Advice on custom trans/diff set up.
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Advice on custom trans/diff set up.
Looks like you guys know your stuff about the Ford trucks, I have a question that you probably will be able to answer.
I am building a custom car (hot rod) and need advice on what gear ratio/differential to use. I will be using the 4.9L inline six engine and would like to use trans and rear axle from same vehicle but I have no experience with any of them.
The car is going to be used for cruising only, no racing or off-road stuff. Approx. weight of car will be 2500lbs. Tyres will be 32 inch. Acceleration of the line is not as important as cruising at 70 or 80 with minimal engine revs. (although I would like some acceleration). Gearbox needs to be auto.
What model/ratio of gearbox and diff. do you think would be the best. Thanks in advance for any help you can give.
I am building a custom car (hot rod) and need advice on what gear ratio/differential to use. I will be using the 4.9L inline six engine and would like to use trans and rear axle from same vehicle but I have no experience with any of them.
The car is going to be used for cruising only, no racing or off-road stuff. Approx. weight of car will be 2500lbs. Tyres will be 32 inch. Acceleration of the line is not as important as cruising at 70 or 80 with minimal engine revs. (although I would like some acceleration). Gearbox needs to be auto.
What model/ratio of gearbox and diff. do you think would be the best. Thanks in advance for any help you can give.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: USA
An AOD auto trans will give you an Overdrive 4th gear, which will enable you to gear the rear to 3.55 or 3.73 with 32" tires and have plenty of power and still cruise ok on the highway.
You can gear as high (numerically low) as 3.00 with your light weight car and 32" tires if you end up going with a C4 or C6 auto trans that has no overdrive. I wouldn't go any higher than 3.00 though with that size tire.
Make sure you get a trans from either a 300 six, 302, or 351 Windsor, as other Ford engines use different bellhousing bolt patterns.
I'm assuming the car does not have the computer/electronics to support an AOD/E or E4OD trans. The regular AOD, C4 and C6 will work without computer control. The FMX auto (no overdrive) tranny is another possibility too.
You can gear as high (numerically low) as 3.00 with your light weight car and 32" tires if you end up going with a C4 or C6 auto trans that has no overdrive. I wouldn't go any higher than 3.00 though with that size tire.
Make sure you get a trans from either a 300 six, 302, or 351 Windsor, as other Ford engines use different bellhousing bolt patterns.
I'm assuming the car does not have the computer/electronics to support an AOD/E or E4OD trans. The regular AOD, C4 and C6 will work without computer control. The FMX auto (no overdrive) tranny is another possibility too.
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SoCalDesertRider
thanks for the reply.
Sorry for the ignorance and this might sound like a dumb question but if I wanted to find all this on the same vehicle how would I go about finding this set up - e.g. is there a model/year that would most likely have this set up? The only diff. I am familiar with is the 9-inch but it sounds like the trans. you talk about is newer. What diff. does it come with?
thanks again
thanks for the reply.
Sorry for the ignorance and this might sound like a dumb question but if I wanted to find all this on the same vehicle how would I go about finding this set up - e.g. is there a model/year that would most likely have this set up? The only diff. I am familiar with is the 9-inch but it sounds like the trans. you talk about is newer. What diff. does it come with?
thanks again
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,959
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From: USA
The trannys dont come with a specific differential/axle, as they can be mix-matched in any vehicle.
The 9" rear can be found under 1/2 ton pickups and Broncos and cars from the late '60's to the early '80's. The Lincoln Versailles came with a disc braked 9", not sure on the year. A 9" can also be modified or custom built for racing or whatever your purpose by a few companies, the most well-known of them is Currie www.currieenterprises.com .
The C4 can also be found in cars and 1/2ton pickups of the same year range as the 9". The C6 can usually be found in 3/4ton and 1ton pickups from the '70's through mid-'90's. The AOD can be found in '80's 1/2 ton pickups and cars. The late '80's and '90's is where the electronic trannys started being used.
What kind of car are you building? Axles are different widths for different cars/trucks so getting one from a similar car would be best. Find a car from the mid '60's through '70's with a 289, 302 or 351W and an automatic and chances are it may have a 9" rear under it and a C4 trans in it. Look for a Mustang, Torino, Ranchero, Cougar, Falcon, Comet, Maverick or Mustang II.
The 9" rear can be found under 1/2 ton pickups and Broncos and cars from the late '60's to the early '80's. The Lincoln Versailles came with a disc braked 9", not sure on the year. A 9" can also be modified or custom built for racing or whatever your purpose by a few companies, the most well-known of them is Currie www.currieenterprises.com .
The C4 can also be found in cars and 1/2ton pickups of the same year range as the 9". The C6 can usually be found in 3/4ton and 1ton pickups from the '70's through mid-'90's. The AOD can be found in '80's 1/2 ton pickups and cars. The late '80's and '90's is where the electronic trannys started being used.
What kind of car are you building? Axles are different widths for different cars/trucks so getting one from a similar car would be best. Find a car from the mid '60's through '70's with a 289, 302 or 351W and an automatic and chances are it may have a 9" rear under it and a C4 trans in it. Look for a Mustang, Torino, Ranchero, Cougar, Falcon, Comet, Maverick or Mustang II.
