I have a 97GT Auto. It is interesting you have 2.73's. On my rearend tag it says 3L08. Which I was told means 3.08. I think the Ford plant must have just played Meeny Miney Mo on what gears to put in our cars from day to day. Maybe your 10 more hp was the reason? Who knows? Check your tab if you haven't. I'd like to know what yours says.
I am going to go with some used 3.73's in a couple of weeks. PM me around the first of June. I picked them up for 30.00 at a swap meet. I will tell you if it makes good gain.
I have read seemingly ever thread on this. The majority tell you 4.10's. I would go there but I use my car for my outside sales vehicle driving up to 100 miles a day. At 2.00 plus gallon I will be pushing it with the 3.73's. I just refuse to drive a friggin Taurus. If you are strictly to and from work or it is your play toy 4.10's or even 4.30 if it is only Play toy.
FYI- Do the Jerry Mod if you have not already- go to www.tccoa.com
It is a shift kit- I get 15ft of rubber now on my 1-2's and quick 2-3's.
Cannot imagine how it will be with the lower gears!
this depends on certain things such as options on the car. If you buy a fully loaded 98 stickshift(for example) WITH the premium (17") wheels you get 3.27's. If you buy a base model coupe (16" wheels), your standard option is a 2.73, with the option for 3.08's. In a convertible automatic you automatically get 2.73's, stickshift has the option for 3.08's. Bottom line, in order to get 3.27's it has to be a hardtop fully optioned (with prem. wheels) stickshift. Think i wrote that all right