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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

Fox asking for gearing help

  • Thread starter Thread starter darryl paarman
  • Start date Start date Oct 18, 2018

darryl paarman

Active Member
Aug 13, 2013
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ft bragg nc
Oct 18, 2018
#1
  • Oct 18, 2018
  • #1
I've had my Notch for a little while now- I'm pretty sure the rear gears are 2.73's = rpm in 5th at 65 is only 1700-1800 rpm.
I'm thinking of swapping some 3.31's in. My car is a Daily driver mostly in town and a short 5 mile stretch on the bypass.
Currently I'm getting average of 14 mpg. As you can see I do have a Vortech supercharger on it. 275/45/17 Nitto 555
I would like some input on my selection....
 

BlakeusMaximus

Still got to try a little lube on my speedo head
5 Year Member
Jul 12, 2017
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Oct 18, 2018
#2
  • Oct 18, 2018
  • #2
I love my 3.73’s, in town driving only though.
 

Steel1

Mustang Master
Aug 18, 2017
1,419
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Connecticut
Oct 19, 2018
#3
  • Oct 19, 2018
  • #3
I run 3:73s on my 93GT but it's just a weekend cruiser, for a daily driver I would think 3:55s would be a good all around choice.
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
Admin Dude
Jan 4, 1985
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Oct 19, 2018
#4
  • Oct 19, 2018
  • #4
darryl paarman said:
I've had my Notch for a little while now- I'm pretty sure the rear gears are 2.73's = rpm in 5th at 65 is only 1700-1800 rpm.
I'm thinking of swapping some 3.31's in. My car is a Daily driver mostly in town and a short 5 mile stretch on the bypass.
Currently I'm getting average of 14 mpg. As you can see I do have a Vortech supercharger on it. 275/45/17 Nitto 555
I would like some input on my selection....
Click to expand...

This is a rather cryptic set of points that you chose to indicate. Tell us what is important here.
What do you want out of it? Do you want it to be a metric ton of fun? Do you want better fuel mileage? I think you want better acceleration but where does fall in relation to "ton of fun" and "fuel mileage"?

Anybody and everybody can come in here and spit out a gear ratio ( I know them all too ) but what help is that?
Let's talk more about your car too. Give us a better (i.e. complete) list of modifications to include suspension and brakes.

I'll tell ya right meow (shhh kitteh I'm typing) if you're asking about gears, I would like to think that your other stuff is already up to snuff (I see nothing in your sig about chassis stiffening, control arms, or brakes).
 

BlakeusMaximus

Still got to try a little lube on my speedo head
5 Year Member
Jul 12, 2017
2,474
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Oct 19, 2018
#5
  • Oct 19, 2018
  • #5
Noobz is right. What’s your plan? My plan was to build a little weekend ripper. I have 3.73’s, subframe connectors, installed hawk pad and drilled rotors, (for now), new brake lines, and upgraded suspension is soon to follow, my stock suspension is actually in good shape. Just don’t have the cash to spend on my car right now. I almost went with 3.55’s but I don’t drive on the highway much, but the gears I have are fine on the highway. I drive my car mainly on weekends. Sometimes to work. 3.73’s worked out fine for me. I would like more first gear sometimes, but I do like when I can shred tires in 2nd!! I don’t give a about gas mileage with this car. It’s not my daily.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
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Oct 19, 2018
#6
  • Oct 19, 2018
  • #6
Personally, i'm not a fan of my 3.73's in my car. It puts me at an awkward RPM on the highway that's just slightly too fast for 4th but I hate cruising in 5th and needing to drop to 4th to do a minor pass.

I also hate how short 1st is and how it always feels like I need to rev it out and get into 2nd ASAP when taking off from a stoplight. I;'d like a little more MPH out of 1st.

If I could do it all over again.... 3.27 or 3.31. I actually do have a set of 3.27s I want to swap in some day.


