RWD guys, gear ratio question

[AnthonyF]

Unfortunetly my car was not blessed with a 6 speed transmission so this decision is quite tough. Im runnin 3.55 gears right now and they seem very long and drawn out. I never upgraded gears b/c i drove 100 miles a day. now that i live closer to work I was thinking of upgrading my gears to a 3.73. I dont want to go all the way up to 4.10 b/c i'd be doing 60 @ 2500rpm They also have 3.90 gears... please only KNOWLEDGEABLE members answer. Should I go withthe 3.73 b/c they are a little shorter and should be good enough on the hwy or all the way up to the 3.90 where its basically onl good fro the drag strip.


-Ant.

[Thighs]

my car does like 3200 @ 60mph...

how much highway driving are you planning on doing after this?

[dougatl12]

373 are ok but u don't wanna put it on the express for long periods cause it winds out quickly but not as quickly as a 411 or higher gears

[redrumracer]

my car does like 3200 @ 60mph...

how much highway driving are you planning on doing after this?


and thats with a 4.1 rear end i believe.


but as far as gears go i had 3.73 in my blazer and that was fine, but i would have rather had higher gearing than that.

[redrumracer]

373 are ok but u don't wanna put it on the express for long periods cause it winds out quickly but not as quickly as a 411 or higher gears

its actually lower the higher you go numerically

[AnthonyF]

my car does like 3200 @ 60mph...

how much highway driving are you planning on doing after this?

still quite a lot but its the commute to work that is much shorter. I will DD drive to FL and stuff, I will just have to drive a little slower.

[AnthonyF]

373 are ok but u don't wanna put it on the express for long periods cause it winds out quickly but not as quickly as a 411 or higher gears

Ok, so I will prob go with 3.73's. 3.90's seem pretty short.

[redrumracer]

if you going to have to go on trips to florida then leave the gears you got in there alone.

[AnthonyF]

its actually lower the higher you go numerically

no he is correct. with 4.10's my car will rev up quicker but I will sit at a higher RPM and slower speeds.

[AnthonyF]

if you going to have to go on trips to florida then leave the gears you got in there alone.

but i gotta get in teh 12's and 3.55's with a 5spd just arent short enough.

[Thighs]

yeah, im gonna have to agree with red.

[dougatl12]

exactly the higher gear the faster it winds out

[dougatl12]

i have this setup in my truck 383 stroker 373 rear end 400 transmission with manual valve body

[redrumracer]

no he is correct. with 4.10's my car will rev up quicker but I will sit at a higher RPM and slower speeds.


what im saying is that as the number goes the gearing goes down, which decreases your top end and as the number goes down you have higher gearing, which allows higher top end.

[dougatl12]

u can't have top end with a 410 or higher gear. with those gears it winds out quicker to get u out of the hole shot better

[redrumracer]

ok
4.1=lower gearing but numerically higher, lower top end but BETTER down low

3.23=higher gearing but numerically lower, higher top end and BETTER up high

[dougatl12]

talking about v8 motors here u can't have all that gear with top end cause the motor cannot support it

[AnthonyF]

talking about v8 motors here u can't have all that gear with top end cause the motor cannot support it

i have a v6

[dougatl12]

i know it's still the same concepts a higher quicker winds the motor up tight ass hell then u will be buying a new motor

[redrumracer]

talking about v8 motors here u can't have all that gear with top end cause the motor cannot support it

id beg to differ on that the new corvette has a final gear ratio of 2.56 for the auto, although it is numerically higher for the manual trans.

but still this is for the v6 which does have a decent rpm band.

[dougatl12]

a manual tranny can hold the gears more cause it's a manual but u still can't get top end out of a higher geared rear end on the expressway i build rear ends i should know

[dougatl12]

and with that i'm out

[redrumracer]

a manual tranny can hold the gears more cause it's a manual but u still can't get top end out of a higher geared rear end on the expressway i build rear ends i should know


just to clearify, what do YOU mean by higher gears???

[Thighs]

a manual tranny can hold the gears more cause it's a manual but u still can't get top end out of a higher geared rear end on the expressway i build rear ends i should know

:blah::blah::blah::blah::blah::blah::blah:

so whats your rear gear in your teg?

