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Hi all,
I'm posting this here for a hopefully larger viewing and response. I have about –3,200 miles on my Boss now, and I'm still very happy with it. The only thing I would like to change, and there seems no easy way to do so at this point, is the first and sixth gear ratios.
Gears 2-5 are almost a perfect match up to my 70's era Borg Warner Super T-10, which was a really great gear ratio package....minus an overdrive final ratio. That tranny was used in a '65 Mustang that had NO WAY near the HP and TQ that our Bosses make, yet it left the line just fine with it's 2.43 first gear ratio and a 3.89 rear. The 69/70 Bosses mostly used a 2.36 1st and a 3.91 rear. And don't forget the standard M-21 and M-22 Muncie transmissions in the 68- 69 Z-28's. Those trannies most often ran the same 3.73 rear end ratio we have, and a 2.20 first gear ratio. I never noticed a huge disadvantage with those cars, which in stock form, still made less HP and TQ than the current Boss.
It may be the difference in how the current Boss motor delivers it's power, 4-cam, higher end HP/TQ delivery, etc., but still I would really LOVE to see a first gear for our trans that is in the area of about 2.80 instead of 3.66, and a shorter sixth gear of about .80. I know I could change out to a Tremec, but none of them really have the ratios I want, so I would be buying an expensive trans swap that STILL did not have the ratios I want. I would buy a Richmond 6-speed in a second, if they made one that would fit our motors (they don't, and told me they probably won't).
I often don't use first, because I feel it is just too short. I'm using 2nd - 5th for about 95% of my around town driving. I am strictly a street driver, and this Boss will never see the race track. But I really would love to shorten out the 1-2 spread and the 5-6 spread on the shifting. I have read many posts here and on some other sites complaining about the usability of our 1st and 6th gear on the track also.
I guess I'm just hoping that someone out there in the aftermarket world would make some upgraded internal parts to strengthen up some of the known weaker areas of our transmissions, and a new 1st and 6th gear also. I have not had any problems with my trans....yet...and hope I don't. It does seem to shift smoother when it's warm. I have removed the clutch assist spring, and I like the feel much better...It almost feels like a "normal" clutch again.
Anyway, I'm just hoping to find someone out there that sees a pretty good market for such parts. I've checked a few sites that claim to do upgrades to these trannies, but have not found one that offers a gearing change. I guess I can just drop in 4.11 rear gears and live with that, but I sure would like to keep the 3.73's and have a closer 1st and 6th. I have a 6 speed, that to me, is really only a 4 speed, except for longer freeway trips.
Does anyone know of a custom gear grinder that might try this? I'm interested in hearing feedback from the members. Maybe I'm just too old school in my thoughts...
Take care, and TIA,
JJ
I'm posting this here for a hopefully larger viewing and response. I have about –3,200 miles on my Boss now, and I'm still very happy with it. The only thing I would like to change, and there seems no easy way to do so at this point, is the first and sixth gear ratios.
Gears 2-5 are almost a perfect match up to my 70's era Borg Warner Super T-10, which was a really great gear ratio package....minus an overdrive final ratio. That tranny was used in a '65 Mustang that had NO WAY near the HP and TQ that our Bosses make, yet it left the line just fine with it's 2.43 first gear ratio and a 3.89 rear. The 69/70 Bosses mostly used a 2.36 1st and a 3.91 rear. And don't forget the standard M-21 and M-22 Muncie transmissions in the 68- 69 Z-28's. Those trannies most often ran the same 3.73 rear end ratio we have, and a 2.20 first gear ratio. I never noticed a huge disadvantage with those cars, which in stock form, still made less HP and TQ than the current Boss.
It may be the difference in how the current Boss motor delivers it's power, 4-cam, higher end HP/TQ delivery, etc., but still I would really LOVE to see a first gear for our trans that is in the area of about 2.80 instead of 3.66, and a shorter sixth gear of about .80. I know I could change out to a Tremec, but none of them really have the ratios I want, so I would be buying an expensive trans swap that STILL did not have the ratios I want. I would buy a Richmond 6-speed in a second, if they made one that would fit our motors (they don't, and told me they probably won't).
I often don't use first, because I feel it is just too short. I'm using 2nd - 5th for about 95% of my around town driving. I am strictly a street driver, and this Boss will never see the race track. But I really would love to shorten out the 1-2 spread and the 5-6 spread on the shifting. I have read many posts here and on some other sites complaining about the usability of our 1st and 6th gear on the track also.
I guess I'm just hoping that someone out there in the aftermarket world would make some upgraded internal parts to strengthen up some of the known weaker areas of our transmissions, and a new 1st and 6th gear also. I have not had any problems with my trans....yet...and hope I don't. It does seem to shift smoother when it's warm. I have removed the clutch assist spring, and I like the feel much better...It almost feels like a "normal" clutch again.
Anyway, I'm just hoping to find someone out there that sees a pretty good market for such parts. I've checked a few sites that claim to do upgrades to these trannies, but have not found one that offers a gearing change. I guess I can just drop in 4.11 rear gears and live with that, but I sure would like to keep the 3.73's and have a closer 1st and 6th. I have a 6 speed, that to me, is really only a 4 speed, except for longer freeway trips.
Does anyone know of a custom gear grinder that might try this? I'm interested in hearing feedback from the members. Maybe I'm just too old school in my thoughts...
Take care, and TIA,
JJ
