What Were the Standard Gears for 1972 Satellite?

[Satellite72]

Would any of you happen to know what was typically standard for rearend gears on or around my year car. It's a 72 Plymouth Satellite Sebring Plus, 904 trans automatic on the floor. I realize to be for sure I need to rotate the wheels and count the revolutions that it's made. Just wanting to know because down the road I would like to potentially reduce the RPM to MPH ratio. Thanks!

 

[Meep-Meep]

I would say something like 2.71.

 

[71Beeper]

Unless your Satellite has a sure grip in the rear you won't be able to tell the ratio by turning the tire & counting the rotation of the driveshaft. That method does not work in a single spinner application.

 

[Satellite72]

2.71 doesn't seem as bad as I thought... I'm finding that the more I mess with the car and the more time goes by, the more I'm realizing that a good cruising car is what I'm truly after as opposed to a huge amount hp and a top end that is killed by lower gears. Thanks again.

 

[Bad Sport]

Unless your Satellite has a sure grip in the rear you won't be able to tell the ratio by turning the tire & counting the rotation of the driveshaft. That method does not work in a single spinner application.

Yes it does. Jack up one tire if you have an open diff, or both tires if you have a working suregrip or locking differential. Rotate the tire one full revolution for suregrip and lockers and 2 full revolutions for open diffs. Carefully count the number of full revolutions the driveshaft makes. This is your gear ratio. In other words, if the drive shaft turns 3 ¾ turns, you probably have a 3.73 gear ratio. Turning the tire for twice the number of full revolutions and dividing the drive shaft revolutions by two will give you a more accurate reading. It is best to mark the tire and the drive shaft so you have a reference point.

 

[Randy73]

Yes it does. Jack up one tire if you have an open diff, or both tires if you have a working suregrip or locking differential. Rotate the tire one full revolution for suregrip and lockers and 2 full revolutions for open diffs. Carefully count the number of full revolutions the driveshaft makes. This is your gear ratio. In other words, if the drive shaft turns 3 ¾ turns, you probably have a 3.73 gear ratio. Turning the tire for twice the number of full revolutions and dividing the drive shaft revolutions by two will give you a more accurate reading. It is best to mark the tire and the drive shaft so you have a reference point.

:sSig_goodjob:

 

[Cranky]

What rear end is in it? 8 3/4's came with 2.76-2.94-3.23, 3.55 and on up but it depends on the options of the car unless it was special ordered. For the most part, you couldn't get a 3.91 behind a 318 but if you knew the right people, it could be done and that's still somewhat true today....for instance, I ordered a 92 Dakota Sport with the 5.2, 3.90 gears, tilt and cruise and roll ups and 6x9 chrome mirrors which the sport is not supposed to come with. It wasn't even offered on the order sheet with those....

 

[myaerocars]

Axle ratios were manual trans: with 318 2.94 standard optional 3.21

sure grip options of 2.76 and 3.23

For auto trans:
318 2.71 standard optional 3.21


sure grip 3.23 or 2.76 also optional

Taken from the website that lists the factory specifications - cannot find the link but it is the Hamtramck site.

Godspeed,
JON

 

[Satellite72]

Thanks guys for taking the time to look that info up and give me some pointers.

 

[Cranky]

What rear does your car have? 8 3/4? Not a big deal but there was never a 3.21 offered for it...3.23 was the ratio. If you have the 8 3/4, finding a 3rd member that has highway gears is fairly easy and is not hard to swap out for a novice that has some experience turning wrenches but if the car has any other rear, things get a lot more complicated when doing a gear swap. The 8 3/4 is easy to identify as it is the only one with the drop out 3rd member....drops out from the front...ie, it has no rear cover.

 

[Satellite72]

I meant to check what rear end and the gears I have this weekend, but never got the chance. When I get to I'll add to the post and let you know. Thanks again.