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Re: [Tigers] Toploader overdrive

To: tigers@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Tigers] Toploader overdrive
From: Gary Crandall <maliburevue@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 25 Dec 2007 14:07:56 -0800 (PST)
  The toploader overdrive transmissions of the 70s were known for their lack of 
capacity to handle the torque, but with the anemic engines of the late 70s it 
wasn't necessary. i would shy away from them. The original Tiger/Ford 
toploaders were bullet proof and could handle the torque of the 427 Cobras just 
fine and even the heavier Shelbys.
   
My first Tiger had the original close ratio transmission with the standard 2.32 
first gear, 3.31 rearend gears and 13" tires. The low rearend gear was nice off 
the line, but I was burning up my engine on the highway, e.g., 3500 rpms @ 70 
mph. During the restoration of my present Tiger, when I had my drivetrain out, 
I kept the original 2.88 gears and converted my transmission to a wide ratio 
setup with the 2.78 first gear. This combination of the lower first gear and 
the taller 2.88s still gave me a 5% better hole shot over my 3.31 close ratio 
setup, while at the same time decreased my highway rpms by 15%. Plus, I do a 
lot less shifting around town, while 4th gear is almost exclusively for the 
highway. Now it's around 3050 rpms @ 70 mph.  With today's gas prices I need 
all the help I can get, yet still want that grunt when I need it. The added 
bonus to all this is that when I blew my engine up last winter (that's a whole 
'nother story) and removed the drive train, I
 installed a 2.90 first gear from David Kee Toploaders. This ultra low first 
gear gives me an additional 5% better hole shot than the standard wide ratio 
and 10% better than the standard close ratio. My transmission's gear ratios now 
match the first 4 gears of a 5 speed almost exactly. A 5 speed would be nice, 
but I don't want to cut up the car or pay the ~$3500 for the conversion. The 
car now has so much mechanical leverage, that I can't even nail the throttle 
off the line. With the 331 stroker I have to wait until I'm going at least 20 
mph or I just fry the tires. This ultra low first gear setup is especially 
nice, if I ever want to change to a 14" or 15" tire with a larger diameter. 
With this setup my car has no 'bog' whatsoever off the line, pulls like a 
mutha' and cruises just fine. I would never go back. It is so nice, I have 
converted two other friend's Tigers as well.
   
  Gary

       
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