What I am thinking is since I have a dual-gate, I can now instead upgrade the 71's 10 bolt to a 3.23 & shift accordingly for cruising instead of what I originally had in mind, a 3.08 although I was told and that the 3.08 is best for cruising economy... but in theory, I should be able to cruise in a different gear via dual-gate...

Thoughts? Comments?

 

personally i don't think you'd notice the difference. It'd be like 2-300rpm change? But going to like 3.90 gears you would

 

its good to get off the line fast, but also to cruise without stopping so soon for fuel... leaning towards 3.23

 

Either are a good choice, a good compromise of economy and performance. Unless you are into the serious pursuit of drag racing and numbers are your priority, I think that both the 3:08/3:23 will make you happy. If you are wanting better track times, you'll need a minimum of 3:73 plus!

 

The dualgate won't let you cruise at any lower of an rpm you still will have 3 gears

 

What engine and tranny? 350/350 or 455/400?
What gears are in it now? If it's a bone stock 350/350 Cutlass S you're probably 2:56, 2:73? A change to 3:08 will make a big difference and a 3:23 will make a huge difference off the line. 3:23 was the gear set that Olds usually put into the 350 engine 442s. If it had a 455/400 the gear option was then 3:42

I was going to put 3:42's in my 72, but opted to go with 3:23 and a stock Series 3 posi carrier. Could have gone with 3:08 but decided that gas wasn't really a concern considering the limited mileage the car gets.

 

my ultimate goal for this particular project is cruising, so not much off the line performance of 3.23 is required... so a 3.08 it is! and besides, vogue tyres are too expensive to keep replacing, lol

@funkwagon thanks
@steven thanks, ...
@ Allan R - 350/350 w/ stock 10bolt and what came from factory in 71

 

for the record I have 3.42s and love them but I'm betting the 3.08 will be just fine for you. I personally wouldn't go any steeper than the ones I have for a street car.

Also I never use the dualgate, or rarely do. not whats it cracked up to be - especially around town

 

I recently pulled the 2.73s out of my 72 to put in 3.42s with posi and really wish i had went with the 3.08. the car gets alot of cruising and highway time and its just too steep. Its got a 350/350 and is turning some uncomfortably high rpms (for me anyway) for too long at cruising speeds on the highway. They are great around town mind you but if I dont pull em out for 3.08, then a 2004r is going to have to go in when the BBO is done. In short... 3.08 sounds like the way to go for ya.

 

If you're keeping the T.H. 350 or 400, then the 3:08's cruise nice, and are decent off the line. If you're used to driving newer automatics with overdrive, the 3:23 will feel like it wants one more up shift.

 

I recently put back the correct 3.23 gears in my car from a 3.08 that had been installed when I didn't have the car. It wasn't a big change to be sure, but I think it was worth it.

I also had 3.23 gears in the 80 I had and I drove the wheels off of that thing all over the place and I had upgraded from a 2.28 so I know it was a big change.

 

The dual-gate doesn't do anything to the rearend gear ratio.It is just a shifter,with regular automatic features on the left side,and race-gate style shift on the right side.It has nothing to do with engine rpms or gears.
If you do have 3:08's in it now,you will barely notice a difference,if any,when switching to a 3:23.If you currently have 3:08's,the 3:42 ratio would be a noticeable upgrade,and still be able to cruise comfortably.

 

I have the 3.42s in mine and am very happy with the combination town and highway driving. With BFG 275-60-15 rears. (28") It does run in the upper 2000's on the highway, but that is really not a problem.

 

It seems like alot of cars run good with gears that seem to low (2.73-3.08)
I know its all about combo's but is the big torque that BBO make a factor?
I've heard stories of BBO running quicker times using low gears (# wise)
I have a 12 bolt Chev that will someday go in my Cutlass that is suppose to have 3.42 gears if thats true and they are o.k. I'll add posi and try it otherwise I'm leaning toward 3.23 maybe 3.08.
I'm running a 20/22 Engle cam thats not too wild.
Mostly street/cruising miles, I'll race but just for fun, not too serious about quickest time.

 

The JM-20-22 is a mild cam,but a decent one.My friend ran that cam in a budget-built 455,in the early 90's,in a column-shifted 70 Supreme.It went 12:50's pretty much no matter what.He had 3:90's,then 4:10's,then 3:73's.He also swapped intakes between the Performer and the Torker.It was what it was.Any BBO,unless it is all-out race,does not need anything higher than a 3:73.If your car is more for cruising or daily-driving,then something in the 3:08,3:23,3:42 range is a better suit.

 

my SX has 308's and the 442 has 323's , pretty much seem the same, rpm's way higher w 323s