Posted by Charlie on January 13, 1999 at 23:45:32:
In Reply to: NP435 gear ratios? posted by Dave J. on January 13, 1999 at 20:51:22:
Ford and Dodge versions: 6.69, 3.34, 1.79, 1.00. GM version: 4.78, 2.39, 1.37, 1.00. Generally, I would differentiate wide and close ratio accordingly: Close ratio, always start in 1st, loaded or unloaded, good rpm splits for heavy pulling up and down hills on the highway. Wide ratio: easy start in 2nd without clutch strain when empty, 1st only useful for very heavy loads or off-road creeping, poor splits for highways driving when heavily loaded. Obviously the best would be a 6 speed with 4 close ratios, a very low 8:1 creeper gear, and an overdrive. The new Ford/ZF 6spd and the yet unreleased NVG5600 are close to this ideal of manual transmissions.
Charlie