Pick my gears for this setup

281pony

Active Member
Aug 31, 2003
2,681
2
46
Oly, WA
i currently have 4:10's. i am going to a turbo setup. it will be 400-425rwhp on a stock bottom end. wc t-5 trans for now or as long as it holds.

the car weighs about 3100 with driver. i drive the car alot and plan to drive it alot hopefully still. i do more city driving then freeway. i just drive the car in alot/all area's. even further info, i run a 26.6" tall tire. i was trapping 110 at the top of 4th at 300 rwhp/300 tq.

i'm thinking 3:55 or 3:27. would you choose one over the other? i was just leaning towards the 3:27 cause i could just swap rear ends out. shops locally want ~400 for gear install labor alone. i could find some modular guy to swap me for free if i went 3:27.

give me your input, thanks
 
at 6000 rpm with a 26" tire a 3.27 is going to be at around 140mph at 1:1.

i ran a 3.27 with my turbo kit. IMO, it isnt enough gear. and that combo made 488rwhp at 12lbs of boost. the 3.27s were fun from a roll on the street. but, i ended up puttting 3.73s in mine and the car picked up .4 and 3mph in the 1/8 mile.

also, the 3.27s load the motor, a lot. that creates a lot of exhaust heat. too much heat cracks welds in the headers. ask me how i know. anyway, after putting the 3.73s in that **** stopped. that stuff about a deeper gear not making enough load is a myth.
 
this is going to be an SC application now. same hp levels apply.

i was hoping to find a turbo coupe rear for 3:55's but no dice this weekend atleast. i suppose i can drive whatever i get with 4:10s for a bit. just have to feather it a bit more :D
 
at 6000 rpm with a 26" tire a 3.27 is going to be at around 140mph at 1:1.

i ran a 3.27 with my turbo kit. IMO, it isnt enough gear. and that combo made 488rwhp at 12lbs of boost. the 3.27s were fun from a roll on the street. but, i ended up puttting 3.73s in mine and the car picked up .4 and 3mph in the 1/8 mile.

also, the 3.27s load the motor, a lot. that creates a lot of exhaust heat. too much heat cracks welds in the headers. ask me how i know. anyway, after putting the 3.73s in that **** stopped. that stuff about a deeper gear not making enough load is a myth.


:nice: I like the 3:55s as well over the 3:27's, id actually recommend 3:73's... With the swap to a blower try the 4:10's, they work very well but you may need a 27-28" tall tire at the track to keep the rpms in check.
 
I'd say 3.27 as well.

I prefer taller gears to shorter gears.....ESP when you have the hp available
+1

For simplicity just go with the 3.27s. But 3.55s would be a little better at getting the turbo spun up, if you want to shell out the bucks for the gear swap (~$400 isn't bad). For a little more oomph after the swap, you could always go to a 25.5" tall tire.
 
yeah, i ended up finding a swap deal for an SI trim vortech.

i will be aiming to just crest the 400 rwhp mark. i will give these 4:10's a go then. i'm trying to get the car put together with the right supporting mods and see if it holds together.

gotta get a wideband, boost/vac, possibly a new fan, tune, ect ect. if i can run it for awhile even on 4:10s and not hate em, that would be awesome. :nice:
 
it would be easier to put a 28" tire on the car with the 4.10s. if its only going to make 400rwhp that should be more than fine. a 28" tire at 6000 rpm locked up 1:1 with a 4.10 is 121 mph. and youll have more traction than you would with a shorter gear and 26" tire.
 
it would be easier to put a 28" tire on the car with the 4.10s. if its only going to make 400rwhp that should be more than fine. a 28" tire at 6000 rpm locked up 1:1 with a 4.10 is 121 mph. and youll have more traction than you would with a shorter gear and 26" tire.

fair enough. i will shop for some tires and see what i can come up with for the track. i can kill two birds with one stone that way. i wanted better tires for the track and i can save the $$ from gears for that instead.

it will put my new torque arm to work also for the street setup :nice: