Im looking for some advice on this I currently have a M22 in my 69 w/3.73 I just picked up a M20
I have a well built 327 (Approx 400 hp gross @crank)my question is will the lower first gear ratio more than make up for the wider ratio spread
its a bit lazy off the line now with the 3.73 and M22 but I like the close ratio in the M22?
Thanks in advance ....Mike

Hi 3DUDE,

I'm looking for an M22 in place of my M20. If you want to sell your M22 let me know. Thanks, Joe

From my experience (more in line with an enthusiast as opposed to a racer), if you like the close ratio, stick with it. I've had them both, and 1st gear in my M22 vs 1st gear in my M20 did not feel all that much different (note the use of the word "feel").

So, I would say no. The lower first gear of the M20 will NOT make up for the lost fun of the close ratio M22.

That, and if you ditch your M22, you'll lose that cool whining noise :D

Stick with the M-22. The M-20 has a bad 3rd to 4th ratio change. The 2.52 M-20 first gear compared to the M-22's 2.20 isn't going to make enough of a difference to compensate for the bad 3 to 4 shift. I had one, broke it, replaced it with a Tremec. Win, win.

When I ran an M20 behind my 383, I thought those gears were too close together. When crusing I always went 2nd to 4th, and racing 3rd and 4th were surely not to far apart. I have the older 2.56 M20. Here are the rpm's you loose between shifts using 3.73's, 27" tire and shifting at 5500:

M20
1st to 2nd- rpm loss 1398
2nd to 3rd- rpm loss 1223
3rd to 4th- rpm loss 1734

M22 or 21
1st to 2nd- 1404
2nd to 3rd- 1210
3rd to 4th- 1203

for comparison, TH350
1st to 2nd- 2182
2nd to 3rd- 1883

If you shift at 6000, the drop is about 100 rpm more.

I think you will like the M20 a lot. I hope no one has a V8 with less than a 2000 rpm power band.

Lonnie