Question: 365/327 & gear ratios

[KenK]

I saw for sale a 1964 coupe with a 365hp 327 and a 3.36 gear.

Is this a good combo? Everything I read about cams & gears tells me this
engine should be paired with gears in the 3.70 to 4.11 range. Anybody
out there got experience with this combo?

My Chevelle SS has a 3.90 gear and the L48 350. It drives well around town, but on the highway the engine seems like it needs more cam or an overdrive.

I'm concerned that the 365hp / 3.36 combo would have too much top end
speed and run poor around town.

I also saw a 1963 360hp with a 4.11 gear. That sounds more like it!

 

[Tuna]

In my experience (admittedly a few years old), the 365 hp engine is flat at lower RPM and performs best with 3.90 or taller gears and a close ratio trans.
Back in the late 60s/ early 70s I had a '55 Chevy with what was mostly a 365hp engine - 30-30 cam 2.02 heads, etc. It had 4.10 gears and was very happy around town but high way cruising suffered. Early in its life it had 3.36 gears and was a real terror at speed but it was hard to launch and poor in the 1/4 mile or red-light gran prix.

3.36 gears would be good for an open road car but not around town with that engine. My 2 cents.

 

[KenK]

3.36 gears would be good for an open road car but not around town with that engine.

That's what I figured. Sounds like this car should go to Nevada or get a
gear change.

 

[jdk]

depends on the tranny. if wide ratio ok if a close ratio then a 3.70 to start.
my 63 fi came with a close ratio 3.70. the fi is missing and it has a 3.36 in it and i am rebuilding the tranny from a close ratio to a wide. jim

 

[Subfixer]

I'm running an NOM 327/365 in my 64 with M20 wide ratio and 3.36 rear.

As stated above, the car does not have a lot of low end torque like the original 327/300 did. The low first gear of the M20 helps.

When I'm doing some "spirited" cruising with other corvette guys, I have to keep it down in the lower gears to keep up.

Get it over 3500 rpm and watch out......

Cruises well on the highway.

 

[jdk]

i agree again, mine kicks in good at 3k. jim