Need a new transmission...so, what gear ratios?, 2.7L Options

[billh1963]

My '72 with a 2.7 six is back.

The engine is running great. However, the gear box is so shitty it's not even worth driving. I've owned a lot of 914's and never had a gearbox so bad. I tried to go for a drive today and made it about 2 miles before I gave up and headed home. I felt like leaving it on the side of the road for the trash collector. Seriously,it's that shitty.

The couple times I found second gear it wanted to crunch so I think I'm going to just rebuild it (of course all the shifter bushings and everything related to shifting will be gone through and updated).

So, I've looked at several threads and even found some charts of gear ratios/rpm/speeds.

For those with a 2.7 or 3.0, did you use the stock ratios? Are you happy with that? What would you change?

I'm thinking of changing fifth gear to cruise around 2800-3000 rpm at 70mph. Will that give me enough fan speed to keep the oil cool? I do NOT have an external oil cooler.

Tires size is 205/55-16

Any input is appreciated. Thank you

[DRPHIL914]

Bill,

as you know, when we rebuild our transmissions for the IV's- 901 - at Evil's clinic at Scotty's a few years ago, I changed my 4 and 5 both, x & ha flipped I believe.
I like it for around here on the flat, and end up in 4th all the time when cruising between 55-60, 5th is nice on the interstate and I get great milage, but when up in the hills I don't like the increased gap between 3 and 4. If I lived up there I would probably drop back to a stock 4 and just a slight tick up on the 5th,. I think driving in to work today, at 70(in a 60 zone- that's with the flow of traffic) i'm well below the 3000rpm, I think that actually if I stay near the 60 mph my rpm in 4th is close to the 3000. (EDIT): just checked at lunch, 4th is 3200rpm at 60mph.-

don't know if that helps....

fyi - tire size, i'm running the 205/55 16" tires/rims and that's just a bit taller than stock. when I ran the smaller tires of course, rpms were lower, - I did also see those temps rise on the freeway with the lower rpms too, and will be putting a external oil cooler in before summer.