For the record, when I had my 2003, it had 3.27's and I loved that gear. Highway driving was awesome. I could do everything I needed in 4th gear. Cruise at 60, cruise at 80 and plenty of passing power.
 

darryl paarman

Active Member
Aug 13, 2013
212
93
39
ft bragg nc
Oct 19, 2018
#7
  • Oct 19, 2018
  • #7
I'm looking for a reliable daily driver. I have no plans to drag race it. More of a good at everything, rather than great at just being fast. I have welded subframe connectors, torque box reinforcement plates, mm lower control arms. Also have replaced the sway bar bushings with polyurethane. I'm actively looking for a 5 lug swap for larger brakes. Battery is in trunk. I already have a larger aluminum radiator. 60 lb injectors, MSPnp2 cobra tubular upper and lower intake. Vortech V3 Sci . Ford racing shorty headers, BBK X pipe full exhaust. It's as fast as I want it just seems like I'm lugging the engine all the time.
 
Last edited: Oct 19, 2018

darryl paarman

Active Member
Aug 13, 2013
212
93
39
ft bragg nc
Oct 19, 2018
#8
  • Oct 19, 2018
  • #8
I feel like it's not efficient , if that's the right description. Like its built for top speed , and not in the power band. For example 5th gear at 55 mph is only roughly 1600 rpms.
 
Last edited: Oct 19, 2018
Reactions: Mustang5L5

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,167
17,861
224
Massachusetts
Oct 19, 2018
#9
  • Oct 19, 2018
  • #9
darryl paarman said:
For example 5th gear at 55 mph is only roughly 1600 rpms.
Click to expand...


That sounds great to me.

Just kidding. 2.73's are much too tall for these cars. However, since you have more HP than stock, going with 3.73's or 4.10's might turn the car into a tire smoker unless you ride around on Drag radials all the time. Just need to pick a gearset that gives you the RPM's you are looking for

https://www.allfordmustangs.com/Detailed/608.shtml

Try entering some info into that and see what you like. I think 3.31's or even 3.55's might be what you are looking for.
 

darryl paarman

Active Member
Aug 13, 2013
212
93
39
ft bragg nc
Oct 19, 2018
#10
  • Oct 19, 2018
  • #10
so , on the way home I decided to use an APP on my phone using GPS to make sure my speedometer was correct.
Using the gearing calculator Mustang5L5 provided I used 70mph to check.
70 mph = 1950 rpm which means I have 3.27's already.
It's not worth it for me to change gears to 3.55.
I guess I'm just not driving it hard enough !?
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
Mod Dude
Aug 25, 2016
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Oct 19, 2018
#11
  • Oct 19, 2018
  • #11
I think that with a v3 and 327's you should be able to fry the tires at will. What are you running for heads, cam and intake? Transmission?
 

darryl paarman

Active Member
Aug 13, 2013
212
93
39
ft bragg nc
Oct 19, 2018
#12
  • Oct 19, 2018
  • #12
Oh your right , I have NO problem smoking the tires.

T5 trans , Ford Motorsport - GT40 heads - GT 40 lower and upper tubular intake manifold -

F303 cam. 1/7 roller rockers.
 

Blown88GT

Founding Member
Nov 13, 1999
2,282
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164
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Oct 19, 2018
#13
  • Oct 19, 2018
  • #13
The T5 first gear is pretty tall, even with my 3.55's. No WOT in 1st gear with 400hp. 3.31's will be a little better.
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
Mod Dude
Aug 25, 2016
27,828
10,509
203
polk county florida
Oct 19, 2018
#14
  • Oct 19, 2018
  • #14
I think you need to stick with the gear you have, if in fact it is a 327 ratio, jmo.
 

Blown88GT

Founding Member
Nov 13, 1999
2,282
522
164
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Oct 21, 2018
#15
  • Oct 21, 2018
  • #15
General karthief said:
I think you need to stick with the gear you have, if in fact it is a 327 ratio, jmo.
Click to expand...
I agree.
 
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