gears: to change or not to change

[donth13]

i have a 97 mustang cobra with 3:27 rearend gears. i would like to make it a little faster without effecting gas mileage terribly. i was thinking about going with 3:73s. do you think this will work or do you have any other suggestions

 

[DropTopPony]

4V's love the gear...4:10's FTW...gas mileage shouldn't drop too much.

 

[1tirefire]

I just got 373's on my cobra at 70 mph you will be turning 2400 -2500 rpms. Still good for the highway and better acceleration(sp). It should have been the stock gearing IMO.

 

[jasonh_86]

4.56's

Just kidding.. but seriously, i'd go with at least 4.10. But I guess that's easy for me to say, since it's not my car or my wallet that's paying for the gas. 3.73's should be a good gear, but you should always consider a steeper gear with the 4V

 

[Mossberg]

4.10s, nothing lower for an N/A 4v. You may gain mileage in town because 5th is usable now. But then again, you probably will floor it at every green light after the install.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Friend just put 4.30's in his Cobra and loves them.

I like my 3.27;s

 

[GT02MG]

get 4:30s at least....im getting 4:10s in my GT and im N/A and its a daily driver

 

[the98stang]

3.73 if you plan supercharging/spraying in the future

4.10 or 4.30 if you plan on staying N/A

 

[hotdog71]

You will most likely see about a 2-3 mpg drop with 4.10 and maybe around 1-2 mpg with 3.73.

 

[DisposableHero]

just do it

 

[loosescrew79]

I have 3.73s in my GT and am planning on changing them to 4.10s. I don't think the 3.73s are all that. My 4.10s are in the garage awaiting install and will post how much difference after the install

 

[hognutz]

if staying n/a go 4.10's. I put in 3.73's because I am going to boost eventually. right now in n/a format you can just obviouly tell 4.10's would have been better.

obviouly milage wise on the freeway 3.73's will be better than 4.10's but I still say you should not even consider anything other than 4.10's or lower if staying n/a on a 4v.

 

[JRS02GT]

Ok. I'll be the black sheep here. How about 3:55's? They are a bit more agressive, but will be perfectly fine for long highway commutes. I personally have 4:10's and LOVE them, but I also rarely drive on the highway.

 

[Mossberg]

There would be almost no SOTP difference going from 3.27 to 3.55. The 3.73 should be the minimum to get any worth out of the cost of a gear change.

 

[blackink00]

3.90s if you cant decide

 

[the98stang]

Ok. I'll be the black sheep here. How about 3:55's? They are a bit more agressive, but will be perfectly fine for long highway commutes. I personally have 4:10's and LOVE them, but I also rarely drive on the highway.

3.55 are for teh lose. wouldn't be worth the money

And for "loosing" gas mileage, I only lost .3-.5 mpg with 3.73

 

[xseler8]

I'm glad I went with the 73's & would do it again.I had them N/A and now S/C. Anything higher you will be shifting a lot.

 

[Mike97gt]

I stayed about the same gas mileage wise with my 4.10's.. I do notice I tend to cruise slower now.. I go 70-75 instead of 80-85

 

[STNG_96]

All i can say is that after someone with a cobra gets gears, they always wish for the step above. As previously stated, those DOHCs absolutely love RPMs

 

[a97mustang]

n/a 4.30 or 4.56 depending on your future plans.