Crate 350, (numbers indicate it's a 69-72 era) Edelbrock Performer intake and Carb with a 3spd auto and short gears. It screams at about 3000rpm @ 55mph. I'll keep and tweak the 350 but plan to run the 700r4 with 3.73s. Thanks to all for the comments and compliments, diggin this car and having a good time tinkering. Any help finding good links for parts would be greatly appreciated.
pretty much what I'm doing with my 56 210. 350/700R4 and 3:42 gears. Doing it that way so we can cruise over to San Diego easily. I built a 56 Studebaker wagon a while ago with a 350/350 with 3:55 gears. It was screaming, running hot when I tried to run at 75/80 MPH. Switched to a 700R4, and my wife said on the first run that it was like a different car.
I've got 3:73's in my 86 Monte Carlo SS, had 3:55's in the Stude wagon. Both with the same tire size. I ran less RPM with the 3:55's........and ran cool and quiet, even with the A/C on. I think a 3.5 something is ideal. For the Camaro rearend in my 56, 3:42 was the closest I could get. My racing days are long over, I'm strickly a cruiser any more.
hmm, I like the sound of that. This will not be a muscle car by any means (saving that for the next one, after this daily driver is complete) so I'll have to look into 3.55s as a comparison shopper. Thanks for the info.
when is Del Mar event in April? also come up to Rancho Santa Fe on Saturdays 9-11 am, always great cars
So I've done some more research and am leaning toward 3.55 behind a stage 2 2004R OD. Seems to be a very good setup for cruisability. My 350 will provides plenty of power and torque, if need be, and I like the gear range in the 200.
2004R is a wise choice. Advantages over a 700R4 include; same length as Powerglide/short-tail TH-350, better spread between first & second ratios, slightly deeper overdrive ratio (.67 vs. 70). Another advantage for non-Chevy guys is the fact that 98% of the 2004R cases are dual pattern to fit Chevy as well as Buick/Olds/Pontiac engines. I like the 2004R in my GN and replaced the 200 Metric 3-speed in my Cutlass with a 2004R.
