How to gear a Cuda for the street?

Brent_72_Cuda · 11-21-2007, 12:36 AM

I have a 72 Cuda that we are building a 440 into a 505 stroker motor, 550 hp. My technical expert says go with 323 gears, but I prefer 355 gears. Any advice? It will be a car that is driven and raced occaisonaly for fun.

440roadrunner · 11-21-2007, 12:23 PM

That's a hard question to answer, it depends on you driving, what you expect out of the car, ???fuel mileage???

My old '70RR had 3.54's which with the G70 15 tires I used to run on the street gave me 3000 rpm at 70mph. It was just right, back in those days, but "we" spent several years with the dreaded 55mph speed limit, and the car didn't perform well with that gearing, and by that time I'd stepped up to taller tires, which made things worse.

Let me guess--you don't expect much mileage, you are building this for fun. Depending on your tires I wouldn't go any higher than 355 and if I could afford this, I'd probably use the biggest tires I could get under there, and 373 rear

Unless you tub the rear wells and can get REALLY tall tires under there, 411 and lower will be pretty low for any kind of freeway driving.

The other thing you might do, which I have not kept up on, is aftermarket transmissions--5 speeds and so on.

73DartSport · 11-23-2007, 06:56 PM

I'm a big fan of 3.23s for a vehicle like you're talking about, but I agree with 440RR... it depends on your driving and what performance specs you expect the car to attain. 3.23s will be great for everyday driving and will still give you some gas mileage and hook pretty well when you decide to run. 3.55s will do the same but you will suffer in the way of gas mileage. Vice versa you will hook a lot better when you decide to run the car. 3.55s are also a decent set of gears for the highway and will allow you to cruise without putting a lot of strain on your rearend. All in all I say 3.23s are the better choice unless you are gonna strip the car more than you are going to street it.

Brent_72_Cuda · 11-26-2007, 09:45 PM

Thanks, appreciate the advice!!

CAT-TECH · 01-29-2008, 04:06 PM

I new a guy that ran 2.76's behind his built 440. As i remember it it did fairly decent on gas mileage, still grabbed and propelled very well and ate up ANYTHING on the highway. with that 550HP and all of that torque you are making it will easily turn either 3.23's or 2.76's.

11-21-2007, 12:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
Brent_72_Cuda Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: The Couve, Washington Posts: 3	How to gear a Cuda for the street? I have a 72 Cuda that we are building a 440 into a 505 stroker motor, 550 hp. My technical expert says go with 323 gears, but I prefer 355 gears. Any advice? It will be a car that is driven and raced occaisonaly for fun.

11-23-2007, 06:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
73DartSport Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 10	I'm a big fan of 3.23s for a vehicle like you're talking about, but I agree with 440RR... it depends on your driving and what performance specs you expect the car to attain. 3.23s will be great for everyday driving and will still give you some gas mileage and hook pretty well when you decide to run. 3.55s will do the same but you will suffer in the way of gas mileage. Vice versa you will hook a lot better when you decide to run the car. 3.55s are also a decent set of gears for the highway and will allow you to cruise without putting a lot of strain on your rearend. All in all I say 3.23s are the better choice unless you are gonna strip the car more than you are going to street it. Last edited by 73DartSport : 11-23-2007 at 06:58 PM.

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11-21-2007, 12:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
440roadrunner Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 272	That's a hard question to answer, it depends on you driving, what you expect out of the car, ???fuel mileage??? My old '70RR had 3.54's which with the G70 15 tires I used to run on the street gave me 3000 rpm at 70mph. It was just right, back in those days, but "we" spent several years with the dreaded 55mph speed limit, and the car didn't perform well with that gearing, and by that time I'd stepped up to taller tires, which made things worse. Let me guess--you don't expect much mileage, you are building this for fun. Depending on your tires I wouldn't go any higher than 355 and if I could afford this, I'd probably use the biggest tires I could get under there, and 373 rear Unless you tub the rear wells and can get REALLY tall tires under there, 411 and lower will be pretty low for any kind of freeway driving. The other thing you might do, which I have not kept up on, is aftermarket transmissions--5 speeds and so on.

11-26-2007, 09:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
Brent_72_Cuda Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: The Couve, Washington Posts: 3	Thanks, appreciate the advice!!

01-29-2008, 04:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
CAT-TECH Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cali Posts: 42	I new a guy that ran 2.76's behind his built 440. As i remember it it did fairly decent on gas mileage, still grabbed and propelled very well and ate up ANYTHING on the highway. with that 550HP and all of that torque you are making it will easily turn either 3.23's or 2.76's.