3.73 or 4.10
- Thread starter jpyjfrdmstng
- Start date
Go with 373's or 3:55’s on a daily driver (that is my suggestion)...I'll put some info for your gear selection decision. If your worried about "hurting" anything the 373's will technically be better for you over the 410's...
Go with 373's so it will be more daily driver friendly and if you get boost/nitrous later you won't run out of gear at the track and you will have less traction problems. Some that have actually had both gears were slower at the track with 410's over 373's and some also claimed no seat of the pants difference.
I run 2400 rpm at 70mph (I have 373's)…the 410’s will run higher closer to the 2600-2700rpm range with the 245/50/16’s I have on my car.
Here is how I look at when picking gears for a daily driver...To me the gearing of 410's or steeper on a daily driver is not worth it to me...you get worse gas mileage/more engine wear/and use your shifting components more (clutch/trans/etc)...around town...and I also look at it like this...when your cruising on the highway at 80mph (interstate) your cruising at roughly 3000rpm with 410's...that is HALF your 302's revving capabilities and that is in the overdrived 5th gear at CRUISE...not at WOT...I personally don't like the idea of having half the engines revving capabilities at just cruise. Also...what if an emergency comes up and you got to "get it"...you have to be there for someone or are running to the hospital...and running higher than 80mph...maybe running 4500rpm steadily (faster than 80mph of course)...during that emergency I don't think that would be a good time for your engine to let go on you...what do you think?
Then you have to factor in 410's or steeper cause my engine braking at higher rpms on the highway...go pull out somewhere and hold your car to 2500rpm or so (worse with gears) and feel the engine try to slow you down when you let off the gas...same similar occurance happens on the highway/interstate plus the wind resistance.
I know when I had the slipping clutch problem I could smell the clutch burn at a higher rpm cruise which in my case was comparing 2000rpm to 2500rpm. At the lower rpm I didn’t smell it but the higher rpm I could smell it. Just some things to think about when you think you want every little tenth out of your car (4:10’s)…I prefer a better overall performance personally…
Go 373's...I would rather want more (373's to 410's) than get to much (410's) and want less (373's)...get what I'm saying?
There will also be less drivetrain shock under traction with 373's over 410's...
The problem with 410's in an AOD is you only have 3 gears to work with at the track (effective gears anyways) and the gears will get you out of those gears quicker and you could lose your gearing powerband at the track.
Also if they were to convert to a t5 (pretty popular actually) then they are "stuck" with the higher revving 410's...I hate the "winding out" sound on the highway with a gear like that...
On the listing of "pros/cons" of a mod like gears. I have stressed that in a couple choice threads, for example on shorty vs. longtube headers. Longtubes will get a better midranging power over the shortys (so the pro is more power) but some forget to mention the cons of it which are buying a matching mid-pipe (more money and aren't able to use the stock mid-pipe) along with ground clearance issues (especially on a lower car) and also the difficulty of install is "stepped up" quite a bit when trying to get longtubes in. It also can cause heat-soak issues and steering column clearance/rubbing issues. The potential purchaser has to ask themself is the extra midrange worth it? Then you get your answer...
So I ask...are the 410's (a tenth or two quicker at track to a matched combo over 373's) worth it? (more engine/drivetrain wear/worse gas mileage/and a couple other "cons" listed above in my post)...again the potential driver/purchaser has got to ask themselves what they want
willys1 (member on this site) actually was slower at the track in his bolt-on car with 410's than he was with 373's...
To often people go "drive" a friend's car with gears and go have fun in the car and don't drive it normally or thing of longterm effects with normal driving. They often just use their SOTP meter to determine what gear they want but when a final gear ratio effects all different parts of you and your car...I think it is best to not try a gear ratio "drag strip style" but "daily driver style"...
I have rode and drove in every car except one with 4:56’s and I see easily how the 4:10’s and especially 4:30’s are overkill for a daily driver. One trip on the interstate will let you know…
Again good luck with your choice
Go with 373's so it will be more daily driver friendly and if you get boost/nitrous later you won't run out of gear at the track and you will have less traction problems. Some that have actually had both gears were slower at the track with 410's over 373's and some also claimed no seat of the pants difference.
I run 2400 rpm at 70mph (I have 373's)…the 410’s will run higher closer to the 2600-2700rpm range with the 245/50/16’s I have on my car.
Here is how I look at when picking gears for a daily driver...To me the gearing of 410's or steeper on a daily driver is not worth it to me...you get worse gas mileage/more engine wear/and use your shifting components more (clutch/trans/etc)...around town...and I also look at it like this...when your cruising on the highway at 80mph (interstate) your cruising at roughly 3000rpm with 410's...that is HALF your 302's revving capabilities and that is in the overdrived 5th gear at CRUISE...not at WOT...I personally don't like the idea of having half the engines revving capabilities at just cruise. Also...what if an emergency comes up and you got to "get it"...you have to be there for someone or are running to the hospital...and running higher than 80mph...maybe running 4500rpm steadily (faster than 80mph of course)...during that emergency I don't think that would be a good time for your engine to let go on you...what do you think?
Then you have to factor in 410's or steeper cause my engine braking at higher rpms on the highway...go pull out somewhere and hold your car to 2500rpm or so (worse with gears) and feel the engine try to slow you down when you let off the gas...same similar occurance happens on the highway/interstate plus the wind resistance.
I know when I had the slipping clutch problem I could smell the clutch burn at a higher rpm cruise which in my case was comparing 2000rpm to 2500rpm. At the lower rpm I didn’t smell it but the higher rpm I could smell it. Just some things to think about when you think you want every little tenth out of your car (4:10’s)…I prefer a better overall performance personally…
Go 373's...I would rather want more (373's to 410's) than get to much (410's) and want less (373's)...get what I'm saying?
