Best Manual in a 72 Maverick 302

Lots of good pics on this thread.

 

Thanks, Tom. My new effective rear end ratio will be 2.63:1 instead of 3.63:1. That may be interesting around town - maybe not get to 5th gear as often.

Bruce

 

With the Stage-1 Trick Flow cam in my T-Bird, 3.73 gear & no O/D lockout on the AOD, it'd shift to 4th(O/D) at 45 mph. I was using a lockup converter so just same as your 5th gear. Worked perfectly as by 45mph, I was ready for O/D.

 

Thanks for that information too. I'll report back when I get to drive it on the larger tires.

Bruce

 

Don't be afraid to run deeper rear gears without overdrive. My Comet's got a Toploader 4 speed with a 3.50 rear and 26.5" tires (295/50-15) It's 331 is perfectly happy cruising at 60-70 mph on the freeway. I ran the same effective ratio with this engine in my 89 Ranger for two years as a daily driver commuting 50 miles round trip to work. The 331 has Canfield heads, 3x2 intake mounting three 250 cfm Holleys, Z303 cam with 1.7 rockers. Makes over 400 hp. Powerband is 1500 to 6500 rpms. If I made long trips, then yea, I'd want OD, but for what I drive in it, OD is useless.. In the Ranger the 331 got 18 mpg at 70 mph, with my foot in it on the curvy roads I ran sometimes it would drop to 12 mpg/

 

I did this a few years ago didnt really cut much out of the tunnel, didnt have too. I have 71golds AOD trans mount, i did have to relieve it to hold the tremec TKO 3550, its not the TKO600 its the previous version it does have a little different torque rating but externally it is exactly the same as what is sold now.

So my car now has a Tremec TKO | Maverick/Comet Forums

 

Tremec has a new transmission for the aftermarket.

https://www.tremec.com/menu.php?m=183

 

I ran my T5Z behind a nitroused 347 for years without issue. the tires would spin before anything broke.

 

I try to keep my tires the weakest link......