3:54 VS the 3:35

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oldford

Senior Member
I know they have the 3:54 high speed gears, but has anybody every used the 3:25 ratio in a stock V8 1935 ford. If so, did it sitll have good pulling power. What was your experience.
 
A friend has 3:25 in his 39 Ford and he lives in West Virginia. But his car has a 50 ford engine. He runs off from me on the interstate highway.He loves the 3:25.In my 35 Pickup I have 3:54 and at 55MPH that winds my little ford. I do take it easy and don't like to overdo it with my engine.I would like to try 3:25.I wouldn't mind shifting on a hill.
 
oldford said:
I know they have the 3:54 high speed gears, but has anybody every used the 3:25 ratio in a stock V8 1935 ford. If so, did it sitll have good pulling power. What was your experience.
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The answer to your question depends on at least several factors such as weight of vehicle, horsepower of engine, rear tire size, and the type of terrain to be driven (hills vs. flat land), etc.
A friend of mine has a track T roadster and he runs 3.25's with no problems.
 

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I have a stock 37 Ford (221, 16 inch wheels etc) with a 3.78 and Columbia, which can provide about a 30% overdrive. This suggests a final gear ratio of about 2.6. I can easily start from a railroad type grade of 3% in overdrive, so a 3.25 could easily start up with a steeper grade.
 
Since you have a 3:54 you should know the differance between that and a 3:78. With the 3:78 it is like going from 3rd to 4th gear. With the 3:25 it is going to be like going from 3rd to 5th. With a stock engine I think it is to big of a change. G.M.
 
With the 600x16 tires and 3.25 rear gears you will need to use second gear on steep hills...the reward will come on the flats where your '35 will cruise at 60-65 and deliver great MPG. I think the handicap of shifting on hills will be more than offset by the nice cruise speed and the lower engine RPM's, not to mention a much quieter ride.
 
Juergen I think you are not describing "STARTING" correctly. What I think you are or should be saying is you can slow down in high gear in Columbia and pull out up a 3% grade, just don't get to slow or it will buck with that rear. You are not gong to start out in 3rd gear with a 3:25 rear in Columbia which is a 28-1/2% OD without slipping the clutch to get started. One should never start from a dead stop with the Columbia engaged. They should be shifted into Columbia in 3rd gear above 40 MPH and taken out of Coloumbia as you slow down or roll to a stop. We all like to play with the Columbia a little when first installed as it can be shifted in in 1st and 2nd gears giving you 6 speeds forward but after the initial "play time" this is worthless. It is best suited for road travel when you have at least 3 or more miles to travel before having to shift. I have a bad left leg and don't like shifting anymore then I have to and lug mine down in OD and out of OD so I know just how they act. You can go down to 6 or 8 MPH out of OD and in the 8 to 10 range in OD with a 3:78. When driving with a Columbia or high speed rear gears you want to plan ahead a little bit when comming to a large hill. I start running the speed up before getting on the hill and there is no problem getting up. You don't want to get slowed down too slow halfway up and try to gain speed. They work good and I wouldn't want to drive an old Ford without a Columbia or a 3:54 the way I drive them. G.M.
 
GM. I agree with what all you say, concentrating on running in 3rd. I was more concentrating on starting in 1st.

What I meant to say is that I can start with the car in overdrive (equivalent to a 2.6 rear end) in first gear on a 3% grade or less and the car will pull away nicely. So I know that with a 3.25 rear end I can start in 1st gear nicely on a grade with a slope a little greater than 3%.

I used to have a 39 Sedan Delivery with a Columbia but the axle broke and ruined the Columbia so I put in a 3.54. Based on the performance of my 37, I believe I could have put in a 3.25. Now we don't have many 10% grades in Iowa and when I see one, I can usually avoid a standing still start so I don't lug the engine or slip the clutch.
 
I have a '34 Pick Up with a stock 21 Stud engine. I am running a Columbia with a 4.11 R & P which results in about a 3.10 final drive in overdrive. The Pick Up has lots of frontal area but runs right along in O.D. I have to shift out of O.D. or into 2nd. gear for some hills but on the freeway around here, it does just fine.

I think your '35 with a 3.25 Gear would be fine as long as you do not have to start off on steep hills a lot. If so, I would consider the 3.54 Gears.

Just my opinion,

Chris
 
oldford said:
I know they have the 3:54 high speed gears, but has anybody every used the 3:25 ratio in a stock V8 1935 ford. If so, did it sitll have good pulling power. What was your experience.
Click to expand...


This guy didn't say anything about a Columbia two speed rear, he indicated he has a stock '35 Ford.
 
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