There will also be less drivetrain shock under traction with 373's over 410's...
The problem with 410's in an AOD is you only have 3 gears to work with at the track (effective gears anyways) and the gears will get you out of those gears quicker and you could lose your gearing powerband at the track.
Also if they were to convert to a t5 (pretty popular actually) then they are "stuck" with the higher revving 410's...I hate the "winding out" sound on the highway with a gear like that...
On the listing of "pros/cons" of a mod like gears. I have stressed that in a couple choice threads, for example on shorty vs. longtube headers. Longtubes will get a better midranging power over the shortys (so the pro is more power) but some forget to mention the cons of it which are buying a matching mid-pipe (more money and aren't able to use the stock mid-pipe) along with ground clearance issues (especially on a lower car) and also the difficulty of install is "stepped up" quite a bit when trying to get longtubes in. It also can cause heat-soak issues and steering column clearance/rubbing issues. The potential purchaser has to ask themself is the extra midrange worth it? Then you get your answer...
So I ask...are the 410's (a tenth or two quicker at track to a matched combo over 373's) worth it? (more engine/drivetrain wear/worse gas mileage/and a couple other "cons" listed above in my post)...again the potential driver/purchaser has got to ask themselves what they want
willys1 (member on this site) actually was slower at the track in his bolt-on car with 410's than he was with 373's...
To often people go "drive" a friend's car with gears and go have fun in the car and don't drive it normally or thing of longterm effects with normal driving. They often just use their SOTP meter to determine what gear they want but when a final gear ratio effects all different parts of you and your car...I think it is best to not try a gear ratio "drag strip style" but "daily driver style"...
I have rode and drove in every car except one with 4:56’s and I see easily how the 4:10’s and especially 4:30’s are overkill for a daily driver. One trip on the interstate will let you know…
Again good luck with your choice
94-302-vert
Active Member
5spd GT - Can you elaborate on the winding out sind on the highway with 4:10's in a t5 car?
I typically run at 80-90 mph and with my recent;y installed 3:73's i get a shining above 75 mph and it seems to come and go with application of the throttle (very little noise when I am off the throttle).
Chris
I typically run at 80-90 mph and with my recent;y installed 3:73's i get a shining above 75 mph and it seems to come and go with application of the throttle (very little noise when I am off the throttle).
Chris
droptopford 5 0
Member
- Mar 31, 2005
- 427
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5spd GT gets the award for longest post ever...j/k, im very long winded myself , but yeah good advice, my friends are always giving me the high gear ratio b.s and ya its fun for a bit, but then the highway would kill me, and what would really get to me is just holding my poor 302 w/ 90K at 3000 rpms on the highway ugh, it makes me sick... i too would agree not to go to too high of a gear ratio...
super302
I'd do anything for free Bapples
FastFord
Founding Member
I would go wither with 3:55 or 3:73. It would depend on what mods if any you plan on in the future. Planning on major mods... 3:55. Not really planning any, or atleast for the next couple of years, wake your car up with a nice set of 3:73s. 
94-302-vert - What I meant by the winding out sound was strickly the engine giving more of a struggling sound or "wound out" sound due to the higher rpms it acheives over the more friendly 373's...The sound you are hearing could very well due with an improper install (bad shims)...if this happened directly after your install...I would go back to the shop and tell them and see what they can do for ya (good luck with that). FRPP products tend to be much less hit and miss on those "sounds" than gears like Richmond or Pro 5.0 gears...Now often after gears are installed many people need a new driveshaft (aluminum) from Ford Racing that is freshly balanced and gets rid of any kind of vibe.
FMS-M4602G is the part # for it on www.buyfordracing.com if you think you need it. $200 dollars...
droptopford 50 - I have posted much longer post than that before
(good luck with that). FRPP products tend to be much less hit and miss on those "sounds" than gears like Richmond or Pro 5.0 gears...Now often after gears are installed many people need a new driveshaft (aluminum) from Ford Racing that is freshly balanced and gets rid of any kind of vibe.FMS-M4602G is the part # for it on www.buyfordracing.com if you think you need it. $200 dollars...
droptopford 50 - I have posted much longer post than that before
I would like to throw a curve ball at this thread. What if you had a tall 1st and 5th gear? Would 4.10's be good then? I am getting a 2.94 1st gear and .59 5th (as opposed to the stock .68) In 5th gear at 70mph, the engine will turn 2300 rpm with 4.10's and 2100 rpm with 3.73's.
I think that with my current 3.55's, my car will feel sluggish with the new transmission. With the .59 5th gear my motor will be turning 2000 rpm at 70mph. I was thinking of 4.10's to put it in the rpm range of 3.55's and the stock t5. What do you all think?
I think that with my current 3.55's, my car will feel sluggish with the new transmission. With the .59 5th gear my motor will be turning 2000 rpm at 70mph. I was thinking of 4.10's to put it in the rpm range of 3.55's and the stock t5. What do you all think?
I have 4:10's. They are fun aslong as you drive to and from the track. Anymore then that and you will hate shifting. Thru town its easy for me to go into OD from redlight to redlight. I have a heavily modded motor also. At the track I think its hurting me too. With the old motor I was running the same E.T. with a 1.8 60ft time that I am now with a 2.2 60ft time. Its quite a bit more mph but no traction. Not to mention I'm shifting into 4th crossing the 1/8 mile mark.
So basicaly all I'm saying is get 3.73's. I was just trying to type as much as 5spdgt did LOL
So basicaly all I'm saying is get 3.73's. I was just trying to type as much as 5spdgt did LOL
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