Re: High Speed Gears

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2017/5/14 11:17:12

A rather broad consensus that especially with the Eight and Super Eight and the heavier body styles, the extra flexibility provided by an overdrive is the preferred way to go. My only personal experience is with an Eight (320 engine) in a 5-passenger sedan body with a 3.07 rear axle; you downshifted into 2nd gear to get over even modest hills you previously climbed with ease in 3rd gear and the car was an absolute DOG at the traffic light. Perhaps something closer to Packard's optional of 4.07 would have been a better choice. A typical OD reduction on Packard's 4.69 axle would put you at about 3.65 which I'd think would be a pretty good compromise between pulling power and cruising speed with kickdown available. The Twelves have enough torque to much more competently handle higher (numerically lower) rear axle ratios.