4.10's vs 3.73's the saga continues

[Michael Yount]

My car has 3.73's with a shorter tire than the Stang -- so it's equivalent to 3.90's. Very happy with them - super pull down low. Around town - from 25 to 60 mph, no downshifting necessary, just leave it in 4th and mash the gas. 70 mph is around 2300-2500 rpm, and it gets around 24-25 mpg steady state at about 65 mph.

 

[ninety15.0]

i just had 3.73's put in my car last week and it made a huge difference. but i seem to be getting better gas milage around town because u dont need to be on the gas as hard to get going. But the only downside i could see with 4.10s is that your top end is severely limited. If u wanna still cruise at 80 or 85 for a while, u just cant do it with the 4.10's. well u can but i wouldnt push it that hard, and u would pay for it at the pump. my vote is for the 3.73's but u need to decide what u really use the car for. commuter car on the freeway=3.73......drag car at the track every weekend = 4.10

 

[Michael Yount]

I believe that 3.73's or 4.10's will have no negative impact on top speed on most cars Stangs out there. AOD or 5-spd, top gear is SO LONG that very few have enough power to pull up to their power peak in top gear. With more gear, most are able to actually use 5th or 4th in an aod as a top speed gear because the engine will come closer to reaching it's power peak with the lower gearing. Unless the car's pushing well over 300-350HP, the steeper gears will actually help top speed. It's the same phenomenon that allows a new Vette to hit its top speed in 5th gear instead of 6th. It doesn't have enough power at the rpm it's turning in 6th to overcome the aero resistance. Raise the rpm some, and it would go faster in 6th than it does now in 5th. It's true for any car that is aero limited instead of redline limited - and all stock stangs, and most modded stangs are aero limited, not rpm limited.

Disregard if you've got enough motor actually push the longer gears up into the power range of the engine. But it's usually the boosted cars that can do that - if you're normally aspirated, steeper gears (3.7, 3.9, 4.1 range) will probably help your top speed. For most Stangs (and my car too) considering more gear than stock, the up side - more top end, better around town mileage, better acceleration everywhere; Down side - more wear/tear on engine, slightly worse highway mileage.

 

[Wil]

go with 4.10's!!!! I love them on my baby BUT you got to watch your foot, I get a little to happy with them if you know what I mean. I had 3.73's on my 01Gt and aways kicked myself for not going with 4.10's.

 

[sweet93hatch]

Mr. Yount, you never cease to amaze me with your calculations and physics comprehension. I appreciate all of your input. I think I am going 4.10 but am wondering how I will make the mph work properly. Thanks guys.

 

[Michael Yount]

I amaze even myself when it's not just bs.....

 

[black92gt]

Whats wrong with 4.10's in a blown car? I have an A-Trim with 4.10's out back with no problems at all.. you'll eventually get traction..

 

[MustangMulch]

Does anyone here run Pro 5.0 ring and pinion? It seems that 90% of people (myself included) run FMS gears. But Pro 5.0 makes 3.90s and I just wondered how the quality was. Do they squeak? How smooth are they?

 

[Michael Yount]

"...you'll eventually get traction.. " Love it. I've never owned a V-8 powered vehicle until this one. I've been waiting almost 50 years to smoke the tires at will. Why would I want to go and screw that up with traction?

 

[black92gt]

I like your style Mr. Yount. I thought tire smoke was what a V8 was all about, and not being rice.

 

[_jb_]

I have decied to go with the 3.73s because every weekend I go about 30 or so miles, and most of that is highway. I figured 4.10's were way to high for me since I have a convert, which makes wind noise and then add exhaust noise-Too much lol!

EDIT: Oh, and any gear beats these damn stock 2.73's I have!!!

 

[85GTlover]

Mr. Yount, you never cease to amaze me with your calculations and physics comprehension. I appreciate all of your input. I think I am going 4.10 but am wondering how I will make the mph work properly. Thanks guys.

I concur his brain is like a "barrel full of knowledge".
He indeed well knows his stuff and has the ability
to explain it in a way that is most easy to understand.
This will be the second time I have complimented
Mr. Yount on on his seemingly vast array of automotive
technical experience. It is known, if he is to share his
views on a subject, he is going to give you one of the best
insightful and truthful answers your going to read.

Thank you Mr. Yount it helps guys who want to learn, when good guys like you, share more than you need to, to explain it......... the way it is.

 

[willys1]

I just got 410's put in a month ago.I drive 124 miles round trip to work everyday. I keep it at 2500rpm, and get 21 miles to the gallon!! But thats the hard part,see I also just got a Bassani cat back and the faster you go,the sweeter it sounds!!

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Howdy stang bangers. I have read all of the posts I could find on this board debating between the 3.73 and the 4.10. I have a chance to buy a 4.10 complete posi rearend that was completely gone through last year for $350.00. My only concern is that I drive my stang to work a lot in the summer which entails a half an hour drive at 65-70 mph. Gas milage/high r's. I still wanna hop on the expressway, but couldn't I just go like 55 or so (that would probably kill me, I've never gone that slow) Thanks boyz.

I drive 25 miles each way to and from work in my car, with the mods in my sig. Believe me, it's not all that bad. My car actually gets just a hair less gas mileage than my '98 Cherokee does with 3.55s in it. The key to maintaining a decent GM is to stay at a steady speed, wether it's 70mph or 40mph. Speeding up only to slow down and speed up again is what really sucks the gas.

BTW as far as the drone factor in a vert, if you have 4.10s, your "sweet spot" in the RPM range will be about 2500rpm or so at 70mph, give or take a hundred RPM, which puts you over the drone range which is usually around 2k RPM. I can hear my 15 month old son snoring over my exhaust when he's in the back seat, cruising at 70mph.

 

[willys1]

I think you will definitly like them around town,theres no more sloppy shifts,and you accelerate alot quicker.They are a blast to drive I had 373's before these.I have nothing bad to say about them,there a great gear! But they do leave just "a little" room for improvement.Youll be happy with either one!! Good Luck

 

[sweet93hatch]

Thanks guys, to all of you. You have been most helpful in helping me decide which way to go. I feel comfortable with my decision to go with 4.10's and still cruise to work at a moderate speed on the e-way. I don't think I am going to bother with 3.73's because it sounds like I would be wanting 4.10's shorly thereafter anyway so I might as well only spend the money once and do it right. Once again the board comes through on another tough decision!

 

[ironheart1]

I would say you've made a good choice. My car is mostly stock, and with the gears I run with lightly modded Subaru WRXs all the way past 100mph... Can't go wrong, I personally am willing to give up a mpg or two for the sake of having that extra edge over an opponent.

There will also be a hair more wear and tear on your engine, so it goes without saying that as always stay on top of that maintenence.

 

[87'GTstang]

I don't think I am going to bother with 3.73's because it sounds like I would be wanting 4.10's shorly thereafter anyway so I might as well only spend the money once and do it right.

Isn 't that the way the male mind works anyway? We always want the biggest, baddest, and the best
You'll be happy with 4.10's no doubt - they can seriously get that stang up to speed in no time!

 

[plastic_cow]

Cool, then thats what I will do. I'll pay a little more at the pump to lay some smack down.

Such wonderfully poetic words...
*cough*
I mean, kick a$$ mofo!

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

4.10s arent too bad for the street.....although i can tell ya 4.56s ARE. My old '83/351W car had 4.56s because it was pretty much a track only car, but it was still street legal (minus emissions). It wasnt a highway car for sure, but i could stomp anyone from stop light to stop light!!