It was a perfect week-end to drive my new setup, rebuilt 289 (600cfm 4bbl - stock), manual steering and T5. I went down the highway one in California, from San Francisco to Big Sur (that's to me the perfect road).
Here are my feelings:
- The steering is perfect, that was my first long distance trip, no problem at all except of course when you need to park. My girlfriend does not have the same arms but also enjoyed it a lot.
- The transmission is great even though I am really surprised. I still have my stock rear ratio and it seems to be really high already (I was about to switch to 3.55 but do not know if it is needed). I was always shifting between 3-4-5 and the first two gears seems to be really really short... Is that the normal feeling that I should get? Weird thing is also the fact that my 3rd and 4th gear are perfect (lots of power) but the 5th is disappointing...
- Now, the engine! It's great but my break-in period is not over yet (half of it is done) so I cannot push it to the limit. The feeling is nice and I have some strong power in 3rd and 4th gear. I will be putting some nice headers in a couple of weeks and will probably add some alumium heads in the future : driving it is so awesome :)
I am getting closer and closer to my perfect set-up!
nice! im thinking of also using a t5 in my 65, i have one question on the highway what was youre rpm's in fith gear and at what speed and whats size is youre stock rear end gears? Thanks!
The stock T5 5th gear is a .68 overdrive, so there's going to be a big rpm drop when you shift into 5th. It's designed as an economy gear, not a passing gear;)
Do you Have a tach? In my 71 that i swapped out i never had a tach and then when i eventually got one i found out i was only running it up to 5k rpm's and wasnt even going balls tgo the walls. I could have always given it more but i never wanted to test the thing. BTW, there are 2 different types of "t-5's". The difference is the first gear ratios, they had a one was about 3 to 1 and the other was closer to 4 to 1 so. Heres a link on the differences.
http://www.moderndriveline.com/Technical_Bits/t5_history.htm My Car had 3.73's Launched like a bat out of hell and still did fine on the highway @ 65. Those pictures look great and makes me miss my ol 71' I had that same wheel too, good choice! Everything looks really clean. -Jon
very cool! my T5 project has been on the floor for so long its kinda embarassing...damn school! anyway, yeah 5th would be an overdrive gear, so not a very punchy gear. i think of the T5 like a 4 speed w/ and extra gear for freeway cruise or long distance. thats interesting thatyou mention the short 1 - 2 gears...i went with a 2.95 gear set up (slightly taller gears) so ill have to compare.
and ive toatally been right where that picture was taken! its very nice out there. the coasts roads up north around tomales are also quite nice
Man that is great ! My wife (girlfriend at the time) and I cruzed from san fran to big sur 20 years ago in a rent a car....we have always wanted to go back...and I want to bring the 66 convertible this time. Best of luck with the car. What a great photo..brought back happy memeories ! Scott
ORIGINAL: Starfury The stock T5 5th gear is a .68 overdrive, so there's going to be a big rpm drop when you shift into 5th. It's designed as an economy gear, not a passing gear;)
Ok It explains everything then!
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ORIGINAL: ponyX65 i have one question on the highway what was youre rpm's in fith gear and at what speed and whats size is youre stock rear end gears?
No idea yet, my speedometer is off and I don't have a tach! But overall my gas mileage is way better and I am driving way faster!
Some of the T5's had like a 3.27 or a 3.30something first gear, and a relatively short 2nd gear as well. The new S197 5 speeds(TR-3650 I think?) are like a 3.38 1st and 2.00 2nd. But yeah, that overdrive is pretty tall.
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Who cares how much horsepower it has, all that matters is how fast it goes!
Best run 13.23 at 106.97mph with a 2.183 60' Times from before tune and driver mod.
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Joined: 9/5/2006 From: Barossa Valley, South Australia Status: offline
congrats remi great photos is that road always deserted like that? I bet the boy racers and the bikes love it.
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A 2007 study found on average Australians walk 900 miles a year. We drink 26 gallons of beer. That means, on average, Australians get about 34 miles per gallon. Not bad hey!
ORIGINAL: Aussie66Fastback congrats remi great photos is that road always deserted like that? I bet the boy racers and the bikes love it.
It was during a weekday so it explains the emptyness of the road :) Note that I have never seen a cop there! I will probably go back and try to record a small movie.
yeah, those coast roads out here are pretty emty... and thats very typical of them, long curvy roads with lots of pull outs....california coast is great for a drive.
We did that drive shortly after installing the T5z in the '66 with 3.55 gears. Cruised back up through Carmel and out to Laguna Seca. The 90GT has 3.73 gears, and also works very well cruising in 5th. Both cars have 26" tall tires. I would not hesitate to do 3.55s with the 0.68 O.D. in any cruiser. For a street strip car, 3.73s work really well with the T5Z ratio and a 26" tall tire. Have fun!
We did that drive shortly after installing the T5z in the '66 with 3.55 gears. Cruised back up through Carmel and out to Laguna Seca. The 90GT has 3.73 gears, and also works very well cruising in 5th. Both cars have 26" tall tires. I would not hesitate to do 3.55s with the 0.68 O.D. in any cruiser. For a street strip car, 3.73s work really well with the T5Z ratio and a 26" tall tire. Have fun!
Thanks!
My concern about installing the 3.55 is mostly for the first two gears. It seems to be quite short already! Plus I really like the 3rd and 4th, they give me good power and the range of use is wide (and I'd rather shift 3-4 than 2-3).
In my personal opinion, for a cruiser... no, not at all. For someone who likes to tear it up, then yes, it's huge. The math says it's 8.5% different between 3.25 and 3.55. A tachometer really tells the tale. I find myself short shifting all the time. Good for fuel mileage, bad for E.T.
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First week-end with the T5 + engine rebuilt - 
It explains everything then! 
