Wide or Close Ratio which do you prefer?

I have a Wide ratio toploader with a 2.78 first gear, but I've been wondering if I'd get better results from a 2.32 close ratio?
I know that I can buy the gears and convert my tranny to either or.
I'm using my car as a street/strip, but mainly street.


Here's another question if anyone can answer me.

Were the close ratio's primarily used for Drag Racing, and the Wide Ratio for street and Trans-Am?

I know that alot of the Hi-Po Fords have the Close Ratio with minimal exceptions like the Boss 302 and Boss 351. Although I've seen some with either the Wide Ratio (code 5) or Close Ratio (Code 6).
Thanks for any insight on this.

 

The wide ratio was for drag racing and the close ratio was for road racing. The Boss 302, being a factory road race racecar, came with close ratio.

 

Yeah I had that backwards!
I just found this:
http://www.boss302.com/board/viewthread.php3?FID=2&TID=32954

Thanks brother! I was just thinkin that maybe I should have the Close Ratio.

 

I like my wide!!!

 

depends on the engine power curve.

Wide ratios are for very wide power bands (example: 1500 to 6000 RPM).

Close ratios are for narrow power bands (ex. 6500-8000).

Why a lot of race cars have close ratio transmisisons is because they are many times limited to a particular cam lift or duration, intake, compression ratio, carb, etc......and instead of making the engine make more torque at a lower RPM, the cam had to be designed around those parameters, which tends to make them "peaky". In order to be able to make any sort of power...similar to a motorcross bike. So a close ratio trans will keep the motor in the power curve where a wide ratio trans is more likely to let the motor fall out of that range. Yesterday I worked on a 250cc motorcross 4 stroke-makes power from about 7500 to 11,000 RPM. Kind of a narrow power band. But the transmission is VERY close ratio, makes it easier to stay in the curve. At low speeds, there is very little difference between first and fifth as far as speed.

The downside to close ratios is most of them use a very high first gear which means on the street, you'll be slipping the clutch a little more initially. Depending on the clutch, you may or may not like it. Mine-my clutch is a 4 puck unsprung clutch-it doesn't like to slip. It's on or off. Luckily I have a 3.97 first gear so not much slip is required to get it moving. If I had, say, a 2.95, it would be a bear to take off. Once it's going, it does great--just moving away from a dead stop is a little challenging.

all that said, there really isn't that much of a difference between a wide ratio and a close ratio toploader. Even the wide has a closer ratio than, say, a T5 or T56. Just doesn't have OD

 

The close ratio trans was used in those cars with lower rear gears in the rearend. (3.70-4.30's)Put a 2.78 1st in a car with 3.90-4.30 gears and that 1st gear becomes nearly useless, unless you're into tractor pulling. The wide ratio is better suited to those cars with higher rear gears.(2.75-3.50's) I have a wide ratio Toploader in my 89 Ranger with 3.73's and 28" tires and can still take off in 2nd gear.

 

Wide ratio is the best for street and/or strip.
The Close ratio is best for road racing, where the rpms are always up.

I run a wide ratio.

IMO, you'll be disappointed if you blow a wad on a close ratio to replace your wide ratio. But hey, the grass is always greener.

 

If I recall .. mine is a close ratio ... I had the info backward and assumed that is the one I wanted with my 3.25:1 rear ... but I was wrong. Oh well .. I don't race it so no big deal.

 

I'm using a Cleveland with 4V heads, but I have roller rockers, which helps out on the low end and the revs.
I like the idea of using a 2.78 1st, but I also didnt want to gear the hell out of the ass end, and i'd like to keep it around 3.91's as planned.
Despite the contemptable nature of the 4V Cleveland's lower rpm's, the car is somewhat light weight, so it shouldn't take much to get it rolling.

The close ratio would be tits, but in all reality, it's unpractical to be running @ 5,500-6,000 on the street.
I have heard about the Wide ratio's havin a huge rpm loss from 1st to 2nd gears especially, and I didnt wanna have to compensate by going with 4.30's+ and starting in 2nd gear.

I think that I'm gonna stick with my Wide after reading this. Thanks so much for everyone's input!

 

I've raced and street driven the wide ratio toploader for years and I wouldn't use anything else for the reasons everyone else stated. You won't be dissapointed, stick with the wide.

 

Mine is the wide also!

 

Misinformation.
As posted previous, most modern manual trannys have much wider ratios.
Heck, the 3 speed toploader has a huge 1-2 drop compared to the WR toploader.

You aren't missing anything. You made the right choice.

 

That might apply for the Boss 302, but not for the 390. 427, 428 and 429 Toploaders. These all were given close ratio Toploaders when they had a 4 speed manual, but all were not considered road race cars by any means. And the 289 Hi-po's had wide ratios.

 

I have been looking for a wide ratio for years... never could find one in my price range... than I started looking for a t-5 for the overdrive but still no luck, I'm just screwed I think... anyway as it was said wide ratio would make it easier to get started with mild street gears...

 

If you've been looking that long, watch ebay. The one I have in the Ranger was mis-listed as an SROD from a 79 Mustang. The seller had no pics in the auction with a $150 buy it now option. Emailed the guy and as soon as he sent the pics back I bought it. Paid another $80 for shipping. Got the Toploader, an SROD bell, and a Hurst Comp + shifter. Sold the SROD bell for $80 (these fit the Tremec 5 speeds)