Hey,
I have a 1981 4-door Malibu with a factory 3-speed on the floor, no joke. 78,000 miles and the body is straighter than the salt flats.It's a mid-life-crisis family hot-rod. I'll be 40 in August. I have a 396 that is making about 425 hp, not sure where the torque curve is, I assume it is low. Ill find out the cam specs from the previous builder.
I'll be using a Super T-10 4 speed with a 2.64 1rst gear ratio.My tires will be no taller than 28 inches.I want this car to pull like a banshee but I dont want to be screaming on the highway. I considered a 5 speed, but after previously owning one, I got tired of shifting...yes I know...pansy. I also considered a taller 1rst gear, but the jump from 1rst to 2nd gear is over a full point in some cases, like the 3-speed that is in the car now. So the 2.64 will suffice. The car is full body stock with a/c, which will hopefully remain. I know slapping low gears in there will make it fly, but I like alot of pull, not just a quick rev. I always had sucess with tall high way gears.Now I'm trying to cut it in the middle and try to get the best of both worlds.My opinion is somewhere around 3.23 to 3.53.I need a formula to calculate the rpms also.Any advice will be appreciated.Thank you.
I have a 1981 4-door Malibu with a factory 3-speed on the floor, no joke. 78,000 miles and the body is straighter than the salt flats.It's a mid-life-crisis family hot-rod. I'll be 40 in August. I have a 396 that is making about 425 hp, not sure where the torque curve is, I assume it is low. Ill find out the cam specs from the previous builder.
I'll be using a Super T-10 4 speed with a 2.64 1rst gear ratio.My tires will be no taller than 28 inches.I want this car to pull like a banshee but I dont want to be screaming on the highway. I considered a 5 speed, but after previously owning one, I got tired of shifting...yes I know...pansy. I also considered a taller 1rst gear, but the jump from 1rst to 2nd gear is over a full point in some cases, like the 3-speed that is in the car now. So the 2.64 will suffice. The car is full body stock with a/c, which will hopefully remain. I know slapping low gears in there will make it fly, but I like alot of pull, not just a quick rev. I always had sucess with tall high way gears.Now I'm trying to cut it in the middle and try to get the best of both worlds.My opinion is somewhere around 3.23 to 3.53.I need a formula to calculate the rpms also.Any advice will be appreciated.Thank you.