fiber driveshafts and how your cousin's buddy ran one for four minutes in San Luis Obispo before that karaoke chick got involved, okay?  First of all, there's like eleven people who can afford that stuff.  Plus the paternity suit.  But you get the idea.  And don't tell me "Gear Vendors."  Same problem.  Yes, they are stunning, yes the U-joint angles are nuts, and yes they cost more than the entire staffs' monthly trailer rental and federal restitution payments together.  So what do real people with real lives and real probation officers do?  We yank a full 8.75 setup out of a 68 truck, reweld the spring perches, throw in some hypoid gear lube, hope it's not frozen solid, and proceed to go collect a bunch of moving violations because it will both accelerate magnificently and still allow us to hit enough velocity to lift the windshield wipers off the glass (that starts about 115), just as the Excellence in Engineering guys intended.  Perfect."

[bakerhillpins]

 

[billssuperbird]

354 

[RiverRaider]

Over the years I have found 3:55/3:54 my favorite all around street gear with 15" wheels. 
4:10 Charger
3:55/3:23 Challengers
3:91 RR
3:23, 3:55, 3:54 in the ragtops
The old race cars got the deep stuff
5:57, 6:17, 6:50

[lloyd3]

My car had a set of 3:23s for a while, but it never felt like that combination worked very well with the 4-gear set-up.  It wasn't bad (and it might have even gotten 11 MPG!) but it never seemed to be in balance (lots of strange shift-points). Other cars I've owned have had 3:23s, which worked just fine with their respective 3-speed automatic transmissions. Four gears are obviously a bit different and the Chrysler engineers set up most of the stock 4-gear R/Ts with Dana 3:54s (unless you had a Trac-Pac optioned car).  I have found that particular combination to work very nicely in my car (Note: it is an almost totally "stock" configuration, so tire mods or camshaft/tranny alterations might change that).  The engine always seems to be in it's power range, and it is completely predictable and always fun to drive.  I guess those old Mopar engineers were on to something?  I realise they weren't dealing with $4 gasoline then.

[472 R/T SE]

3.73 too much of an all round gear for a 4 speed?

Well, considering from the factory with an R/T & 4 gear you got either 3:54 or 4:10 I'd say it'd be a perfect in between ratio.



I know when I'm running along with all my friends @ 55-60mph my car really struggles.  I'm hoping the deeper gears get the rpm's up enough to make it smooth out.  The cam & fact Hemi's like the higher rpm's should work to my benefit.  Finally be utilizing the GV, vibration & all.

[UH60L]

440, 727 auto and 2:76 gears.  Still has plenty of power and I could break teh tire/s loose on dry pavement, yet I was gettign 22 mpg on the highway, and that was with the old worn out engine that came in it.  Plus with 2:76, I have a higher top end.

I'm in Salem Oregon, and I like to explain it to people like this:

"You might beat me off the line, but I'll beat you to portland!"     

[Highbanked Hauler]

354 

  Same here, when I was running a tach. it was around 3K at 70..

[Brightyellow69rtse]

28" tire 4 speed 4.10s in the dana. i would reccomend a smaller gear if you spend any time on the highway.  any idea what it costs to change out a set of gears anyway?

[Surf Charger]

I currently have 3.23s in mine but have 3.55s in the R/T parts car on the side of the garage.

So between the 3.23s and the 3.55s in a 3-speed torqueflight automatic....what difference in RPMs are you looking at when cruising at 70mph?

[BBKNARF]

If your running a 26" tall tire and you like to cruise on the highway and its also great off the line the 3.55s would be my choice  
I'm running a 28" tall tire with a 4.10 gear but I usally cruise on city streets, on the highway driving at 60 mph im reving around 3200 rpm  

[Brightyellow69rtse]

I currently have 3.23s in mine but have 3.55s in the R/T parts care on the side of the garage.

So between the 3.23s and the 3.55s in a 3-speed torqueflight automatic....what difference in RPMs are you looking at when cruising at 70mph?

about 300 rpms

[charger Downunder]

Here have a play around with this. Type in your ratio 276 etc
http://vexer.com/automotive-tools/speed-rpm-calculator

[4cruzin]

I have a Dana with 3:55's and it is tough to run on the highway. . . Struggle to hit 70 ....  I would like a smaller gear but 3:55 is the smallest gear you can get in a Dana.   I think overdrive is the only option.   

