3.27 gears for flathead v8

A good friend has a 1940 Ford 2 door sedan a very nice original car in excellent shape but has 4:11 gears that make it not to nice to drive. He ask me what gears to install and I said 3:27 would make it a nice driver. He got the gears and installed them. He called me and said he was coming in and wanted me to drive it. I got scared that I told him wrong because he showed no signs that he was happy with them. When he got to my house and come on and drive this car and tell me what you think. So I drove the car down the road and up steep hills and then we went to the interstate road. The car preform super and a pleasure to drive. He was very happy with the car now. Don't be afraid to install 3:27 gears.
 
JSeery said:
What tires are you running & at what mph? I get different numbers.

Using 27 inch tires, 3.78 gears & 60 mph I get 2822 rpm
Using 27 inch tires, 3.27 gears & 60 mph I get 2442 rpm
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Your math is better than my memory. Nonetheless, dropping 380 rpm at highway cruise was a good result without compromise of drivability around a hilly town,
 
drolston said:
Your math is better than my memory. Nonetheless, dropping 380 rpm at highway cruise was a good result without compromise of drivability around a hilly town,
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Yep, if your into that! I'm a low gear kinda guy, I like a 4:11 rear gear in a fairly light car. Coupled with an overdrive, to me that is the best of both worlds. But then I cheat, I have a quick-change and could run any gear ratio, but I like the 4:11. :)
 
JSeery said:
Yep, if your into that! I'm a low gear kinda guy, I like a 4:11 rear gear in a fairly light car. Coupled with an overdrive, to me that is the best of both worlds. But then I cheat, I have a quick-change and could run any gear ratio, but I like the 4:11. :)
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I get it! I ran 4.11 gears in High School to beat the Chevy to the next stop light on Broad Street in Richmond. Changing axels, drive shafts, and cluster gears was easier in those days.
 
drolston said:
I get it! I ran 4.11 gears in High School to beat the Chevy to the next stop light on Broad Street in Richmond. Changing axels, drive shafts, and cluster gears was easier in those days.
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But some of us never grow up you see!!! :rolleyes: I also run 9 inch axles in my quick-change.
 
The main thing that leaned me to change the gears and not go aftermarket trans and motor swap is my 1932 Ford Roadster has the original v8/drivetrain and it seems less and less over the years still have it .

I have a killer early 392 hemi fully built with 6x2 setup with zero miles sitting in the garage right next to where the roadster is parked . Going to find another roadster and do a separate build using that motor /quick change / tremec tko 600.
 
Tony Martino said:
I like your respect of the original drive train!
Not many see it that way!
Also like the second plan!
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Haha it is gonna be harder on my wallet but I have started accumulating some rare vintage speed parts for the original motor . They are tougher to find than later year flathead speed parts but they are still out there .
Picked up an original edelbrock slingshot intake from a member on here , and am gonna add a set of vintage aluminum heads . Should give me a lil more power
 
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