So after a ton of research and working the numbers I have figured this out:
4L60 4L80 6l80 8L80 Gears
1St 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th
4L60 3.06 1.63 1.00 .70
4L80 2.48 1.48 1.00 .75
6L80 4.03 2.36 1.53 1.15 .85 .67
8L80 4.56 2.97 2.08 1.69 1.27 1.00 .85 .65
Possible GM Gear ratios (2.73 Is aftermarket only.)
2:73 3.08 3.23 3.42 3.73 3.90 4.11
Gear Venders is a .78
BW is a .72 or .33% reduction x.67% Or as 5th .47
RPMS and MPH:
https://www.blocklayer.com/rpm-gear.aspx
Running all the four Transmissions with the different rear end gears, I find that the cost of putting in a 6 or 8 speed transmissions NOT worth the cost and time because here is the numbers of them at 70MPH with a 3.42 gears set:
4L60 @ 70MPH = 1990
6L80 @ 70MPH = 1920
8L80 @ 70 MPH = 1850
With 3.08
4L60 @70 MPH = 1800
6L80 @ 70MPH = 1730
8L80 @ 70 MPH = 1790
And with a special 2.73
4L60 @ 70MPH = 1590
6L80 @ 70MPH = 1530
8L80 @ 70 MPH = 1490
These new transmissions only slightly improve on the over drive ratios, a grant total of .10, and only with the more costly 8 speed, the main thing is more lower gears, to get things moving and to help keep narrow power curve engines with in their best power range. The new 6 and 8 speed transmission are for smaller engines to get them moving
Problem is I built a special high torque engine before they became kind of reasonable to buy… I kind of figure a 6 speed with a rebuilt rear end will run around $3 to $4K.
After all my research I find I cannot get what I need this way. First my Van with its old 350 have plenty of power, it could get going very well…in fact I NEEDED a postreaction rear end then, and with an estimated 30%+ more power with my 383, I figure all a 6 or 8 speed will do is burn up a lot of tires…not good.
My originally figured on much lower rear end gear ratios, they are on record but cannot be bought now a days. My plans were in the ranges of 2.24 or 2.40.
So I am back to my 30 year plan, add a second Over Drive, and I have two of the old Borg Warner over drives, so I can just devoice it from the three speed housing and rig it up as a midship “brownie” transmission.
My studies of a number of good MPG cars has shown that the best MPG is at around 1500RPMs at cruse. Figuring that my van has a lot of weight, rolling resistant and air resection and that at 1500 RPMs this MPG is dependent on the engine’s torque to do the work. So I want my drive train to run my engine at 1500 RPMS at my chosen cruse speed around 80MPH.
For an engine to operate at 1500 RPMs it needs to be camed for that low power range, you cannot run a high RPM engine below its power curve. So my 383 is built for low RPMs.
These newer transmissions do not fill this speeds…the OD is not low enough without impossible to find low gears, so:
So here is the final number, the BW Over Drive is a .71 ratio or more precise a .67 lower gear, thus the final RPMs of the 4L60 at say:
3.42 @ 70MPH is 1990 kick in the over drive and it will be 1333,
This might be a touch low but at 85MPH the RPMs of 2430 drops to 1628….
I might even consider a taller gear..Which will make for strong take offs…AND I bet finding a Possi with a 3.73 or a 3.90 is a lot easier. I will have to do some tests to see how my new engine runs and work out if it can handle the loads made at speed and its best MPG RPMS.
I figure the rigging up of this old BW over drive will run somewhere from $300.00 to $800.00, a LOT cheaper that all it will take to do a 6 or 8 speed and special rebuilt rear end.
Rich