? stock rear-end ratio on a '56 ford customline

Took my '56 on the highway for the 1st time and couldn't go past 65 MPH. It has a '77 302 and C4 trans. The rear looks stock. I'm not sure if the trans is the problem or the rear? It was shifting soft so I adjusted the modulator and confirmed it's going into all 3 gears. It's bagged so I don't want to replace the rear if I don't need to. Any way to ID the rear and ratio? This is my 1st ford in a ford.
If it's the rear can I change the gear in a '56? If not, any 9 in the same length? Help is appreciated

 

The only way you could be limited to 65 m.p.h. if your transmission is, indeed, shifting into top gear is if the car was originally an overdrive equipped version with a 4.++ ring & pinion. Even then I think you're letting your ears over ride your brain. You need to know how many R.P.M. your engine is turning at 65. I just did a quickie calculation which says a 4.10 gear coupled with a 28" tire @65 is only 3200 R.P.M. Even a 26" tire would give you but 3450 R.P.M. That sure ain't at the engine's limit.

 

Even with 4.56 gears it should do 65 in Second. It can't be finding Drive.

 

". All six-cylinder engines with the standard three-speed transmission were assembled with a 3.89 rear gear; a 4.11 was optional. Should the straight-six be backed by the Ford-O-Matic, the rear gears were 3.31 standard and 3.55 optional in 1955, or 3.22 standard and 3.56 optional in 1956.
Victorias sporting a V-8 with the three-speed manual had a 3.78 gear or an optional 3.89; these numbers are reversed when the overdrive is installed. As with the straight-six, the Ford-O-Matic required its own set of final gear ratios: For 1955, a 3.31 was standard and 3.55 optional; for the 1956 models, a 3.22 was standard with a 3.56 optional."

 

I think it must be a trans problem. I had a '56 with the six and a three speed, no overdrive. Top speed was in the high 80's and I could cruise all day at 65 to 70 mph.

Jerome

 

My first car was a '56 Victoria. It had a 3 speed and 3.70 gears.

3000 RPM in 3d gear was 60.

 

trans slipping, or speedometer is way off,

 

Even a stock beat up worn out 302 should turn 4100 to 4400 RPM's. That should run it faster than is legal in any state.

 

Thanks everyone! It had a 292/3 speed manual. The speed was accurate because I use my GPS. It was getting hot and I didn't want to push it, so I just got off the highway but it prob could go a bit faster. Even if it's a 3.89 or 4.10 I agree something else may be wrong. I'll need to get a tach. Perhaps it's the trans?

 

IDK about other 77 302 with C4 equipped cars, but the 77 Granada with a 302 and C4 had rear axle gear ratios between 2.48 and 2.73, so whatever axle is in your 56 is much lower geared. The Fordomatic or the 56 stick rears are all way lower geared than that. OD equipped 50's cars were often 4.11's or 3.89's.

 

The post you are replying to is 10 years old.
OP has been inactive sine 2015. It's always good to check the dates.