Or take out the dana? 

[BlaineKaiser450]

I have a 440/727 with 28inch tires and 3.73s. The car never touches the freeway, only around town. I would love to get a gearvendors setup in it sometime though

[gsmopar]

I run 4.30:1 and a 32inch tire.  "Street-able" leaves a lot to interpretation... 

[RGA]

Thanks for all the help. The car had 3:23's in it when I got it. Went to 3.91's but do not like the freeway, plus they are humming and vibrating (used pumpkin). I was thinking 3:73's but after reading all these reply's I'm thinking 3:55. By the way it's a 440 six pack with the biggest tires I could stuff.

[DAY CLONA]

I took this from Mopar Action a couple months ago...

3.23 Rant:

"Have we ever gone on a good rant about 3.23s?  No?  Well, why don't you just cinch down that lap belt while we tell you like it is.  3.23s are sheer genius.  Brilliant.  The perfect gear.  Ever try actually living with 4.11s or 3.91s or even 3.55s?  Your crankshaft ends up spinning like a turbo impeller, you go insane from the noise, your top end is like 48 mph, and you get the same mileage as the Exxon Valdez.  Don't tell us about some TKO II overdrive tranny and carbon fiber driveshafts and how your cousin's buddy ran one for four minutes in San Luis Obispo before that karaoke chick got involved, okay?  First of all, there's like eleven people who can afford that stuff.  Plus the paternity suit.  But you get the idea.  And don't tell me "Gear Vendors."  Same problem.  Yes, they are stunning, yes the U-joint angles are nuts, and yes they cost more than the entire staffs' monthly trailer rental and federal restitution payments together.  So what do real people with real lives and real probation officers do?  We yank a full 8.75 setup out of a 68 truck, reweld the spring perches, throw in some hypoid gear lube, hope it's not frozen solid, and proceed to go collect a bunch of moving violations because it will both accelerate magnificently and still allow us to hit enough velocity to lift the windshield wipers off the glass (that starts about 115), just as the Excellence in Engineering guys intended.  Perfect."

No Carbon Fiber driveshaft but I do have a Keisler TKO 5spd .64 OD and Dana 60, running 4:10's 28" tire...equates to a final 2:60 ratio in 5 th gear, engine is a 440/6 450HP, top speed is just a tad under 150MPH @6200 RPM....70 MPh on the highway is approx 2200RPM

If I keep my foot out of it, and cruise between 70-90 MPH, I get 20-22 MPG on long trips, other than that the 4:10's just tear up the street

[cdr]

im goin a518 & 4.10,& get a good balanced drive shaft,the trick is to have them balance at 6000 rpm

[DAY CLONA]

im goin a518 & 4.10,& get a good balanced drive shaft,the trick is to have them balance at 6000 rpm

6000 rpm would be the minimum, my shaft was balanced at 10,000 RPM, the 518, IIRC is a .70 OD that's a 30% reduction, so those 4;10's are going to become the equivilent of 2.97's with a 27" tall tire, depending on what RPM your engine can dole out (6000+RPM) your shaft could be capable of 7800 RPM at top speed

[cdr]

im goin a518 & 4.10,& get a good balanced drive shaft,the trick is to have them balance at 6000 rpm

6000 rpm would be the minimum, my shaft was balanced at 10,000 RPM, the 518, IIRC is a .70 OD that's a 30% reduction, so those 4;10's are going to become the equivilent of 2.97's with a 27" tall tire, depending on what RPM your engine can dole out (6000+RPM) your shaft could be capable of 7800 RPM at top speed

thanx day clona,you would be correct,did some more research ,6000 would definitely be on the low side for what i am building,cant find anyone in the houston area that can spin them that fast so i will have to have one built somewhere else

[HDCharger]

500cid/Auto

S60 - 3.73

28" Tires


I've had Chargers with 3.23s and 3.55s and both were pretty good all around gears, depending on your type of driving.