Opinions on rear gears

[RSZ28]

I'm working on a 1965 Belvedere II that will be used solely as a cruiser. The 273 will be swapped for a 440. It currently has its original open rearend with stock gears (don't know ratio). I have a sure grip center with 2.94 gears. I also have a set of 3.23 ring and pinion gears. Should I use the center with the 2.94 that I have or switch to the 3.23? Thanks

 

[JimKueneman]

What are you going to do with it? My Coronet has 2.94 gears that I just love living in rural Arizona. Most 2 lane roads are 65 and the freeways are 75. I would not want much lower gears to travel the 50 miles between towns and to my house in the middle of no where. In town the 3.23 would be more fun but that is less than 5% of my overall driving time!

 

[Fran Blacker]

3.23's or for more kick 3.55's. 3.73's your get at end of highway cruising. I put 4.10's in the spring, the 3.23's going in. Ran 3.54's for year and drove from Ct to Niagara falls no problem.
If I had a set of 3.55's setup I'd run them.

 

[Cranky]

A 440 with 2.94's is a bruiser of a cruiser!! Had a 70 383 Challenger with 2.94's and it did pretty good. I'd be tempted to stick in 2.76's behind that 440 so it would cruise 85 with ease and still have plenty of get up and went from a stand still.

 

[65RoadRacer]

It depends on a few things, I'd say.

• What is most of your driving: city or freeway?
• What size tires are you using: stock diameter or taller/low profile?
• What are you more concerned with: off the line performance or your wallet?

My 65 Bel II had 3.23 gears and I stayed with that because I was more interested in MPG than 0-60 times. The car is not lightning off the line, but cruising with friends who had 3.55s I was watching them keep it to 55-60 on long trips while I could cruise at 70. Going even lower, you'll be slower off the line, but get even better fuel mileage for longer trips (fuel mileage is not really noticeable at lower rpms)

My rear street tires are typically about 28 inches tall. Before I did the 4L60E swap, I was getting about 13-14 mpg on the freeway. Now I have overdrive and I'm seeing about 17. But I also road race, so I really don't want to be revving too high all the way around the track with my 25 inch tires. (I average over 64 mph on the track)

My friend's Toyota V6 was quicker off the line than my car with my gearing and tall tires, but I don't race on the street so it's not a big deal to me.

 

[oldbee]

Normal Pennsylvania- 3.23’s. More hills there.

 

[mopar 3 B]

My 65 Bel II had 3.23 gears and I stayed with that because I was more interested in MPG than 0-60 times. The car is not lightning off the line, but cruising with friends who had 3.55s I was watching them keep it to 55-60 on long trips while I could cruise at 70.
The GTX has 3:55 gears and cruses quite nicely at 70 and above will still averages 16 MPG. Its all in the build.

 

[Dennis H]

Transmission?

 

[mopar 3 B]

Transmission?

Who?

 

[khryslerkid]

I'm liking the 3.23 gear. 2,000 rpm @50 mph. I wouldn't want the 440 running any higher at that speed. It likes 2,200 rpm @ 55-60 mph. 12 mpg around town.

You have to watch what cam you use. Stock or magnum the 2.94 should be ok. Anything stouter she might be bogging a bit or not hitting the sweet spot of the cam.

You have both so go with one or the other. You can always swap them to see what you like better.

 

[mopar 3 B]

I have worked on many early 70's trooper croziers with 2:76 gears. They may not have been race car fast from a dead stop. But were quite capable of getting some where in a hurry.

It all boils down to going a short distance fast or a longer distance faster.

 

[Dennis H]

Doesn’t the transmission affect highway rpm. OP did not say what trans. My TKO 5 Cruises 72mph @ 2150 rpm w/3:54 Dana.

 

[multimopes]

I'd be very happy to swap my 8 3/4" - 3.91's for 3.23, 2.94 or even 2.76's. Can barely cruise at all!

 

[Photon440]

When I had 3.23:1 I had no issues driving on 1,000 mile prairie cruises. With 3.91:1 I had no highway trouble either. With 3.54:1 I'd drive everywhere. I have no problems with a few engine revs. My Pontiac 455 with 4.56:1 gears on the other hand....that was one I wished was numerically lower.

 

[Bill Monk]

Guys are telling it straight. 3.23 is a good all purpose, the 2.94 will be great for cruising but not as much fun. I run a 3.54 dana with a 4 speed and for the street, I wouldn't go any more than that

 

[65-440]

My vote if for 3.23. In my 68 coronet, mild 383/727, 275/60 rear tire .... I went from 2.76 to 3.55 to 3.23 and love the 3.23. I do lots of long cruises , just did 200miles this Saturday. I definitely lost some off the line punch from the 3.55 but its much nicer at Hwy speeds. 3.55 wasn't terrible on the Hwy, but I felt was a tad high on the rpm ( also didn't have a tach at that time so who knows, I was going by sounds of the engine !) ......

 

[67belvedere/225]

I have

3.23's or for more kick 3.55's. 3.73's your get at end of highway cruising. I put 4.10's in the spring, the 3.23's going in. Ran 3.54's for year and drove from Ct to Niagara falls no problem.
If I had a set of 3.55's setup I'd run them.

3.55 in my rear end and still found it revs kind of high, would not want lower than that. last winter swapped out the tranny with a 700r4 over drive and now she purs
on the highway at 65 at around 2100 rpm

 

[65-440]

Then again, a buddy mine went from 3.23 to 2.94 and wouldn't have it any other way. He also does a lot of Hwy time including the hot rod power tour. His car does not struggle to get up to speed but his rear tire is also a bit shorter than mine.

 

[FrnkNsteen]

Not much to add here, as others have pretty much nailed it. All I can say is I have 3:23 in Barracuda (25.6" 245/60-14) and it's fine (Charger isn't on the road yet, but it has a 3:23 also), but there's times when I have to hop on the interstate and the RPM's are a little higher than I'd like when cruising at 70ish.

If most of your cruising is 55mph highways and back roads, the 3:23 is a nice all around gear. If you do a lot of freeway cruising, the 2:94 might be better. As someone else said, if you have both, try the one that's in there and see how you like it. If it seems doggy on your cruises, change it out to the 3:23.

 

[RSZ28]

Thanks for all the response. I will be running 275/60/15 about 28 inches tall and stock 727.