I am rebuilding my rear end this weekend and i wanted to know what a good gear ratio was for my maverick if i was just gonna us the car for a daily driver and to play around in every once in a while my car is a 2 door 302 74 mav if any one has any ideas what gear ratio i should go with please let me know befor i get started tommorro
If you do much highway driving, you'll be happier with a high 3.XX, if you mostly cruise around town and make a few passes at the track, you'll be happier with a low 4.XX. my
3.40 or 3.55 is perfect. I wouldn't go any higher or any lower, unless the primary use of the car is drag racing...
thanks Yeah i was thinking a 3.73 but i wasnt sure if that was too high or not thanks for the imput though cause i do a good amount of high way driving
...or 3.70 if you have a 5th gear. Buzzing down the highway at 65 to 70 mph, my car is only spinning 2000 to 2200 rpm.
Unless you have overdrive, or do absolutely no highway driving, I wouldn't go more then 3.55. My daily driver is a 3 speed manual with 4.56 rear gear. Interstate is totally off limits, but around town the car is awesome.
I have 3.80 and say that is really pushing it to the top limit if you do any highway driving. If I drove more highway, I would have stuck with 3.55, but I seldom do. And when I do, I don't mind driving the speed limit and running 3000rpms. It isn't SCREAMING, but definitely up there. BUT...when I want to pass someone So, if more than 25% is highway driving, go 3.55 (we are talking 8" rear here, aren't we?), if less than that, go with the 3.80 since it is MUCH more fun in town and at the track
What carb, intake, and cam do you have? Auto tranny? I ask because you can't just throw a 3.80 behind a stock 302. It will not help things unless your engine is comfortable making power at a higher RPM. Just a thought... Dave
If your 302 is relatively stock or a mild build, a 3.25 is good gear. You'll notice big difference if your original was a 2.79.
rear end i have an auto and i just recently got the mav a few weeks ago. i am the kinda guy who likes to work from the back to the front and save all the good stuff for the end. so i have not yet touched the engine but planned to in the near future. i plan to switch the 2barrel out for a 4 change exshaust mainfolds and then run duel exhaust. just the little engine things that give it a touch more horsepower till i convince my wife to let me spend more money. i think i am gonna go with the 3.55 since it seems to be what everyone is saying is a good gear ratio for the rear end. thanks guys.
Ditto. The engine build has a lot to do with it. A big cammed motor will actually like more rpms at highway speeds and get better mileage than one that's choking under the powerband with a lower numerical ratio.
