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drolston · 02-17-2019, 04:51 PM

There is more than one way to skin the "driveability" cat.

The close ratio five speed will help a puny engine with low torque keep up. Or you can go for more torque and spend that cash to bore and stroke that flathead out to at least 276 cubes. I took the flathead in my heavier '41 to 284 cubic inches with a very mild cam, and put in 3.25 rear end gears. Cruises easy at 70; about 2700 rpm. I thought I might need to drop in a 29 tooth cluster to get low gear low enough, but no. I get going on a steep hill without having to slip the clutch very much. The car will pull away smoothly in high gear from 15 mph.

Just a thought! Cost probably about the same, and you do not have to butcher the frame and rear suspension.

02-17-2019, 04:51 PM	#16
drolston Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 1,627	Re: Opinion on T5 drivability There is more than one way to skin the "driveability" cat. The close ratio five speed will help a puny engine with low torque keep up. Or you can go for more torque and spend that cash to bore and stroke that flathead out to at least 276 cubes. I took the flathead in my heavier '41 to 284 cubic inches with a very mild cam, and put in 3.25 rear end gears. Cruises easy at 70; about 2700 rpm. I thought I might need to drop in a 29 tooth cluster to get low gear low enough, but no. I get going on a steep hill without having to slip the clutch very much. The car will pull away smoothly in high gear from 15 mph. Just a thought! Cost probably about the same, and you do not have to butcher the frame and rear suspension.