gear ratio 3:55 or 3:73

[MarcMonteverde]

what gear ratio is better? i want to have some good 1st 2nd 3rd, but yet still have good top end, i like to play on the freeway more than i do off the line,
i heard 3:73 have good bottom end but the top end isnt really there, ive also heard that 3:55 are good for bottom end too but its a really a top end ratio. id just thought id ask...

thanks

 

[cenok is family]

i'd go 3.73's. they're so close it almost wouldn't matter but 3.73's are just a better gear for non-forced induction cars, imo.

 

[ninety15.0]

What do you have done to your car. Honestly, if you like to play around on the highway...then 3.55's are probably a little better. I can only get about 110 out of 4th gear with my 3.73's without revving too much. 3.55's will get you up to about 115. Like cenok said...the difference is minimal...about 250 rpms on the highway.

 

[MarcMonteverde]

i got GT-40 heads
, GT-40 manifold(98 explorer not yet installed)
,BBK 70mm throttle,BBK 70mm EGR spacer
70mm Cobra mass air meter
18' Electric fan
BBK cold air, BBK headers, BBK off Road h pipe,
Flowmasters 2 chamber
King Cobra Clutch,BBK adjustable Clutch cable,
MSD 6a box,MDS coil,
BBK 110 fuel pump
1inch spacer,A/C delete,
Hurst Short throw shifter, Mass Air Coverison
its an 1987 mustang GT

i already have a complete rear end with 3:73 i got for 100$$ but i was think about changin the gear ratio..but im not sure

 

[Flavadave4]

If its a 5 speed car I think you might like 3.55's better. I went from stock gears to 3.73's a few years back and it made a huge differnce in the feel of the car, but in the 1/4 mile I am about out of power in 4th gear as I run through the traps. I am thinking about backing down to a 3.55 set, with the 3.73's 1st and 2nd gear will just blow street tires out and spin.

 

[MarcMonteverde]

i know my friend has 3:73 and i swear 1st gear is almost all burn out, he cant hold traction for nothing, i mean it feel strong but im not sure what to go with...

 

[5spd GT]

Either one should be a nice gain They are very close in revolutions per minute and gear limitations...

 

[Flavadave4]

i know my friend has 3:73 and i swear 1st gear is almost all burn out, he cant hold traction for nothing, i mean it feel strong but im not sure what to go with...

Yeah that's how mine is, even with Nitto 555R drag radials 1st and 2nd gear will get loose...not nearly as bad as it used to with street tires

I feel like I could actually get out of the hole better with a little less gear, again, that could be just me though.

Like said above, either will speed up your car.

 

[MarcMonteverde]

ya i think im gonna go with the 3:55 just cuz alot of time i usally on the freeway when i mess around i mean not to say i dont play from light to light

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

What do you have done to your car. Honestly, if you like to play around on the highway...then 3.55's are probably a little better. I can only get about 110 out of 4th gear with my 3.73's without revving too much. 3.55's will get you up to about 115. Like cenok said...the difference is minimal...about 250 rpms on the highway.

+1. My notch has 245-45-R17's with a 3.73 gears and a stock T-5. At 80 I am at 3,000RPM's.

Go with 3.55's. 250RPM's doesn't sound like much, but it is. I can feel the smoothness change if I am crusin at 3,500 RPM's vs. 3,750-3,800RPM's.

 

[Flavadave4]

Yeah, I hate when I'm on the interstate and running 2900 rpm with the cruise on. 250 Rpm lower would be a little nicer.

 

[MarcMonteverde]

okay good lookin! now i just gotta take my rear end to the gear shop so they can change em good thing i didnt put the rear end in yet

 

[5spd GT]

Go with 3.55's. 250RPM's doesn't sound like much, but it is. I can feel the smoothness change if I am crusin at 3,500 RPM's vs. 3,750-3,800RPM's.

I agree with that completely

Anytime I think about going with 4.10:1 over my 3.73:1, I think of the above

 

[1Fine89stang]

I am running 4:10's and a 5 speed i only do about 65 on the parkway . It is cool to be able to roast em going down the parkway though. I do mostly around town driving so it isnt that bad. My only gripe is that 1st gear is basically non-existent.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

It is cool to roast them at higher speeds but it can be very dangerous. I hate getting squirly at over 50MPH.

Also, I just wanted to add that being 25 years old now, I don't know what it is but I am more or a freeway speed freak now then I was at 17-22 years old. I always find myself driving on the freeway at 85-100MPH. I NEVER used to do that when I was younger.

 

[cenok is family]

I am running 4:10's and a 5 speed i only do about 65 on the parkway . It is cool to be able to roast em going down the parkway though. I do mostly around town driving so it isnt that bad. My only gripe is that 1st gear is basically non-existent.

this is exactly how i am. i do about 65 on the highway as well. about 95% of my driving is around town, so i don't mind that much.

 

[Flavadave4]

It is cool to roast them at higher speeds but it can be very dangerous. I hate getting squirly at over 50MPH.

Also, I just wanted to add that being 25 years old now, I don't know what it is but I am more or a freeway speed freak now then I was at 17-22 years old. I always find myself driving on the freeway at 85-100MPH. I NEVER used to do that when I was younger.

Yeah, its cause you can afford the ticket

 

[88-378]

Check what ratio your tranny has. Or if you intend to upgrade it in the future. I have a 3550 and my 3:73's are actually like around 3:60 something for 1st thru 3rd because of the tranny ratios. I think!

 

[Wallzy]

I like the 3.55's, i had 3.73's and the 3.55's are much smoother, i didn't seen any difference at the track - was still running about the same time and i didn't have to shift near the end any more.

 

[MarcMonteverde]

i actually do more freeway than i do anything else, i dunno its just fun to go from 65- to like 120, lol gotta love that v8 power! haha