[AnthonyF]

so whats your rear gear in your teg?

ur kidding right? :thinking:

[redrumracer]

hope that helped your decision some

[AnthonyF]

it did. appreciate it guys

[dougatl12]

i hope the person was playing about a rear end in my teg when it states my truck

[dougatl12]

373 411 513 gears along that nature

[On_Her_Face]

Unfortunetly my car was not blessed with a 6 speed transmission so this decision is quite tough. Im runnin 3.55 gears right now and they seem very long and drawn out. I never upgraded gears b/c i drove 100 miles a day. now that i live closer to work I was thinking of upgrading my gears to a 3.73. I dont want to go all the way up to 4.10 b/c i'd be doing 60 @ 2500rpm They also have 3.90 gears... please only KNOWLEDGEABLE members answer. Should I go withthe 3.73 b/c they are a little shorter and should be good enough on the hwy or all the way up to the 3.90 where its basically onl good fro the drag strip.


-Ant.

ant what do you want out of the gears... timeslips or highway pulls?

[Gutling]

my buddies got 4.10s (01 gt) and it doesnt do that bad on highway trips, but the tradeoff is so worth it, it absolutely tears out the hole. lol you can actually idle along in 5th at like 15mph

[AnthonyF]

ant what do you want out of the gears... timeslips or highway pulls?

time slips with decent hwy. my car isnt a highway car. its like pushing a brick in sand

[On_Her_Face]

time slips with decent hwy. my car isnt a highway car. its like pushing a brick in sand

4.10

[AnthonyF]

4.10

i'm just worried about that tho..I know it'd tear a hole in my ass but...i drive to FL...ARG

[On_Her_Face]

i'm just worried about that tho..I know it'd tear a hole in my ass but...i drive to FL...ARG
i dont think it would be too bad, honestly

however my gears are so long 6th gear + 90 MPH = 2k RPMs

[AnthonyF]

i dont think it would be too bad, honestly

however my gears are so long 6th gear + 90 MPH = 2k RPMs

thats normal tho. thats ur final drive. I dont really have one of those. I have 5th gear but it's an inbetween gear..it sucks

[On_Her_Face]

thats normal tho. thats ur final drive. I dont really have one of those. I have 5th gear but it's an inbetween gear..it sucks

hmmm.. well do 3.90 or 4.10 gears, i don't think 3.73 would be a good enough improvement.. don't you have 3.55 stock?

[AnthonyF]

hmmm.. well do 3.90 or 4.10 gears, i don't think 3.73 would be a good enough improvement.. don't you have 3.55 stock?i had 3.31 stocks but put the GT rear end in with the stock 3.55..so i guess 3.90 or 4.10. I'll do more research on the 4.10 and see what speeds/rpm it does.

[On_Her_Face]

i had 3.31 stocks but put the GT rear end in with the stock 3.55..so i guess 3.90 or 4.10. I'll do more research on the 4.10 and see what speeds/rpm it does.

ya but i would definitly go shorter than the 3.73 :goodjob:

a lot of guys that have bought saleens (they previously owned a GT) have told me that they can not tell too much of a difference in the gearing, yet they might be tools

[AnthonyF]

ya but i would definitly go shorter than the 3.73 :goodjob:

a lot of guys that have bought saleens (they previously owned a GT) have told me that they can not tell too much of a difference in the gearing, yet they might be tools

haha. well the Saleen is just a GT unless it actually has a blower. so your saying the Saleen has a 3.73 rear end upgrade?

[On_Her_Face]

haha. well the Saleen is just a GT unless it actually has a blower. so your saying the Saleen has a 3.73 rear end upgrade?

yes all saleens have a 3.73, sorry i forgot to add that in there :lmao:

[AnthonyF]

yes all saleens have a 3.73, sorry i forgot to add that in there :lmao: ok fantastic. thats helps me out with my decision a little more. I'll prob go 4.10 then. thanks billythekid310.... was it 310? i dont remember.

[On_Her_Face]

yes sir

[AnthonyF]

~i has good memoriez~

[silversol]

i had a 410 in my 02 gt it was a bit over kill i would do the 390

[AnthonyF]

i had a 410 in my 02 gt it was a bit over kill i would do the 390

can u elaborate? what speed was over kill? also, my trans is different than yours. mine is more economy designed

[Blitanicle99]

I would go 3.73s to 3.90s. 4.10s is overkill with your set up. Find another stang with the gears you want and get him to take you for a ride to see if you like it or not.

