[pygmypony]

ok, first on my agenda for my 86 4cyl coupe is a 5spd swap followed by the SVO rear swap. (which in turn gets the SVO brake upgrade in the front and the SVO MC and Prop Valve woo hoo to ballooning upgrades!!!)

I did some math tonight and I figured my final drive gear is 3.33:1 based on the fact that I'm doing ~3250rpm at 75mph.

The SVO trans/rear finishes at what ratios? I believe I read .73:1 for 5th gear and 3.7:1 for the rear end. That would effectively give me a 2.7:1 gear and I'd compensate by running a 245/45R16 (24.7" tall) instead of the stock 225/55R16 (25.7" tall) tire. That would end up like a 2.808 in 5th gear.

Also, is there anything else I'll need while I'm under there from the donor car? (driveshaft? E-brake? etc...)

I'm concentrating on keeping the stock 88hp mill (gonna get a super-tune eventually) just for simplicity right now and I'm trying to keep the engine from lugging on the highway.

and of course if my gear ratios are wrong, feel free to inform me so I can play with math some more.

[ethangsmith]

If you have the C3 automatic, you have a 3.27 rear. Your estimation is very close to that. The SVO has a 3.73 rear. I have an 86 Capri 2.3L automatic and I am going to put a T5 and 3.45 gears behind that sometime. It should really wake it up. I got rid of my 1 barrel carb in favor of the earlier progressive 2 barrel carb (1974-1982) and Duraspark ignition system.

[ethangsmith]

Forgot to mention, if you have the non-overdrive 4 speed manual transmission, you will have a 3.08 rear.

[pygmypony]

I've got the 4spd manual. Were there optional ratio's besides the 3.08s? The other day I calculated out 3.33s using 3250rpm at 75mph with 225/60/15s

[pygmypony]

ok, just some more quick math LOL...
with the correct SVO gears (.78OD, 3.7:1 Rear) final drive of closer to 2.9, and using shorter than stock tires (245/45s) I'm back up to 3.01 gearing! PERFECT!!! Thanks a bunch!

[ethangsmith]

According to my Ford 1986 CAR Specifications book, 3.08 was standard for the 2.3L 4 speed and a 3.45 was optional for high-altitude vehicles only.