Gearing Question

[Jim Shepard]

Does anyone know what the gear ratio is on a '50 Dodge sedan?

[greg g]

Jim I think the Dodges with the Fluid drive had a bit higher ratios. Not sure about the 50, but jack up both wheels and put a chalk mark on the drive shaft and count the revolutions as you turn the wheel one complete turn. You can get a good estimate. Both wheels need to be of the ground so use jack stands. I'm thinking 3.89, or 3.73 so the 3,9 would be nearly 4 revolutions of the drive shaft and the 3.73 would be 3 3/4's.

[Jim Shepard]

Thanks, but I don't actually have the car. I'm thinking about getting the rear end out of one to put in my B2B. I was just trying to determine if it is a higher gear than my truck's 4:11...

[Normspeed]

On the Plymouths and probably Dodges there is usually a number stamped into the housing. Trouble is, it's on the top of the installed rear end and usually covered with gunk as well. Here's an out-of-the-car 50 Plym rear end with 3.73 gears. Second photo shows where the numbers are located on top of the housing.

[greg g]

When you say a higher gear, remember the higher the 1st number the more revolutions of the dirve shaft for one turn of the wheel. So you actually looking for a lower number gear set if your going for relaxed highway engine speeds. The 49 through 52 series plymouths at least had a narrower rear end assembly so chack the backing plate to backing plate measurment.