what kind of rpms are you turning on the high way with it??

 

it depends what tires you have, i have 3.73 gears in my 8 inch, 24" tires and im 3450rpm @ 65mph, so i would guess approx 3000 with the same tires.

 

Look at the database on my site.

http://www.stanginfo.com/Gears/GearOptions_view.php

It will give you some idea of what you can expect from each gear.

 

I have a 3.25 Traction Loc with 23.5" diameter 225x50x15's. With a Toploader 4-speed it runs 2780 rpm at 60 mph. That is why I am going to a T-5, need the overdrive bigtime or it sucks the tank dry in a hurry on the freeway. Can't wait to get that fifth gear overdrive! An open-end 2.80 is nothing but a highway cruising rear end. If you want any kind of performance, you want at least a 3.00 or more Traction Loc...

 

I am looking forward to getting an AOD myself. I do mostly cruising.
That gear chart has proved pretty helpful to a few people when choosing gears.

 

Bryan,

I noticed you mentioned that you have Versailles front spindles to install on your Mustang. I don't know if you know this, but you'll have to have some tapered bushings to install in the lower ends of the Versailles spindles at the time you install them on your car.

The '77-'80 Versailles spindles are identicle to the '75-'80 Granada/Monarch disc brake spindles with the exception of the lower ball joint holes. On the Versailles, the holes are slightly larger. There's a guy named Steve Wilkes that sell these bushings ( www.mustangsteve.com )

The driveshaft length --assuming you are going to run a small-block, should be 51" from the center of the front U-joint eye to the rear U-joint eye of the driveshaft.


www.ultrastang.com

 

HMM, i dont remember. I believe my rpms are around 2600-3000 around 70 mph. Because it's barely turning at all.

 

thanks for the tip on steve, i've been in contact with him a few times and I was going to machine my own, but his deal can't be beat when i factor in my time. as for the driveshaft lenght, thanks!!

 

Do you really have to change the drive shaft? The last one I did (been a few years) I swapped an 8 inch into a 66 coupe and used the same everything. drive shaft was the same, U-joints the U-bolts to bolt it down. Everything. Just measure from the center of the axle to where the u-joint seats on both axles and see if they are the same. I think you will find that they are.

 

everything i've read says that the yoke is different, something like 28 teeth vs. 25 meaning the driveshaft must be changed to that... you could probably get away without lengthing it, but then if you got some serious DUKES air...lol the driveshaft could in theory fall out, same way that it can bind up if its too long