[silversol]

it was not really that bad it just killed my gas mileage. My buddy put 3.90 in his and did not affect his as much but with your trans you should be ok.

[AnthonyF]

I would go 3.73s to 3.90s. 4.10s is overkill with your set up. Find another stang with the gears you want and get him to take you for a ride to see if you like it or not.

i dont hang out with mustang owners. only 2 are Sicstang and WHAT_LAG both have Silver Cobras. lol. mustang owners are typically dìckheads.

[redrumracer]

i wouldnt do 4.1, 3.73's was a decent compromise for me, decent out the hole and decent at cruising down the interstate.

[AnthonyF]

i wouldnt do 4.1, 3.73's was a decent compromise for me, decent out the hole and decent at cruising down the interstate.


yea...but i want low ET's and I WANT cover of Modified Mustangs Magazine. I will do it.

[redrumracer]

so make more powa lol. prob solved

[AnthonyF]

so make more powa lol. prob solved i was SUPPOSED to be making right at 400 last time but the tuner suked balls and my motor blew up (again). So, this time around...I SHOULD be above 400 but remember, my car isnt a miata..i weigh 3600lbs

[Gutling]

4.10s 4.10s 4.10s if you dont you will always regret it and wonder what if lol

[AnthonyF]

FUK!!! all of you with your different input........i will ponder this question for many moon.

[redrumracer]

4.10s 4.10s 4.10s if you dont you will always regret it and wonder what if lol


you will always wonder what if i really had worse gas mileage and turned higher rpms constantly

[AnthonyF]

I hate u redrum. lolol. runs and cries cus my head hurts

[Gutling]

how close is your trans to the new edge gts? my friend with the 4.10s we make the trip from school here in statesboro to atl (about 31/2-4hrs) every other weekend and the gas mileage is not that bad. ill ride with him today and see what his rpm is around 70ish. lol get a 6spd and convert it to fit :P

[Big Baller]

Man up and put the 4.10s in it

[AnthonyF]

^fukkin peer pressure.

[Kaiser]

I hate u redrum. lolol. runs and cries cus my head hurts


TM40: Have you considered actually changing your 5th gear in the gearbox and running a 410/411? If you can make it down your usual strip only using 1st through 4th, it's the perfect compromise. Nice low RPMs on the freeway and the same ET's you'd be getting with a 410 rear end and your current tranny. I've never looked into what it'd take to swap a mustang gear out, but it can't be that difficult in comparison to stroking/boring engines, FI, etc. Now, I dunno if you usually do 1/8ths or 1/4ths with the stang, and that kinda makes a difference. I also don't know whether or not you'd reasonably be able to only use 1 to 4 on the 1320 with the new rear end. I have not thoroughly researched this, but it's an idea that literally gives you the best of both worlds. If your 5th is just a mild overdrive (like 0.90 then maybe go with the GT's 6th gear cog if it fits (It may not, I dunno) Which would probably be a 0.85 or 0.80). Guys who do a (I know, I'm talking about Hondas, but the same idea applies) GSR motor in Civics often have to struggle with what tranny to use (B16 Tranny or the GSR Tranny or an LS Tranny) for the exact same reasons you're debating now. This kind of compromise has worked for them, and push comes to shove, if you wanted to do it and couldn't find a replacement, you might be able to have a machineshop actually make you one that fits as a replacement.

Just a thought.

And yeah, I know you said RWD guys only, but hey...I drive with the rear wheels too! :ninja:

*hides his transaxle and front driveshafts*

[AnthonyF]

Ive done plenty of drag passes but Im not maxing out or coming near maxing out 4th gear crossing the line. And my tranny is the v6 tranny. They dont make any parts for mine. :(

but i appreciate the help and info. +8

[onebadgt]

i just noticed this thread i should be able to help you, 3.90 would not be to much gear for you, ive been running 3.90 in my car for about 5000 moiles and i love them except they would be much better at your pwr level than mine. you can still go 120 in 4th gear and i can cruise at 75 at 2800rpms and get 23mpg. so saying there not streetable would be wrong i drive 300miles a week with them. you will barely even notice the diff if you go to a 3.73. by the way trymy, check your pms

o n if you see me out i would be more than happy to take you for a ride so you can see the diff and shiftpoints of the 3.90>3.55:goodjob:

[AnthonyF]

appreciate the help mang. PM'd u back.