3.08 gears with a manual trans

[limp]

Is anyone running 3:08 gears with a manual trans?? I have a really nice diff with 3:08 gears I would really like to clean up and install in my " not the mustang" using a TKX with a 2:87 first gear.... When I was young 3:08's sucked, but the muncies had either 220 or 284 ( close ratio vs wide ratio) first gears in them....
I know I could get the 3:27 first gear TKX which is probably designed for tall butt gears, but that is not going to happen... I understand this would not be a premium gear for any type of racing but the car will not be tracked or drag raced.. And I do NOT want to have to slip the clutch a bit too much everytime I start the car from and stand still.... I just don't want to hate these gears and have to redo them ( although its not too hard a job removing the Dana 44 from my C4 suspension) ....
Is my 50 year old memory correct or can any of you tell me your 308's are OK??
I get good answers on this website unlike some of the answers I get on " other ' sites, so thanks for letting me ask this "Brand X question" on here....

 

[Noobz347]

I would not be afraid of 3:27 or even 3:55 gears with a TKX.

How tall are your tires?

 

[nickyb]

My stang was ordered with 308 gears from the factory, last 19 years( minus last ten months )(health) I have driven the outta her. With the t5 in fifth gear I crisis hyway at 70-75 mph and it spins at 2'000 ish rpms.

 

[AeroCoupe]

My T5 had 3.27 first gear and it was almost worthless taking off from a stop with 3.73's in that you went into 2nd gear really quick. The TKX has 2.87 first gear and with the 3.75's it is still pretty quick going into 2nd but nothing like the T5. When I change the rear gears I am very seriously thinking of going to a 3.31 gear set.

 

[Qtrhrse23]

3.08s aint so bad. Definitely better than 2.73s. Ive had 2.73s so long I really dont feel like changing. Ive had 3.27s new in box(Auburn Locker also) for 20 years(to replace the 2.73s), LAZYNESS AT ITS BEST. For someone who aint racing the clock(1/4 track), factory high strung gears arent bad, AND CALL ME crazy. BUT My buttmeter says high strung gears (3.08/2.73) PULL HARDER ON BIG END.

 

[Noobz347]

3.08s aint so bad. Definitely better than 2.73s. Ive had 2.73s so long I really dont feel like changing. Ive had 3.27s new in box(Auburn Locker also) for 20 years(to replace the 2.73s), LAZYNESS AT ITS BEST. For someone who aint racing the clock(1/4 track), factory high strung gears arent bad, AND CALL ME crazy. BUT My buttmeter says high strung gears (3.08/2.73) PULL HARDER ON BIG END.

They absolutely do and there's also something to be said for staying [in power] longer in a gear.

 

[General karthief]

Some of it will depend on the actual weight, that said if you get the engine setup with good low end torque numbers you'll be ok.

 

[limp]

Thanks everyone for the reply's..
Probably 26" tires.. My mistake, as said above first is 2.87, not 2.89... Power will be a stock LS1 w/345 HP..... I read about a formula where you muliply the rear gears by first gear and around 9.1 is a good place.. Mine came to 8.9.. I think I am going to give it a shot..
Here is Brand X project for those who are curious...

 

[limp]

I would not be afraid of 3:27 or even 3:55 gears with a TKX.

How tall are your tires?

Here is my dilemma.. The Dana 44 I am using (from the 85 parts car) is called the Dana 44HD.. It was used in Manual C4 corvettes and Dodge vipers.. Regular Dana 44 gears will not work in the HD pumpkin........ For some reason the 3.45 and 3.54 gears are just non existent.. LOTS of 3.08, 373, 390, 4.11 and 4.56 gears for sale ( new aftermarket) but the 3.45 and 354 ( which would be my pick) are just not being produced for some reason... Motive had a 3.54 ring and pinion set " call for availability" at $1200.. Not gonna happen...
3.73's would be fun, but around 2500 rpm at 70 is a bit higher than I want to cruise at and this is the guesstimate with an OD TKX.. I might want to go to " cruise the gulf" or Carlysle.
Its a phobia.... In High School I had a Dodge Super Bee with the 440 Six pack engine and it had 4.11 gears with a 4 speed manual.. I hated that rear end... I could not go anywhere.. But I digress here....
I am going to clean up the 3.08 rear that came out of my donor car and install it... It seems to be in very nice shape internally or it would get a rebuild.... If it doesn't work, I can always change it later... I am too old to dilly dally if I want to Live to drive it... Thanks again all

 

[keel]

I'm also running the stock 2.73 gear ratio with a T5. It's awesome for highway cruising, I can do 75mph at ~1800 RPM and get pretty good fuel economy. But yeah doing WOT pulls it feels like I'm in 2nd and 3rd gear for an eternity and you'd better be careful if you want to get all the way through 3rd and into 4th because you'll be doing straight to jail levels of speed.

Well worth the compromise for me personally since I do a lot of long distances on the highway.

 

[fasterthangas]

3.73 - 4.10 gears all day long. I'm not familiar with the LS power band but I like to keep my engine in that range. Lugging a car around is no fun and the engine doesn't like it. These are sports cars after all. JMHO.