Thread: Engine placement question for someone who had never done it

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Tom---I could be wrong, but I think the strongest gear set available for a ford 8" from the factory was 3.55:1, and they were scarce. I built a 27 roadster with a small block chev 350 in it, and a Ford 8" that was something like 2.79:1 ratio, and it was kind of a dog. I was able to get a ring and pinion set from a circle track racer that was 3.55:1 but the pinion had a damaged pilot shaft. I was able to fix it, and that ratio really made the car come alive.
There is a much greater availability in gear-sets for Ford 9" rearends, but they are too wide to fit properly under the early cars without shortening the axles and housings, which is very expensive.
If you are going to run a V6, you might be farther ahead to go with the old banjo rearend that you already have???---they came with a fairly signifigant ratio. Sorry Dave---I'm not trying to screw up your sale.