[i82much]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

Agree 100% I'm still that way to some degree. I like gear and that's really what a hot rod is to me.

I guess just getting older has me wanting to cruise more, and longer distances.

I still have one car holding out with 4.10's left....lol. Been that way since 87 but I don't know how much longer I'll keep it that way. May leave it and just put an overdrive in it.

It's not fair to go fast without suffering like we had to back in the day! That's really what it's about. Jealousy! Get outta here with your cream-puff 11 second cruiser, kid. In my day, an 11 second car overheated on a mild hill climb because it was running 13:1 compression and 4.56 gears! Now you kids drive around with big fancy aluminum radiators, high flowing heads and 9.5 to 1 engines that are faster than the hairy high compression monsters we had to deal with!

Ah well, I guess progress is a good thing ...

[phil400]

I think what holds most guys including myself back is the initial cost, and having to cut the tunnel.

[Formula8]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

It's all in the tune up. The more rambunctious cams like the 254@ .050 in my 302 just takes a little trickery in the idle feed and transition circuitry, along with a proper timing curve that works in conjunction with the vacuum advance that will make the engine happy at all rpm, even lugging.

I don't think anyone here runs a cam on the street, especially a daily driver that is as radical as what I'm doing here when comparing the size of the engine. In a 455 with 150 more cubes you'd need the equivalent of a 260+ @ .050 cam to see the same result and affect.

Agreed, all I said is the tuning window is tighter, not that it cannot be done.

[tolerico]

I have the .82 OD TKO 5 speed with 3:55 gears in the rear as car was initially set up for road racing. With me spinning 3,000 rpm at 80mph on the freeway a lot lately, sure would be nice those times to have the .64 OD instead.

But a Magnum 6 speed is likely my next change instead to get double O.D.

That way you would not have such a huge drop as you'd have with a TKO 5 speed and a .64 OD. So in that respect, I like the .82 and can live with it. But sure wish I had gone the 6 speed route initially.

I don't know what car you will be putting the trans in, but get your stuff from SST:

https://shiftsst.com/tremec-transmissions

And honestly consider the 6 speed depending if it fits your tunnel with no cutting.

[pokey1]

Yup gear is fun.. I still am running 4.11 but using the T56 Magnum. The double OD .74 then .63 is sweet and works great for highway..

[napster]

Originally Posted by pokey1

Yup gear is fun.. I still am running 4.11 but using the T56 Magnum. The double OD .74 then .63 is sweet and works great for highway..

Agreed, T-56 is the way to go. I have my 1970 TA setup with the T-56 and love it. The car has 433 up front and a 3.73 gear in the back. The first four gears mimic a Muncie M-20 wide ratio while fifth is a .83 OD and sixth is .63 OD.

[David Jones]

Tell me FormulaJones.....your 302 with a 254 cam with a 3.55 at 30 mph. Exactly how many rpm is that turning at 30? If I was going to tell that story I might have used at least 45......

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by David Jones

Tell me FormulaJones.....your 302 with a 254 cam with a 3.55 at 30 mph. Exactly how many rpm is that turning at 30? If I was going to tell that story I might have used at least 45......

It's turning 1,000-1100 rpm and idles along just fine, even picks up speed fine without downshifting. I put video up of doing it in the past, showing that large camshafts, in even a very small engine can use these overdrives well below the highway speed limits and work just fine.

[David Jones]

848 rpm. 27” tire. 3.55 gear. .64od. 30mph.

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by David Jones

848 rpm. 27” tire. 3.55 gear. .64od. 30mph.

Actually it's 900 David, I went back and watched the video. I guess you weren't around when I posted the informative video.

Bottom line it can be done, I think you're missing the point. If your big Pontiac motor cant do it with that tiny cam then your chit needs more work.

[MidnightAuto]

I wanted to update on this thread. The new tranny is in and has completely changed the driving experience. It’s really great. Someone mentioned the car going to sleep on the hgwy and I’ll say that is right. purring along with no issue, finally going the same speed as most modern cars. Stop light to stop light seems great, but I am breaking in a new centerforce clutch, so not beating on it just yet. But really happy overall. thanks for all the feedback.

One thing I will say, I was hopeful the tko 600 would not require much floor modifications, but that did not come to pass. extensive cutting to the degree that I had to fedex a new tunnel to the shop.

While this cost me way more money than I ever anticipated, I’ll chalk it up to keeping a shop busy during corona.

This does mean that I’ll be putting my m20 and an original round bar 64 hurst shifter up for sale, after I clean them up. More to come in the sale section.