The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Straight Six w/700R4 and Dana 44 Rear End (3.54 gears)?

Anyone do similar? I like the sound of a Hot Rod Straight Six with dual exhaust. Had a 250" from an old El'Camino and putting the overdrive automatic behind it. I will get a custom drive shaft after I get the rest built.
This is example of how I plan to have the engine [IMG]http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt215/GunnerBaar/jackjimmy_zpsknolxygr.jpg[/IMG]

With the 700R4, you could step up to a 4.11 gear, the overdrive will take care of highway speeds, and the super low first gear will help the 250 get the truck moving. Don't over gear it, the 250 runs best at about 2300 rpm, get much lower then that the engine labors. Mine gets its best fuel mileage at 2200 rpm.

Joe

Good to know, thank you. That is the gearing I got with that differential, but know it can be changed.
Originally got that rear end for the 6 bolt wheel pattern before I got 5 bolt IFS. May be easier to just get a taller differential (4.11) from junk yard or swap-out gears? As I am re-starting this project from scratch, I have time to get it right (or at least better).

curious what a Dana 54 came in? I have worked on a lot of Dana 44s and a couple Dana 45s but not heard of a 54.

The 700R4 has a 30% OD so the final gearing with a 3.54 rear is 2.48, really shallow. I had a 2.73 final in my old 37 Buick straight 8 and it was great in the Texas flat land with 60mph at 2100rpm. Got up in the hills of Missouri and it sucked. Now has a 4.11 rear and a 2004R trans which gives me a near identical 2.75 for flat cruising and lower gearing for the hills without having to manually down shift.

My bad, I said that wrong, Dana 44 - ten bolts on cover (but smaller, not Dana 60). Yes you are correct, there is no Dana 54.

All my books are with truck (and I keep thorough receipts and data on all builds), but I have not yet picked-up form "X" a couple states away..., working it, and getting back to this build.

Coilover, appreciate that feedback. Something else, how do you get your speedometer right (or close) after changing all this?

I also have a Dana 44 in my 51 with 3:54 gears and planning on 700R4 with a 350 V8 and mustang II up front with 5 lug Chevy pattern. Does anyone know a solution to change the bolt pattern on this rear end to 5 bolt Chevy pattern ? seems to be a hard rear end to find parts for. I am told the rear end was used in early 60's GMC ?? Everything I see says they were used in Jeeps or IHC scout. Would like to update the brakes as well to more modern shoes and drums or maybe disc brakes if there is anything that works.

One can redrill the axle bolt pattern between existing bolt holes, get same bolt pattern disc brake rotors, make sure registration hole in center of discs is correct, might have to bore or sleeve(easy).

Ed

that would be easy but what am I going to use for calipers and how do I mount them?...was wondering if someone makes a conversion kit or something

I put a 700R4 in my 75 Camaro (great choice) and it was pretty easy to get the speedometer correct. they sell drive and driven gears for that trans in many different tooth counts. Hitch up the speedo with as-is and check the speed reading using GPS, radar, whatever to get an idea of how far it is off. Determine your current gear teeth, then scale it by percentage up or down to determine how to change your ratio. Many different tooth counts are available for the driven and drive gears. This site will help you. they also list the tooth count by color for the 700R4 gears.

http://www.tciauto.com/tc/speedometer-gear-calculator/

GM front and rear calipers work great if kit cannot be found. Rear Eldo calipers come with park brake also, others may work.

Ed

tomctomc does his exactly as I do--use a gps and figure the percentage slow/fast from the speedometer reading and then get drive/driven speedo gears to correct. I also have a gps unit mounted in the right wall of my glove box so one is looking right at it with the glove box door open. The gps is not affected by gearing or tire size and it also gives the speed limit which is a ticket avoider on unfamiliar roads.