Mitchell 26% or 36%?

[1929]

Whats the better choice, the Mitchell overdrive 26% or 36%? I was informed that most will choose the 26%.

[Tinker]

I looked at this very closely. On a model a I might go with a 26 unless you have a strong tour engine. I bought a 36 behind a rebuilt flatty with a spur cut 4 speed and 378 rear. I feel very good about this combo.

[Bruce,Upstate NY]

I like the 26% with a 3.78 rear on my Tudor. There aren't any big flat areas in the Finger Lakes area of NY and I don't run over 55, though 60 is easy to do on the Big Road.

[daveymc29]

Mitchell told me once that I had the optimum setup with a 36% and 411 rear end. Un fortunately I had changed out the 411 for 354 and so the 26% became the better choice. If I build the 4:11 again I will buy a 36% for the coupe. May put in a 39 tranny for easy shifting that the bride can understand.

[larrys40]

IN my opinion I would do the 26% as the power curve for the engine with the highway cruise speed with a strong touring engine w/HC head should do fine. I run an older Ryan 23% w/ 3.54 rear in my '30 Tudor and between the two it's a great combo. Cruises very easy on the highway. If you wanted more you could always ad the 3.54 in the rear with the 26%....
Larry Shepard

[1929]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by Bruce,Upstate NY

I like the 26% with a 3.78 rear on my Tudor. There aren't any big flat areas in the Finger Lakes area of NY and I don't run over 55, though 60 is easy to do on the Big Road.

Would you use the 26 and 3.78 in Long Island?

[TerryH]

With a 3.78 rear end, I thnk most folks would be disappointed with the 36%, unless they had a very souped up engine, plus you probably could not even shift into it until almost 50 mph. I have a Town Sedan, with the 3.78 and the Mitchell 26%, and also the 5.5 HC head. To me, it is about perfect; I shift into OD about 40-45, and on the freeway cruise easily at 60-65. I have stock brakes and tires, so do not need to go any faster than that. With that setup, I can still pull modest hills in OD. I would think you would need a 65-75 hp engine to make that 36% work.....

[Logan]

Get the 26% unless you put a 4:11 rear end ratio in it. Then that would pair nicely with the 36%.

[Arlyn Bieber]

I'm running a 36% with 3.78 rear end, 6-1 head, large intake valves, B cam, B carburetor, CW crankshaft, 28# flywheel in my '31 slant window sedan. I drive 60-65mph, love the way it handles, climbs the hills however I do have to shift out of OD on the 7% hill I climb nearly everyday. Several of our Club members are driving the 36% and love it. Several are driving the 26% and wish they had bought the 36%. Just my thoughts and experience.

[inex01]

Installed my Mitchel a couple of months ago. I have a 26% with a 3.54 rear on my 31 Sedan and it works perfectly for me. The car will cruise all day long at 55 and on a long up-hill incline I do take her out of overdrive. Two weeks ago I took the car on a 200 mile trip and the fuel mileage was on average 18.5, before the Mitchel my best was 16.3. The car is so much more comfortable to drive now. Definitely the best investment I have ever made.

[Allanw]

If you aren't sure, the 26 is the "safe" bet.

Ever driven a car with far too big wheels on? Takes all the power away, AND ruins fuel economy! I had an 850cc car, that I put big wheels on, but had to wait for the correct low profile tyres to come in. Running a 10% oversize tyre (cirumference) almost doubled the fuel consumption!

If the 36 ends up being too high for your roads/trips etc, then you're screwed. If the 26 ends up being a bit short, you just rev a little higher, and don't really loose anything.

[1929]

Originally Posted by TerryH

With a 3.78 rear end, I thnk most folks would be disappointed with the 36%, unless they had a very souped up engine, plus you probably could not even shift into it until almost 50 mph. I have a Town Sedan, with the 3.78 and the Mitchell 26%, and also the 5.5 HC head. To me, it is about perfect; I shift into OD about 40-45, and on the freeway cruise easily at 60-65. I have stock brakes and tires, so do not need to go any faster than that. With that setup, I can still pull modest hills in OD. I would think you would need a 65-75 hp engine to make that 36% work.....

