I have a 63 ranchero thats getting a stock 200 put in. I have the 3spd that came with it and I have an SROD from an 83 mustang. The Srod was in my 61 F100 for awhile but I wasn't real thrilled by it. I could shift into OD at 100mph but the 302 just didn't have the torque to go any faster. Truck weighs 4200#. Could I expect better performance behind a 200 in the lighter ranchero. Looking for fuel economy on this one not top speed. Or is the 3spd going to be the better choice.
SROD behind a 200 good or bad idea?
- Thread starter cobraguy
- Start date
Howdy Cobra guy:
I'm running an SROD behind my 250 in a 65 Ranchero. If works great as an all syncro three speed with an OD. It is geared a little low an too wide gear spacing for ultimate performance, but for a daily driver the three speed syncro are great in traffic. The extra torque of the 250 make 2nd a very useful gear. The OD at speeds above 40 mph is great. I'm currently running the stock 3.5:1 rear gear. I'm looking to change to an 8" rear with a 3:1 gear. That should make 1st gear more useful.
If you're looking for performance, adapting a T5 makes more sense.
I don't think the SROD out of your Pickup will mate to a 200. You might have to get a bell, fly-wheel, clutch and PP from a Fox bodied donor that had an SROD from the factory. Or adapt with a '67 standard bell.
Good luck.
Adios, David
I'm running an SROD behind my 250 in a 65 Ranchero. If works great as an all syncro three speed with an OD. It is geared a little low an too wide gear spacing for ultimate performance, but for a daily driver the three speed syncro are great in traffic. The extra torque of the 250 make 2nd a very useful gear. The OD at speeds above 40 mph is great. I'm currently running the stock 3.5:1 rear gear. I'm looking to change to an 8" rear with a 3:1 gear. That should make 1st gear more useful.
If you're looking for performance, adapting a T5 makes more sense.
I don't think the SROD out of your Pickup will mate to a 200. You might have to get a bell, fly-wheel, clutch and PP from a Fox bodied donor that had an SROD from the factory. Or adapt with a '67 standard bell.
Good luck.
Adios, David
David thanks for the feedback. I was just curious if the OD was going to be usable behind the 200. I have the adaptation figured out, it will use a plate between the trans and bell housing. I'd have to get a clutch disc made at a friction shop I deal with (Peck's Heavy Friction) and rebuild the SROD. I have to decide if the OD will make that much difference in fuel economy to make the investment worthwhile. The 3spd is fresh and ready to go the SROD will cost $200-$300 in parts and materials and chew into alot of my precious little spare time. What other ways can I squeek out a few extra MPG. I already have a pertronix ignitor and flame thrower coil, FoMoCo 1100 carb, stock manifold, 2" exhaust with a small turbo muffler.
80Stang
Well-known member
A good idea - factory did it 
My '80 had 200+SROD+3.08 gears from the factory. In stock form and daily driving - ok. With that rear gearing it was not suitable for performance use (track or strip), maybe would have been better with 3.55 or such ratio at the back. So I switched to T5.
About 1300kg / 2900lbs car.
My '80 had 200+SROD+3.08 gears from the factory. In stock form and daily driving - ok. With that rear gearing it was not suitable for performance use (track or strip), maybe would have been better with 3.55 or such ratio at the back. So I switched to T5.
About 1300kg / 2900lbs car.
SROD Gear ratios always had a huge over drive on a narow ratio 3 speed gearbox. On a 5.0 Mustang with 3.08 or 2.73 diff, no worry. On a 3.08:1 diff Mustang GT or Capri RS, just way over geared. The four cylinder 3.45:1 would have worked really well.
In a quarter mile, any SROD behind a 3.3 will do pretty well as long as you can change down one gear at 65 mph without over reving the engine.
This is a very important rule in gearing, one pioneered by the Germans (VW~Audi with success in the Jetta and 5000, BMW with terriable results in the 525e and Australian market 520i, the worst geared cars of all time).
If you used a 3.55 to 3.45 ratio gear, it will work brilliantly. You can cruise at 65 mph at 2200 rpm or so, and it goes up to a perfect 3200 rpm when snaped back into 3rd. Over all first gear is not too high, so everything will work perfectly. The icing on the cake is that most 200's when worked up to what is hopefully 125 hp net with a better carb, head and exhast system will find that this gearing will give the best acceleration.
The Mustang I6's use of the 3.08:1 gearing was purely because of CAFE fuel figures and emissions compliance. In Cali, they didn't even allow 4-spd manuals to be sold because they wouldn't pass the emissions standards. Upshot is that all overhead valve 3.3 sixes in 2500 to 3000 pound cars work best with diff ratios in the 3.55- 3.23:1 range, and a big overdrive fro cruising.
Go for it!
In a quarter mile, any SROD behind a 3.3 will do pretty well as long as you can change down one gear at 65 mph without over reving the engine.
This is a very important rule in gearing, one pioneered by the Germans (VW~Audi with success in the Jetta and 5000, BMW with terriable results in the 525e and Australian market 520i, the worst geared cars of all time).
If you used a 3.55 to 3.45 ratio gear, it will work brilliantly. You can cruise at 65 mph at 2200 rpm or so, and it goes up to a perfect 3200 rpm when snaped back into 3rd. Over all first gear is not too high, so everything will work perfectly. The icing on the cake is that most 200's when worked up to what is hopefully 125 hp net with a better carb, head and exhast system will find that this gearing will give the best acceleration.
The Mustang I6's use of the 3.08:1 gearing was purely because of CAFE fuel figures and emissions compliance. In Cali, they didn't even allow 4-spd manuals to be sold because they wouldn't pass the emissions standards. Upshot is that all overhead valve 3.3 sixes in 2500 to 3000 pound cars work best with diff ratios in the 3.55- 3.23:1 range, and a big overdrive fro cruising.
Go for it!
