Gears & Upgrades

[1989DropTop]

Hi guys I am looking for some input and suggestions for my 89 lx 5.0 with automatic. Currently pretty much stock.Car has 82,000 original miles. I want to find what gears for the rear I am not driving this daily and will rarely see the freeway with her! I want her to get up and jump. I am looking at 4:10's or 4:30's???? I am planning to replace the trunk lid with smooth one and limited edition spoiler. Currently trying to work my way through all the bushings in the front and replace it all. I am not a big gear head so any and all help is appriciated. Thanks Brian

 

[Rick 91GT]

With a stock motor, I would only go up to a 4:10, the 4:30s would be a little steep. Id also look into swapping the torque converter, those 2 things will really wake up the AOD.

Id add subframes to the mix as well.

 

[90mustangGT]

Yes, like Rick said, don't go too big. Kind of like the 91 coupe I saw a few weeks ago with the carb conversion and a victor intake on e6 heads. (car barely ran, guy thought it sounded like it had a big cam in it, but the lope was just all the misfiring)

 

[1989DropTop]

What torque converter would you recommend stall converter or???? When I am finished the car will have diffrent heads new intake headers. I just relaced the exhaust but to my regret it still has its cats. I have flow masters 44 series on it and has a nice sound but not quite loud enough for my taste. Slowly getting around to tearing her apart I am doing all the mechanical myself from this point on as I had a mechanic replace the head gaskets and had my car for 6 weeks. I was ! I am trying to get all of my mechanical done before I start on the body and paint. Visual upgrades come last in my book.

Motor is stock, not bored, new head gaskets, new plugs cap rotor wires, map sensor, both 02 sensors, new air box (last owner had cone air filter on it in the engine compartment), like I said slowly working through it but need input from someone that has done it a few times. Thanks for the help Brian

 

[tims 86]

i would do 3.73

 

[Rick 91GT]

Id contact Edge Racing Converters, More Horsepower with More Torque Guaranteed! Andre is great with the Aod...

 

[steelie4u]

I have a 93 Triple White vert stang and I have the subframe connectors, HCI, and 3.73 gears with a 3200 stall converter and i will tell you its a night and day difference , there is no lag in the auto trans at all( also has performance shift kit). The gears and the converter make it rock, gets rubber all the time on the shift from 1st to second, hope that helps

 

[1989DropTop]

Thanks for the help Guys!!! I ordered a Kit form LRS 4:10 gears, I also ordered a shift kit for the tranny. I will be looking to do the Torque Conveter next Not sure what to throw in 2400-2600 Stall??? I am looking at diffrent frame support kits to help the torque when I install the gears.

 

[LarsD]

I'm a little late on the thread. But I put 4.10's and a 3K stall converter (11" converter) in my 70 Dart. It only makes about 230hp and weighs about 3150. However, it REALLY woke the car up. With the shift kit it can catch rubber on the 1-2 shift even with 28" tall tires.

So even though it isn't exactly the same, the weight is close and the hp is close. Get some sub frame connectors, and I think you will love the way it runs.

 

[1989DropTop]

Thanks Lars, I am buying a 90 LX hatch this week for 300.00 that is wrecked that I paln to pull the motor and Build for street/strip play. I am slowly working my way through this convert and man what a cluster . The previous owner was a tweeker so it has been fun getting it back to driveable condition let alone doing any upgrades. I ordered the shift kit and the gears but still researching the torque converters. Any suggestions for the subframe connectors??? Thanks Brian

 

[1989DropTop]

Tore down the front end last weekend to find what was popping when I stomp on it. Found a lower A-Arm that had been road rashed like it was drug on the ground for several hundred yards. The ball joint was loose and I could move the entire assymbly up and down just touching it. Like I said before the previuos owner was a tweeker look at this pic of the exhaust when I bought it Now it has Flow master 44's and brand new exhaust all the way through. Got new Brakes, Bushings, Rotors, etc.. to slap on when I get the A-Arm.

 

[LarsD]

Thanks Lars, I am buying a 90 LX hatch this week for 300.00 that is wrecked that I paln to pull the motor and Build for street/strip play. I am slowly working my way through this convert and man what a cluster . The previous owner was a tweeker so it has been fun getting it back to driveable condition let alone doing any upgrades. I ordered the shift kit and the gears but still researching the torque converters. Any suggestions for the subframe connectors??? Thanks Brian

That isn't a tweeker, that's a hack. I would recommend Maximum Motorsports full length sub frame connectors. I put regulars on my hatch, and full lengths on my Cobra. Now I wish I had put the full lengths on my hatch too.

 

[tannerc91gt]

Oh hell, go 4.56s a 3k stall, SFCs and some 28" tires...couldn't hurt