My newly rebuilt engine is 70+ hp. Ross forged pistons,inserts,counterbalanced crank,performance intake valves.new camshaft etc.

[inex01]

Originally Posted by 1929

My newly rebuilt engine is 70+ hp. Ross forged pistons,inserts,counterbalanced crank,performance intake valves.new camshaft etc.

WOW!!!! what an engine.... I find my setup perfect for my car, it has the high compression head and a touring cam, much milder that your rocket but this may be a perfect match for yours, lets face it these old cars are really not safe over 65 MPH, but very comfortable between 55 - 60, at least that is what I feel comfortable with

[P.S.]

According to Steve Mitchell, you can easily change the gear in a Mitchell overdrive on your own and change from 26% to 36% or the other way around. Therefore, if you buy a Mitchell overdrive with the wrong ratio for you, then you are not stuck with it.

Just call Steve and tell him you want the other gear ratio. He will send you the parts.

[sethkestenbaum]

If anyone has an extra 26% floating around, feel free to let me know via email. I'm considering installing an overdrive eventually.

[1929]

Originally Posted by inex01

WOW!!!! what an engine.... I find my setup perfect for my car, it has the high compression head and a touring cam, much milder that your rocket but this may be a perfect match for yours, lets face it these old cars are really not safe over 65 MPH, but very comfortable between 55 - 60, at least that is what I feel comfortable with

I wont be going over 60, just don't want to deal with the road animals who don't respect older cars at a lower speed. In my opinion I do agree that many of these old cars are not safe at a higher speed, but that is the reason why the car was stripped down to the bare frame. The whole car is getting an overhaul to bring it to safety standards.

[pat in Santa Cruz]

to some degree it also depends on the body type. A roadster is much lighter than a woodie wagon. Higher gears might work OK on a roadster. On my wagon, there is a 33% Borg Warner with a 3:78 rear, and its too tall. 26% would be better. Now with a 4:11, the higher gearing might be better. My sedan, which has an engine very much like yours ( Vermeil built) is only 50 pounds lighter than the woody, has a 3:78 and a 26% OD, and its really nice.

[daveymc29]

I forgot to mention I'm driving a roadster with 16 inch tires, which with a "touring" engine works well for me with the 3:54 rear end and 26% Mitchell O.D. Had I not changed out the 4:11 rear for a 3:54 I would have changed the Mitchell gears to the 36%, but by the time I was smart enough to discuss this with Mitchell I had already changed out the gears and rebuilt the entire rear end, so day late and dollar short, but it does cruise fine around 55 and can get 60 to 65 real easily without a H/C head, though I may yet put one on someday soon.

[1929]

Originally Posted by daveymc29

I forgot to mention I'm driving a roadster with 16 inch tires, which with a "touring" engine works well for me with the 3:54 rear end and 26% Mitchell O.D. Had I not changed out the 4:11 rear for a 3:54 I would have changed the Mitchell gears to the 36%, but by the time I was smart enough to discuss this with Mitchell I had already changed out the gears and rebuilt the entire rear end, so day late and dollar short, but it does cruise fine around 55 and can get 60 to 65 real easily without a H/C head, though I may yet put one on someday soon.

How about a Coupe with a touring engine and a 3.78? Would a 36% run well on mostly flat terrain?

[Barry B./ Ma.]

Originally Posted by 1929

How about a Coupe with a touring engine and a 3.78? Would a 36% run well on mostly flat terrain?

I have a 29 coupe with a touring engine, a 5.5 Snyders head and a 3:78 rear and I find that to be just right with the Mitchell 26% overdrive. I think it may lug too much with the 3:54 rear especially in my area which has some rolling hills. On the flats it will easily run at 60mph but the wheels, steering and brakes being stock I feel it gets pretty twitchy over 55. I would recommend a smaller/wider tire, short pitman arm and cast iron drums if I ran over 60mph. Don't forget this is still an OLD car.