How much difference do gears REALLY make?

#42
OK, 9" it is. I'm going to call Currie today to get a quote. I love SoCal, sometimes, as Currie is only 30 min. from me.

This post has been great, and I've deceided on a 9" with 3.55 gears, and I think a locker, as the limited slip diffs. sound like they are prone to fail after some abuse. I hope the difference is everything I've heard it will be. Time shall tell.
 
#43
The Dan said:
OK, 9" it is. I'm going to call Currie today to get a quote. I love SoCal, sometimes, as Currie is only 30 min. from me.

This post has been great, and I've deceided on a 9" with 3.55 gears, and I think a locker, as the limited slip diffs. sound like they are prone to fail after some abuse. I hope the difference is everything I've heard it will be. Time shall tell.
Click to expand...
I believe that with a 9" you'll get 3.50, not 3.55 (basically the same). Also, don't give up on the limited-slip, and make sure you know what you're getting into with a locker on a primarily street-driven car.

Currie will be able to answer all of your questions and educate you about the finer points of what may be best for you. Have an open mind when you call them!
 
#45
3.55:1 is about as high as I'd go in a non overdrive car that sees any significant highway mileage. 3.70:1 is debatable of course. Add an overdrive tranny to the mix however and everything changes. I have a 3.89:1 in my AOD equipped car and I may have not gone high enough. My cruise RPM at 60 should net nearly 20 MPG though. Here's a chart I made that will help show the differences:
http://www.edbert.net/rpm_chart.htm
 
#46
Another tidbit concerning the best gear ratios. If you ever want to take your car to the dragstrip, calculate an approximate trap speed you hope/expect to acheive one you can hook up and find the right ratio that will put you at the engine's peak horsepower RPM right at the finish line. If you have an OD tranny calculate for 3rd gear auto or 4th gear manual (if you have a 6-speed you don't need to read this...and I hate you :D).
 
#47
The Dan said:
OK, 9" it is. I'm going to call Currie today to get a quote. I love SoCal, sometimes, as Currie is only 30 min. from me.

This post has been great, and I've deceided on a 9" with 3.55 gears, and I think a locker, as the limited slip diffs. sound like they are prone to fail after some abuse. I hope the difference is everything I've heard it will be. Time shall tell.
Click to expand...

I have a detroit locker in my car. If you wont be doing any racing and drive your car all the time. I would look into getting a beefed up limited. The locker deffinately makes a fairly loud clicking around corners. I like it because i drive my car about once every month or less, and i do a fair bit of drag racing ( well i would if i had the time during the summer). So if you know anybody witha locker in their car, go take a ride with them Heck if you were by me. I would give you a ride. Let me tell ya, the lockers arnt good for dates!

Anybody want to help me post that vid, i need somebody to host it for me.
 
#48
blue66tang said:
I have a detroit locker in my car. If you wont be doing any racing and drive your car all the time. I would look into getting a beefed up limited. The locker deffinately makes a fairly loud clicking around corners. I like it because i drive my car about once every month or less, and i do a fair bit of drag racing ( well i would if i had the time during the summer). So if you know anybody witha locker in their car, go take a ride with them Heck if you were by me. I would give you a ride. Let me tell ya, the lockers arnt good for dates!

Anybody want to help me post that vid, i need somebody to host it for me.
Click to expand...

How old is your Locker? The new Detroit Lockers you get through Summit Racing have been mildy redesigned, the result being very little, if any, noise. I bought mine in '02, I think, from them, and it doesn't EVER click. The only reason I know its there is when I feel it lock or unlock when I'm getting on it through turns, and the occasional tire bark when in a parking lot. Other than that its quiet and has very good street manners. After having the Locker rear, I would never even consider a LSD again, I'm so impressed with the Locker.
 
#49
nosaj122081 said:
How old is your Locker? The new Detroit Lockers you get through Summit Racing have been mildy redesigned, the result being very little, if any, noise. I bought mine in '02, I think, from them, and it doesn't EVER click. The only reason I know its there is when I feel it lock or unlock when I'm getting on it through turns, and the occasional tire bark when in a parking lot. Other than that its quiet and has very good street manners. After having the Locker rear, I would never even consider a LSD again, I'm so impressed with the Locker.
Click to expand...

Im not sure. All iknow is it came from a nascar team and they used a stronger Nascar type locker. I might be able to find the site that the part # was listed on. I looked it up and it deffenately was a nascar locker.
 
#52
maybe mine will quiet down. I only have about 40 miles on it. I threw it all together, had it done by 5:15 got cleaned up and picked my date up at 6:00. So a night of just driving in town (about 40) miles is all it has on it, and the gears too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
4.10 gears = 200,000 miles ?
Replies
5
Views
233
SN95 V6 Mustang Tech
michaelleewebb
M
sleep-e
Drivetrain How much resistance, if any at all, is normal on a new 1st gear and synchro on a WC T5 transmission?
Replies
2
Views
268
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
sleep-e
sleep-e
stormsedge
2000 GT-Front Brakes Not Releasing
Replies
5
Views
90
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Bronco2fan
B
D
96 get convertible-sell or part out?
Replies
5
Views
169
What is it Worth?!?!?
nickyb
nickyb
91AOD5.0LX
Removing speedo cable from the VSS
Replies
27
Views
936
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
91AOD5.0LX
91AOD5.0LX
Top Bottom
Back
Forums
Menu