Three Speed to Saginaw Car Four Speed Swap- Column Shift

[theastronaut]

Thanks for the insight, sounds like 3.08 is the sweet spot with a smaller engine. I like shorter gearing, I've always had small cars (VW bugs, Ford Festivas) that have short/close gearing and it makes them more fun to drive around town. The wide spacing of the three speed isn't as fun, and taking off in second from slow speeds is pretty sluggish from the wide spacing, although the current engine isn't running at 100%.

I plan on doing some occasional lighter duty towing (1300# aluminum trailer, 1700# car) with the truck so I thought the 3.50 first gear would be better for that. The 250 has a bad head so it'll soon be swapped out for a lump port/big valve/shaved/ported head and mild cam, and eventually will have an Aussiespeed intake, Sniper efi, header, and small turbo that spools quickly at low rpm. I think 3.08 would be a good balance between taking off in first when towing and lower rpm on the interstate for the amount of power a mild 250 should make.

I had another '66 with a 195hp Chevelle 283, stock three speed, and unknown r&p that could cruise at 75-80 effortlessly and was still pulling at 95. I'm guessing it had low 3's for r&p gears, I wish I had ID'd them when I had the diff cover off to change the axle seals.