Gears in the winter?

padge · Mar 20, 2007

What gear ratio would be best for a 1997 Mustang GT 5spd that is winter driven and has the occasional highway trip (upwards of 1.5 hours) (edit: driven in summer too)?

I'm tempted to go 4.10's... but I don't want to get them and regret it in the winter or while driving on the highway. I've got some Blizzak tires, so that helps a bit. Does anyone have experience with 4.10's in the winter?

Also, whats a good gear oil besides Royal Purple that I should get? (None in Canada i dont think)

GToddyT5 · Mar 20, 2007

I just wouldn't plan on using first or second.

Red2000GT · Mar 20, 2007

I drove my 88GT with 3.73's one winter. Was actually not bad. I would just pop the clutch at idle,the tires would spin for a few seconds then the car would catch up and i'd slowly pull away. Thsi was with all-season's so you should be better off with the blizzak's. For highway driving the 3.73's used to be the best compromise,but if you want a little more jam then go with some 3.90's. 4.10's are great,especially for the early 2v gt's but on the highway you're looking at a pretty fair rise in cruising rpm(bout 600). If they were short highway trips i'd say go for the 4.10's but for 1.5 hour or longer then 3.73 or 3.90's. Also,you can get Royal Purple in Canada,check the Ford dealership(yes the dealership) and Performance Plus in Saskatoon,i believe,carries it.

padge · Mar 20, 2007

Right on, thanks guys. I think i'll go with the 3.73's as I'll be doing the install with a friend and don't want to mess with anything other than Ford gears (3.90's).

Red2000GT can you recommend a place to buy the gears from around our area? Does Performance Plus have any?

Gearbanger 101 · Mar 20, 2007

If it's a winter driver, I'd sell the Mustang and buy a FWD. Why in gods name would you want to drive a Mustang throughout the winter anyway?

04YELLOWGT · Mar 20, 2007

I got caught at shool once in the snow. lol They called for a clear day and the roads were bone dry so I pulled it out. Well I look out side and its like a blizzard. By the end of the day there was like 1-2" on the ground. I had 4.10s for gears and spun the tires litteraly all the way home.

padge · Mar 20, 2007

Lol, cause I love mustangs and it actually handles pretty well in the winter with the tires i have. Plus I completely despise how a FWD handles.

N8Dogg98 · Mar 20, 2007

Gearbanger 101 said:
If it's a winter driver, I'd sell the Mustang and buy a FWD. Why in gods name would you want to drive a Mustang throughout the winter anyway?

I drive my lowered Mustang year round with 3.73's in these tough Minnesota winters with no problems. I have two sets of wheels one for winter and one for summer. There is maybe one day out of every couple years that the snow is too high to drive on, but those days it would still be difficult to drive with a FWD car. Everyone always asks "How can you drive that in the winter?" What people fail to realize is that up until about 20 years ago, most cars on the road were rear wheel drive. Back then people drove in the snow no problem, and we have the benefit of tremendously improved tire technology over those 20+ year old cars. I think it is a matter of people not knowing how to drive anymore in the snow with RWD. I actually prefer RWD in the snow, cause if you are ever headed for something, or can't turn quick enough, all you have to do is tap the gas for some oversteer.

Red2000GT · Mar 20, 2007

Yeah Performance Plus carries gears,in all brand names including Ford Racing.

BaXTeR3221 · Mar 20, 2007

I always liked the 3.90's i had in my 5.0 and that car had even more low end torque. I also think you should think about investing in a beater for the winter. I can't imagine trying to drive a mustang in snow, it just sounds like a bad idea.

Gearbanger 101 · Mar 20, 2007

N8Dogg98 said:
I drive my lowered Mustang year round with 3.73's in these tough Minnesota winters with no problems. I have two sets of wheels one for winter and one for summer. There is maybe one day out of every couple years that the snow is too high to drive on, but those days it would still be difficult to drive with a FWD car. Everyone always asks "How can you drive that in the winter?" What people fail to realize is that up until about 20 years ago, most cars on the road were rear wheel drive. Back then people drove in the snow no problem, and we have the benefit of tremendously improved tire technology over those 20+ year old cars. I think it is a matter of people not knowing how to drive anymore in the snow with RWD. I actually prefer RWD in the snow, cause if you are ever headed for something, or can't turn quick enough, all you have to do is tap the gas for some oversteer.

That wasn't my point though. The poster stated the car was winter driven, with the occasional hwy trip. That to me suggests it's a winter only car, not a year round car like your own. If it's year round, then I could see loading a couple of sand bags out back and swapping out to a set of winter tires and rims for the season. But in the posters case, if in fact the car is only driven during the winter months as suggested, then there are much, much better choices out there than a Mustang.

padge · Mar 21, 2007

The car is driven year round, not just in the winter. I guess I should have made that more clear .

Like a poster said above, RWD in the winter is actually nice. FWD around every slippery corner I feel like I'm going to slide right into the snowbank, where with a RWD you just blip the throttle for some oversteer and you're back on track.

$232 for Ford (don't think FRPP) 3.73's at PerformancePlus, not too shabby. I think I'll hit that up within the next while and do the install myself. They quoted $300 for install though which isn't that bad.

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