Gear Ratio For Maverick

freeway rpm's is the term that i was looking for...here in California, the fwy speed limits are either 65 mph, or 70 mph...which is generally the slower drivers...i generally go 5-10 mph faster...i also go a lot by sound...so, with 3.00 gears, would the engine be running smooth, or like it was at it's top end...? if that makes any sense...

 

Reminds me I need to see what ratio my Maverick has now. I installed a rear end out of a V8 automatic 73 Maverick.

 

3.00 is ideal for the freeway in a Maverick with a 302 and no overdrive.

3.55 is great around town, but screams a bit much at 75 with no overdrive.

 

back when the speed limit was 70 MPH, cars came with a...3:00 gear... from the factory...

with that being said...by changing to a taller tire would change that ratio...

 

as with any OD transmission, it would drop out of OD...
and as far as...around town driving...why would you need the overdrive to come in...

 

I get that.. but who wants their transmission hunting for gear all the time, right?

and of course it depends on where in town I'm driving it.. but it sure is nice for my drivetrain along with expected mileage gains when my 700r4 hits 4th and locks up at around 42mph. The overly mod'd Chevy motor doesn't necessarily like to pull me up slight grades at only 1,400rpm under lockup.. but smoothes out a bit better when I creep up to 45 or so.

In the end, for that particular vehicle anyways.. the overdrive is really what defines that little truck. Well.. besides the fully polished topend which is hidden most of the time. High 11's on sticky'ish 255mm street tires(motor setback helps traction.. a lot).. with a freeway top-end FARRR beyond what the suspension and nutsack capability will allow is fine by me.

That's the real beauty of an OD trans. And let's also not forget how much cooler a higher stalled OD runs compared to a higher stalled non-lockup type transmission.

 

With 3:00 gears in my combo with the C4 trans, 70 mph was pretty comfortable. At 80, the motor was getting into the secondaries on the carb.

 

that's what an...automatic transmission w/ overdrive does...

no different than a...5-speed...having to down shift to go around corners...shifting 3 gears between lights and starting all over at the next light...running in 3-4th. gear because 5th is to high. sounds more like the little pedal cars kids play with...
some say that is the...fun...with a 5-speed...
must bring back...childhood memories...