SAAC Forum

The Cars => 1968 Shelby GT350/500/500KR => Topic started by: mgreene on April 28, 2022, 08:20:20 AM

Title: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: mgreene on April 28, 2022, 08:20:20 AM
In the classifieds, http://www.saacforum.com/index.php?topic=18816.0 (http://www.saacforum.com/index.php?topic=18816.0), the seller states that the car is one of 404 4 speed convertibles, but one of only 214 with a particular engine/transmission code. For '68 GT-350 convertibles, what other engine/4 speed trans combos could there be? Were there close/wide ratio 4 speeds like the Boss 302?
Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: Coralsnake on April 28, 2022, 08:47:30 AM
The 404 is total GT350 convertibles, including automatics

All 1968s are close ratio transmissions
Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: Rukiddin on April 28, 2022, 11:36:00 AM
Unless they are big input trans ,then 2.32 1st. (Close ratio)
Small Input is 2.78 (wide ratio )
Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: randybrinsley on April 28, 2022, 11:47:57 AM
The GT350 only had the 302 motor, the 214 number is the 302 with the 4 speed, makes it pretty rare
Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: Coralsnake on April 28, 2022, 11:48:17 AM
All 1968 Shelbys have close ratio. Wide ratio option starts in 1969 for Shelby
Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: randybrinsley on April 28, 2022, 11:50:56 AM
here you go
Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: randybrinsley on April 28, 2022, 11:52:32 AM
more
Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: shelbymann1970 on April 28, 2022, 12:49:46 PM
Quote from: Coralsnake on April 28, 2022, 08:47:30 AM
The 404 is total GT350 convertibles, including automatics

All 1968s are close ratio transmissions
Pete, in 68 the designation is "5" for Shelby CR trans. in 69 it is 6 for CR trans. 5 for wide ratio(other Mustangs). Marti report calls out CR or WR on the marti for 69 Mustangs but just says 4 speed trans for 68 Shelbys. Do you know if they used a different designation for a WR or CR  trans in 68 in non Shelbys to tell ?
Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: Dizzy on April 28, 2022, 12:57:40 PM
Trans tag ? Build sheet ? Then,use FORD shop manual ,or service spec book,to identify what Ford supplied. Ford decided if wide or close ratio,not customer.
Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: shelbymann1970 on April 28, 2022, 01:24:02 PM
Quote from: Dizzy on April 28, 2022, 12:57:40 PM
Trans tag ? Build sheet ? Then,use FORD shop manual ,or service spec book,to identify what Ford supplied. Ford decided if wide or close ratio,not customer.
Ford did on the Shelby but not the reg Mustangs in 1968. In 1969 you could choose 5 or 6 for a GT350. I was wondering why in 68 a 5 is a close  ratio but in 69 a 5 was a wide ratio and 6 was a CR.
Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: Coralsnake on April 28, 2022, 01:49:32 PM
I am not up to speed what the Mustangs used in 1968.

Shelby GT350 with manual transmission all got the RUG-E, close ratio.
Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: shelbymann1970 on April 28, 2022, 01:59:19 PM
Quote from: Coralsnake on April 28, 2022, 01:49:32 PM
I am not up to speed what the Mustangs used in 1968.

Shelby GT350 with manual transmission all got the RUG-E, close ratio.
David Kee's web page shows close ratio and wide ratio SBF trans used in 1968 across product lines. I just found it odd that 5 is the designation for the CR trans. Was it also used for the WR trans? I will go and compare Marti reports on 4 speed cars to see how Ford did it in 1968. 69 is easy: 6= close ratio (BB or SB). 5= wide ratio. I know it isn't a Shelby related question for 68 as all got CR 4 speeds when 4 speed was picked.
Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: Dizzy on April 28, 2022, 02:05:29 PM
As shown in Ford service publications,RUG-E is a 2.78 1st gear (wide ratio ) are you getting your info from a Marti report? I call that "processed information" Not 100% factual.
Like the lit that shows 427 in Mustang. Never happened.
Would require many parts to become close ratio. So much incorrect info out there that keeps getting repeated.
Re-Peted ?  ;)
Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: mgreene on April 28, 2022, 02:07:38 PM
Quote from: randybrinsley on April 28, 2022, 11:47:57 AM
The GT350 only had the 302 motor, the 214 number is the 302 with the 4 speed, makes it pretty rare

Right, but your for sale ad states "one of only 404 4 speed convertible's made". Not true - there were 404 GT-350 Convertibles, but only 214 4 speeds...
Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: Coralsnake on April 28, 2022, 02:47:51 PM
My apologies

The correct 1968 GT350 transmission is RUG-N -close ratio

Not RUG-E as I typed above
Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: TLea on April 28, 2022, 02:50:02 PM
OK let me try and clean this up. I think Pete was thinking radiator when he said RUG E (C8ZE-E1)
RUG E was used with 289/302 and is wide ratio however 68 Shelby 350s used RUG N which is close ratio
All 68 Shelbys are close ratio
Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: Coralsnake on April 28, 2022, 02:55:01 PM
Ha, more than likely I was not thinking clearly, influenced by a previous incorrect post.

If only I had looked at this excellent 1968 website

www.thecoralsnake.com/trans

Thank you TLea
Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: Rukiddin on April 28, 2022, 05:04:29 PM
So,you need the FORD build sheet to determine trans." as equipped" ,day one. Anybody got one?
Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: Coralsnake on April 28, 2022, 05:16:19 PM
How many would satisfy you?

Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: Rukiddin on April 28, 2022, 05:18:18 PM
One .  ;D
Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: Coralsnake on April 28, 2022, 05:29:39 PM
This book has over 200 1968 build sheets in it. All the GT350 4spds have the same transmission. No re-petes  8)

(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/8-280422172813.jpeg)

(http://www.saacforum.com/gallery/8-280422172728.jpeg)
Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: Rukiddin on April 28, 2022, 06:01:54 PM
OK,I am convinced.
So far, Rukiddin 0
Pete - 300 ,at least  ;D

I keep learning,thanks for the whippin'
Title: Re: '68 GT350 4 speed convertible question
Post by: Coralsnake on April 28, 2022, 06:09:02 PM
Well, I did take a few blows, thanks to my memory loss.

;)