Big in, Big out, 3:31 behind a close ratio with a LONG tail shaft and short, SHORT drive shaft. Well over 400 horse, trans is bullet proof. ERA, with a side oiler and dual fours.
Don't like:
The high first gear ratio on occasion. Most of the time it's OK because mostly Hawaii is flat ground. Pulling into a steep uphill parking ramp from a level street requires a bit of slipping the clutch (or slipping the tires, your call).
So to overcome the high first gear your thinking a lower rear end ratio? Yeah that would work but you will NOT be happy the high rpm's at cruise speed! Wide or close, the 4th gear is still "direct drive". 70-75 mph will have your motor buzzing right up there with a 3:54. I wouldn't go with less than 3:31, even taller, with a direct drive high gear.
I don't think it's that big of a deal running short, medium or long tail shaft, myself. I suppose the theory is valid, whatever it is. The Jaguar pumpkin just sits there, doesn't move so it's not like the drive shaft see's any up and down or side to side movement to speak of. There is a slight offset from the front U joint to the rear U joint which IS REQUIRED. That keeps the U joint bearings moving in their little cups and keeps them well lubricated that way. You DON'T want a "perfect alignment" with a drive shaft.
Oh, don't forget to trim the bottom of the bell housing off. If you don't it WILL catch on a speed bump and that WILL eventually break your trans mount, which throws more angle into your drive shaft. In such a case a longer drive shaft would be better than a short one, I guess. I broke my trans mount and other than extreme clutch chatter (which was my first clue) in first gear, no problem with the drive shaft.
My drive shaft/rear end has a total of about 18,000 miles on it since the car was built in 1986. I've put about 10,000 of the total on it myself.
What I really like is how cool the close ratio is on the freeway or during acelleration runs! I can drop into 2nd gear at about 55 mph and just take off like a rocket. It's great hearing that motor STAY up there in the power band as you go through the gears.
I did recently replace the LEATHER pinion seal on the rear end, started leaking and throwing
oil, yuck what a mess. The pinon NUT was FINGER LOOSE, which is what I suspect led to the failed seal? I replaced it, as per ERA's web site, with a modern rubber lip seal. It was hell getting the 80wt
oil back in that stinkin' pumpkin hole.
