Ring & Pinion advise

[PO51]

I'm starting the restoration of my 29 Business Coupe. This is the A I will be touring with. Will be running a Mitchell sycro transmission with the higher 2nd gear, and a touring type engine, ( high compression head inserted bearings and touring type cam). My question is should I use a 3.54 or the higher 3.27 ring & pinion? would really value input from other Fordbarners on this. Hope to be working on the rearend by late Feb. Will be finishing the frame and drivetrain on my 28 RPU next week ( it's for running aroud town).
Steve

[J Franklin]

How about the 3:77 since you will already have a higher third? You will have some hills where you live.

[Charlie Stephens]

Originally Posted by J Franklin

How about the 3:77 since you will already have a higher third? You will have some hills where you live.

I don't understand you comment about "a higher third"? I thought third was 1 to 1. Did Mitchell do something different?

On another topic, I have a 3.54 in I'm '31 RDPU and like it. It was a large improvement over the 3.78 but you can't see it if you try to show it by calculation. I haven't tried the 3.27.

Charlie Stephens

[Patrick L.]

I talked to the friendly folks at Mitchell. Its a chinese unit. There are several different ratios available. Standard, higher 1st and 2nd, Std first and higher 2nd. High gear is high gear, 1 to 1, direct.
As for the rear end ratio, thats more difficult. It depends on what you want and the geography of your area. The 3:54 appears to be about the favorite all around gear with a strong engine. That seems to add about 5 more mph to your normal cruise speed[same rpm].

[CarlG]

3.78 + 26% OD = perfect

[Larry Seemann]

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The MPH effect is: standard 3.78 to 1- 50 mph; 3.54 to 1- 53.5 mph; 3.27 to 1- 57 mph
all at the same RPM.
It sounds like you have the engine to pull it except on a really steep and long hill, in which case you may have to downshift to get over the top. My son, in his '30 coupe, has pretty much that same set up with the 3.27 rear gears and we have some pretty good mountains and he's never been sorry he went that way.

[Tom Endy]

I think you would be better served by canceling the order for a Mitchell transmission and instead order their 26% overdrive (about the same price). Maintain the standard 3.78:1 ring & pinion ratio. This combination will allow you tour and handle any terrain situation that you would encounter.

If you ever decided to remove the overdrive for whatever reason, such as selling the car, it would be returned to Henry standard.

Tom Endy

[Marco Tahtaras]

If you are doing a new cam (instead of a regrind) I'd go with 3.27 gears for sure. On those few occasions when you need to downshift for grades your higher second gear will be usable.

[PO51]

Thanks for the input. I'm not leaning towards the overdrive as I want to keep the car as stock looking as possible, just want to make it a little more driveable for Southern California driving.

[modelAsteve]

Patrick L- Chinese- are you sure? They sure have a big manufacturing plant with lots of machines running and people working for a "Chinese" operation!

[Tom Wesenberg]

I helped my friend with his 31 pickup to install a 5.5 head and 3.27 ring and pinion. If the bodyman ever gets the box done we can take it for a nice drive. This is also my idea of a nice setup, especially to keep it looking original.

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

... This is also my idea of a nice setup, especially to keep it looking original.

(Except for the alternator )

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by CarlG

(Except for the alternator )

So, Carl, you got a stirrin' stick too! You should have used the word "DETONATOR" to see if any noticed the difference! When bored, just use the dreaded acronym, "FAM" & get everyone awake & typin' stuff!! What is life worth if we can't have a little fun & enjoyment in the simple pleasures of life? Bill W.

[columbiA]

4.11 + 28.5 % OD = perfect !

[Patrick L.]

Steve. Thats what I was told when I talked to them. I like the idea of higher 1st and 2nd, but, wasn't crazy about hearing where they were made. That got me thinking about a '39 transmitter with the adapter.But, If they are made here, I'd like to know.

[Benson]

Steve and Patrick,



I was speaking to Steve Becker at BERT's about this subject today ... he called Sue at Mitchell's. All parts are made in U.S.A.

Most are made in house and some come from suppliers nearby.

[Bruce Lancaster]

Note that this has become a somewhat muddled discussion confusing the Mitchell transmission and the Mitchell OD unit! There isn't any overdrive here...

[Ice man]

I ran my B with a T-5 and 3.54 gears in Florida and she was a hot rod. I could do 75 on interstate 75 and no sweat. Then I moved to St Thomas, VI. (MISTAKE) I was in 1st and 2nd on the mountains. She was a dog on the hills. But on level, she was a runner. The engine was producing a bit more HP then stock, but Florida was funnnnn.

[Ron in Quincy]

My 30 Deluxe Coupe has a touring engine,insert bearings on mains and rods,counterbalanced crank, lightened flywheel, and V8 clutch. the engine is about 55 HP. I installed 3:54 gears in the rear end. I live in the mountains at 3500' elevation. With the extra HP I pull hills with out having to shift down and it runs like a scraed rabbit in the valley. I really like this combination and everything looks stock. Just my opinion !!!!

Ron

[Mike Peters]

I made the mistake of installing a 3.27:1 ring and pinion in my 35 Ford. It pulled too hard, so I put the 3.78 gears back in, and the engine is now happy with that arrangement. I would think that a 3.54 setup in a Model A would be best for all around driving.