What are you guys running and how happy with it are you? I'm seriously considering bringing the Imperial up to something about 3.55...this comes after I swapped a 4.11 rear in place of a 2.26 in an '80 Mustang. It must be street and highway livable, but I want to find the good balance between that and getting that heavy brick of an Imperial up and moving.
Non-stock rear gears question
- Thread starter Bryan M.
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Erics5th
Well-Known Member
I run 2.94's in my 5th, but think a 3.23 set would be better. I had 3.23's in my old 70 Fury w/383 and they really worked good for that heavy car, so it should be good for your Imperial.
jasperjacko
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I have 3.55 and wish I had an overdrive or lockup converter I could switch on an off. My converter stalls at 2500, so maybe a stock one would be more livable with my gear. I do enjoy the 3.55 and the low 1st gear ratio. Modoba runs about 3200 rpm at 65 mph
Erics5th
Well-Known Member
Oy. For reference my 318 turns about 2600 at 65 with 2.94 gears, stock lock up converter and 215/70R15 tires.
kkritsilas
Well-Known Member
I am thinking about the same things. I think the only real solution is a 4 speed overdrive tranny, as in an A500 (42RH) or A518 (46RG) from the Ram Trucks with the Magnum (1995 or earlier). Either of the transmissions would work, unless you expect to be running high power levels, in which case the A518 would be a better fit (A518 is based on an A727, A500 on an A998/A999). Both trannys bolt up to the LA engine, but the crossmember needs to be modified, and the drive shaft shortened.
It is unfortunate that nobody has come up with a stand alone controller for the 545RFE, which is a 5/6 speed Chrysler tranny used on the newer RAM trucks with the Hemi. Aftermarket can provide a 6 speed (TCI 6X) but that isn't Mopar original, and is very expensive.
3.55 gears with an A500/A518 in overdrive (.69) results in an overall gearing of 2.4495, which should drop RPM and improve gas mileage on the highway, even though the lower gear will allow for terrific pickup around town. The standard torque converters for each are the lockup type.
PATC has an $85 dollar kit that allows the overdrive and torque converter lockup to happen automatically, with a manual override via a toggle switch. Others do as well, and there are articles on DIY setups as well.
Kostas
It is unfortunate that nobody has come up with a stand alone controller for the 545RFE, which is a 5/6 speed Chrysler tranny used on the newer RAM trucks with the Hemi. Aftermarket can provide a 6 speed (TCI 6X) but that isn't Mopar original, and is very expensive.
3.55 gears with an A500/A518 in overdrive (.69) results in an overall gearing of 2.4495, which should drop RPM and improve gas mileage on the highway, even though the lower gear will allow for terrific pickup around town. The standard torque converters for each are the lockup type.
PATC has an $85 dollar kit that allows the overdrive and torque converter lockup to happen automatically, with a manual override via a toggle switch. Others do as well, and there are articles on DIY setups as well.
Kostas
