Changing 410 posi trac gear in 89 Mustang LX

stevesLX

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Nov 12, 2006
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cincinnati
I am purchasing a 1989 LX with a 302 bored 30 over ,different cam World Class T5 five speed Tranny, 25lb injectors ,aluminum drive shaft ,and 410 Posi Trac. I am not quite sure how this thing is going to do on gas but I drive abot 80 miles a day for work. I have been told to change the gear to a 373 and I should be alright on gas. Can anyone out here give me any advise on this? If thats all I will have to do than thats cool. I just want to make sure thats it no mods to the motor. I know the cam in it has one hell of a lope to it. It lopes to the point like its going to stall but just tap the gas and she revs right up.
 
If this is your daily driver, going down to a 3.73 is going to do very little to ease your gas woes. I mean it will help a little on the freeway but if that's what you have to resort to, then the stang shouldn't be your DD.
 
90blacknight said:
If this is your daily driver, going down to a 3.73 is going to do very little to ease your gas woes. I mean it will help a little on the freeway but if that's what you have to resort to, then the stang shouldn't be your DD.

I've been looking for a 5.0 stock with lower mileage but that has been near to impossible. Also I only have $4000 to spend. I am getting this LX from a neighbor new tires wheels custom paint job cal induction hood and the rebuilt motor with 15000 miles for $3800. The only downfall is that gear in it and the mods to the motor. Do you have any suggestions?
 
stevesLX said:
I've been looking for a 5.0 stock with lower mileage but that has been near to impossible. Also I only have $4000 to spend. I am getting this LX from a neighbor new tires wheels custom paint job cal induction hood and the rebuilt motor with 15000 miles for $3800. The only downfall is that gear in it and the mods to the motor. Do you have any suggestions?

In your case, I would suggest finding another car as a daily driver. You drive quite a bit each day and gas being an obvious concern for you makes the mustang a poor choice. I mean even changing to a 3.55 or 3.08 gear is not going to make too big of a difference on gas. It's still a V8 with motor mods, it will burn gas.
 
The only reason I can suggest stepping down from 4.10's to 3.73's is that you'll possibly get better times in the 1/4 mile, actually. My car's pretty close to the same as yours - same year, gears, driveshaft, tranny - and I'm at about 5800 RPM when I cross the traps. Getting traction is a major pain, so unless you're running DR's or slicks, you're gonna have to get damned good at your launching technique to make those 4.10's worth it. Your cam and injector setup may change the powerband on yours, but I'd imagine it's likely to make it even worse off in that you'll be redlining before you even cross the traps. Taller/wider rear tires might be an easier/cheaper way to help balance things out than a gear change.

As far as mileage, I average about 22 MPG city/highway mix (mostly highway). The most I've ever seen was one freak occurrance of 26 MPG; the lowest average was about 16 MPG. Switching to 3.73's might gain you 1-2 MPG, tops. I don't have a clue as to how the cam you have will affect your mileage, but I'd imagine it won't be good. I drive about 70 miles a day, myself, so I feel your pain as far as gas cost goes; last month, alone, I spent $210 just in getting to/from work.

At 75 MPH, I'm turning about 2400 RPM - not too high, and actually pretty nice that it keeps it far enough up in the powerband that I can just lay on the gas to get around a slowpoke on the highway, or jam right up a steep incline, without downshifting.
 
Tge easiest thing to do, although it may not seem like it, is to get another rear, housing and all, and put some gears in it that will give some gas mileage, and sway when you want to play.