How much difference do gears REALLY make?

The Dan said:

Ok, after really getting a chance to get the car out and drive this weekend I did realize.....I LOVE THIS CAR!!! The new engine mods make this 289 a beast. But...it doesn't have the kick in the pants I was hoping for. So, when I do the rear and put in the 3.25 gear set, am I going to get that snappy take off I'm looking for? Right now it is an open 2.89 8". After lots of reading I've deceided I'm going with a 9" trac loc. Until I spend the money, I'd just like to hear from those of you that have made gear changes, and if the mod gave your car that "snappy" take off and acceleration.

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Deeper gears are very noticeable. I went from a T10, 2.80 combo to a T5 (3.35 1st) and a 3.40 Trac lock rear. Huge difference, it launches like a monster when I want it to. Once piece of advice, go Trac. Lock or you'll smoke the right rear tire unless you are very gentle. But deeper gears = bigger launch. And if you have a T5, the highway RPM is good since it it an OD trans. Either way, a 3.40 or 3.55 is great for the street. You probably don't need to go with a 9" unless the engine is supercharged or turbo'd. But do go with a webbed 8" from a '67 or later car for better strength. The pumpkin is a lot cheaper than a whole new rear and only takes about two hours to put in. You can fine 'em in Hemmings Motor News. The 9" is really heavy in weight. To get more kick, you can also recurve the dizzy to bring the timing in faster. Costs about $25.00 for the kit and provides a noticable difference too.

You'll notice a nice difference with 3.5x gears over your 2.89.

The Dan said:

I haven't done the 9" yet, but that's what I'm leaning towards. I've read so much about the 8" breaking that I don't want to chance it. I'm making pretty good power with the mods below.

To mod my 8" to the way I want it is $1,200 including labor, a little more will get me a 9" set up and no worries of breakage to boot.

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do an late model explorer 8.8" rear end. Tough like a 9", cheaper, you can get em for like $400, has rear disc brakes, AND comes with a 3.70 trac loc

allcarfan said:

Bang for your buck....next to a Nitrous system, gears are the best IMO!

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BINGO! Gears are the best bang for the buck! I love my 4.11's

I am in the 3.55 crowd also for street use. My 9" is 3.89 but it does a lot of track time.

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

65fastback2+2 said:

do an late model explorer 8.8" rear end. Tough like a 9", cheaper, you can get em for like $400, has rear disc brakes, AND comes with a 3.70 trac loc

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what year explorer is best for this? Anymore additional info on this installation? Is it fairly easy to install? Can it handle a 500hp application?

thanks
-andrew

The explorer rearends can handle 500hp when prepped properly. They also need to be shortened and need at least one custom axles.

do you know of a good tech article for the installation/modification procedure? I found a decent 2000 rear-end, what type of work needs to go into this?

(edit) - the rear I found is a factory 3.55 gears and open differential, disk brake calipers, and rotors. Is this what I am looking for??

thanks
-andrew

I have ran 2.79s, 3.25s, and 3.89s (in my car), and by FAR my favorite is the 3.89s. It is mainly a street car but they are so great I can overlook the higher RPM's on the interstate. Real fun, coupled with the Detroit Locker (another thing I am real fond of). But even from the 2.79 to the 3.25 was a big difference. As far as Explorer rears, I have a 97 Explorer with a 4.10 LSD rear (highest gearset offered), and I absolutely HATE that 8.8 in comparsion to my 9". Its a pain in the ass to work on, the E-brake setup is kinda hokey in whether it decides to work well or not, and I've been through a couple posi's already in it.

Can't beat a 9" setup nice with a locker IMO.

probably another dumb question maybe, but once ya get the pumpkin open...how exactly do you change the gears? is that an adjustment or is there new parts involved? never messed with gears before so i don't know much about it.