Square cut drop gears - how loud?

It seems the easiest way to change overall gear ratios is through the drop gears (looking to raise mph/rpm throughout range). I have only found square cut gears available, and it's been said that they are quite high pitched and loud. Anyone have any experience with this?

 

i had a pete jackson gear drive on a big block and the howl was like a blower and those are small compared to the drop gears, so i imagine ALOT louder. personally it would be a bit much on the street. if you really want gears done send me a PM as i have a few machine shops that i've talked to for the pulley job that do gears.

 

Hi Russ,

I have a set that will suit your Mondial, the Modena Engineering ones. If you like, I'd be happy to send them over for you to try. I won't be using them in anything soon.

They will give you a top speed of about 218 km/h in your 3.2 at 7,700 rpm. Oh, imagine a 671 blower full of sand, that's what they sound like. Great for masochistic street use but they a bit short for most of the circuits here in Australia.

Regards,

Carl.

 

Carl -
Wow - sounds great except they are gearing the wrong way.
I think the car is a little short as it is! I think the Modena gears give you about 17.6 mph/1000 rpm while the stock is about 20. I was actually looking for a set to give about 22 -23 mph/ 1000 rpm for cruising the Texas outback.

I'm sure if the gears are like my Capo manifolds, the quality is really good. A very nice description of the sound, by the way...

thanks - hope to meet you someday soon

best

Russ

 

We had a thread like this a while back and Rexracer said he could get them helical...but it was like $5k for 1 set or $3500 for 5 or 10....I might have my number mixed up, but a search should find the thread.

The set that Carl has sounds exactly like what I'm looking for, but I'm not so sure about straight cut gears.....I'm not sure I need more blower noise.

Carl, do they howl all the time or is proportional to engine load or rpm?

 

Russ,

Question: Are you trying to make 2nd gear a touch taller and also 3rd gear? Just curious. At NHIS i find i REALLY have to stretch 3rd gear and at Lime Rock there is a debate over if shifting from 3rd to 4th gear is 'better' during the no-name straight to the uphill or to leave it in 3rd and shift to 4th after the uphill.

Just wondering.

 

Steve -
You raise the right question - what is the requirement? Unlike your really cool track tuned car, this is the opposite requirement trying to optimize for street and long trips. With the new better mid range torque with the carbs, I would like to lengthen the gearing to about 23 mph/1000 rpm for a more leisurely cruise rpm (e.g. a real 70 mph at 3100 rpm instead of 3600 - and on up as you can imagine) as well as spread this throughout the ratios. The American Mondials were geared a little short for the increased weight (especially first gear). I figure I can do this with a change in differential ratio or at the drop gears.
If it is cost prohibitive, oh well, I asked.
best
rt