Need some gear ratio advice.

[Mac]

Your rims might be 14" but your tires certainly aren't. Guessing that motor put out 105 hp at 4800 when new. That means at 1700 rpm it would only be putting out 37 hp but it takes about 24 hp just to go 45 mph. As you go faster, the worse the problem gets, them little motor like to rev.
Dave

 

[bowtieboy77]

Well I guess that decides it I will leave the 3.45 in it and just do a brg and seal kit. If the little engines like to rev I'll just let her rev. If anything I'll start thinking about putting 15's on it. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[4.0B2]

rim size doesn't matter... it's the overall tire size that will matter.

Larger tires drop the RMPs down

 

[bowtieboy77]

Well I am going to need tires before its on the road so I'll see if I can get a higher profile 14 as I would like to keep my rims. Again thanks all.

 

[XLTsplash]

My Ranger has the 3:45 gears, 2.3L 5 speed and 225/70R14 tires. At 65 mph the RPMs are around 2,600. My Mustang with 2.3L 4 speed 3:00 gears and 195/70R13 tires runs 3,000 RPM and 65 mph because it doesn't have overdrive. Even run 3,000 RPMs a lot of the time, the 2.3L last along time. The don't have a lot of power stock. They are great little engines.

 

[Mikel89us]

My Mustang runs 3000rpm at 75 about 2500 at 60

 

[bowtieboy77]

O.k lets put this post to bed. Excellant advice. I do realize the 2.3 are great engines as when I built the truck the first time I did a quick hone and rering and it went strong for four years. Now I have had block machined and head redone with new 10 over flat tops so it should run trouble free for years. Thanks every one.