3:73s and couldnt be happier

[myponyrocks]

Why? you ask... well the road to work is 60 mph so I avg 65-70 on it, 3:73s allow me to use 5th where I just barely couldnt before... the road is twisty with lots of small and one VERY steep hills/hill. My gas went up from 220 a tank to 260 just from that 8 mile stretch. Driving like an ass I still have a gain of 15-30 miles per tank. NOTICE: I've only gone 3 tanks of gas so far and havent got to romp on the tranny yet, though I plan to this week when I fill up the 4th time. Do I wish I would have gone 4:10s? Definately, but I'm glad I didn't, as a DD car and with a S/C or Turbo in my future I'm happy with the minimal performance gains, but I can definately imagine the POV from the 4:10s or bust crowd. Also notice I havent got to romp on the gears, so I expect the daily driving gains to cut down to about 10-20 miles per tank, and I expect there to be losses on miles per tank when I romp a full tank. The lowest I have managed was 110 miles on a tank with stock gearing btw, the average assinine driving results are closer to 180-200 on a tank. Either way, if you have the money and are unsure I say 3:73s first. If you dont have the money, definately 4:10s... I rode in cars with 4:10s before deciding on my pruchase and they felt fun as fun can be from the pass. seat.

*EDIT* I forgot to mention my gains/losses are not scientific as it being winter on some days I have had to warm up the car for extended periods of time due to frosty windshield etc...

 

[Evenflow]

I think im gunna go 3.73 too.

 

[joshheat25]

I would say I am going with 4.10's in my auto!

 

[izoz351]

Can't wait to go with 3.73s. My stang is a DD also so I'm a little hesitant to go with the 410s but maybe sometime down the road. About what RPM do you run at 75-80 mph?
I do a lot of interstate drivin and i want to see what i'm lookin at for rpm. Thanks.

 

[csledd]

the 3.73s improved your gas mileage that much? or did I completely read that wrong? If so I'm putting those in next month!

 

[mus1994stang]

some times i hear gears helping gas mileage cuz you dont have to beat on the car as much to get going, highway i doubt it increases it at all, if any decreases it alittle bit.
im thinking 3.90s for my auto

 

[joshheat25]

Well I have been debating getting the 4.10's but they are definitely not too much gear for the car! You will tack 2,600 RPM at 70 mph on the highway according the online calculator and in an auto you need more gear because of the low first gear and also lack of the extra gear that a stick has. I will go with the 4.10's because I don't have the money to get a supercharger or turbo. But 3.90's arent that far from the 10's it isn't a big difference and cruising down the highway the rpms are only 100 less!

 

[modmonster]

HIs gas mileage gains were the fact that he used to drive everyday 8 miles in 4th but now with the gears can use 5th. My mileage with 3.73`s barely went down maybe 10-15 miles city but about 25-30 highway witch to me is not bad at all for a car that will get you 340 miles comfortably on the highway and still has awsome performance. From what I see and hear 4.10`s are not that much worse either. Maybe if a blower wasnt in the futurer plans. Im definately happy with the 3.73`s.

 

[myponyrocks]

the 3.73s improved your gas mileage that much? or did I completely read that wrong? If so I'm putting those in next month!

Unfortunately I cant get solid(scientific) gains as the car pre-geared with me recording the gas was during the winter. However I am attributing my gains to the stretch of road I run 2x a day on my commute. It was in that sweet spot on the stock gearing where 4th is too much but 5th isnt enough. With the 3:73s the sweet spot is now 5th gear, with 5th being just enough for everything except the big grade where I have to down shift to 4th. I used to drop it to 3rd to pass people (this is the only spot on this road where you can pass safely... ie 2 lanes) now 4th is enough to pass and 5th still keeps the speed up for normal driving. Just this small patch of road has netted me big gains. Also I now drive in 4ht more comfortably at 45, stock gearing in 4th just dint feel right for the whole drive, now I can even pop inot 5th some of the way. Total commute is about 15 miles, even though it takes 30-60 minutes 4:10s would have been great for city, but I also think that in my situation 4:10s would have put me out of the sweet spot I'm in now on the longer stretches.

PLEASE do not use my experiance to decide, I will make a video of my RPMs and Speed to compliment the 4:10s video if some one will host it?

 

[1992 2.3LX]

mine is a DD as well so i am thining 3.90s. i want 4.10s but don't want to have to deal with that in the snow.

 

[Gunfighter]

3.73s are a great choice. It sounds like you did your homework, too which makes them even more enjoyable.

 

[UhadMEatGT]

Im going with 4.10's in my auto. When I got on the highway, I took overdrive off and reached the expected rpm's (2500-3000) of highway driving and it didnt seem like it was winding to high, it only took the drone away.

 

[GOLDENPONY]

3.73's

I love mine. Great DD gears.

 

[Sharkster]

Did you install them yourself or did you have to take them somewhere. How much of a pain is it to install these. Any tip or tricks to it???
What about your speedometer, is it off did, you have to install anything to calibrate it again.

 

[FalconGuy016]

I'm heavily thinking about 4.10's now. I used to think it was too much, but more and more I realize that I typically need to drive from 40-50 MPH, barely out of the range of 5th but always running at 4th's highest (in terms of gas mileage). I'm going to buy a shifter first though. Now that my car is out of the dealer I'm going to put some money into it

 

[try2catchmy99]

DD 4:30's

But I do city driving

 

[mrvax]

I love mine. Great DD gears.

I agree. Great in snow too.

 

[BMan5150]

I would never even bother with anything less than 4.10s personally. 4.10s are completely fine for DD. And what's the big deal with snow and 4.10s? Your rear tires don't get slippery-er when you get 4.10s! Start out in second gear when you are driving in snow and it's all the same as with my stock 3.27s in first gear. Regardless of your rear gear, you obviously have to drive carefully, with a light throttle, and have good tires if you want to have anything resembling traction in the snow with mustangs.

It's just sort of amusing to me how some people think 4.10s make your car "uncontrollable" in rain or snow. In most cases, the only thing that makes your car uncontrollable is the driver.

One other negative about 3.73s - they put you right in the "drone zone" for most aftermarket exhaust systems if you like to cruise on the highway at 70-80mph. 4.10s slots you above the drone zone at those speeds.

 

[Rocketman]

3.73's or 4.10's are a great improvement to our cars. My DD 4.10 auto is perfect IMO.

 

[myponyrocks]

Did you install them yourself or did you have to take them somewhere. How much of a pain is it to install these. Any tip or tricks to it???
What about your speedometer, is it off did, you have to install anything to calibrate it again.

I paid a friend 200 for the install. So dunno. I wouldnt trust myself with a part that crucial to the car getting from point a to point b.

As far as 3:73s putting you in the "drone zone" nope, not one bit as a matter of fact it took me OUT of the drone zone. Although I no longer have to worry about that either way as I put the SLP cat-back on in place of the flowmasters, so no more drone. 4:10s DO make it harder to drive in the snow, why? Because the higher RPM you are cruising at the more likely you are to lose traction. Yes 3:73s negatively affect snow driving too, but not as bad. I wasnt afraid of 4:10's I just know that a power adder is in the future for me and I didn't want to pay for gears 2x. For my application and driving habits 3:73s are near perfect.