" From: farna@xxxxxxx " " The 2.0L fours used a 3.58 rear gear in Hornets with an auto, the stick " was lower! yeah, but didn't someone say that the 151s and the few 150s had 3.08s? " remember also that the 58-63 American will be more like a Jeep XJ " than a Spirit frontal area wise. The fours in those use a 4.10 gear! true, but the jeep is heavier and performance expectations have risen. the base 2dr, 2wd, 4cyl/5sp xj se is ~2800lbs, but that's lacking just about every option available and while i'm sure many price-leader 'strippers' were made, most cherokees had an additional several hundred lbs of options onboard. and the later 2.5/150 is definitely tuned for higher-rpm operation [torque over 3000rpm] than the 4.0 or earlier fours, with the possible exception of the audi-originated 2.0. " I'm sure you will agree that may be a bit much, but I'd think " 3.08 would be way low unless there is a low first gear or an auto trans " is used. on the t4/t5, first -is- low, around 4:1. the sr4 is 3.50:1 iirc. " The 196s' big strength is super torque right off idle. With a " little four you won't have that. The fellow I helped out had an old OD " car, so the 4.11 rear axle. With the Pinto four speed it was great! the ohc 2300 is pretty good at revving, considering its age. not surprising it would work well with a low axle. " First was a little on the low side, but not bad. Car wouldn't start in " 2nd unless on a level or downgrade. Don't know for sure, but believe " the SR-4 was geared the same in 2300 Pintos and AMC sixes. iirc that's right. " If to high a gear mileage will go down from having to work the " engine to much to get the car moving. At least average mileage. " Interstate driving might go up, but unless you have long commutes " wihtout many stops and starts it won't help much. this is true. " On November 28, 2005 andrew hay wrote: " " > i don't think so! iirc 4-cyl spirits were geared 3.08, for mileage. " > i'd stick to that in the american, if mileage is the objective. as i said, whatever ratio the donor car had - use that in the american. that's assuming [reasonably i think] the american's tires are close to the donor's in diameter. ________________________________________________________________________ Andrew Hay the genius nature internet rambler is to see what all have seen adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and think what none thought