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Pros and Cons of 4.10's

  • Thread starter Thread starter joshheat25
  • Start date Start date Mar 31, 2005
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joshheat25

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Nov 8, 2004
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Delaware
Mar 31, 2005
#1
  • Mar 31, 2005
  • #1
Everyone who has 4.10's says oh they are the optimal gear, minimum gear you should get, but everyone who has 3.73 says that the 4.10's are too much gear! Wel it is obvious not everyone is going to like 4.10's but what are the pro's and con's to having them! Obviously one pro is improved acceleration and more multiplied torque! What is everyones opinions and how much did everyone pay to have them installed I cannot decide between the two thanks.
 

def1eppard

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Mar 31, 2005
#2
  • Mar 31, 2005
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Obviously if you do alot of highway trips, you'll be at higher RPMs...more noise...worse gas mileage. Also you'll probably want to romp on it everywhere.
 

joshheat25

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#3
  • Mar 31, 2005
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Yea what does everyone w/ 4.10's in an auto think about highway rpms??
 

edbo

New Member
Mar 31, 2005
198
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Valley, AL
Mar 31, 2005
#4
  • Mar 31, 2005
  • #4
joshheat25 said:
Everyone who has 4.10's says oh they are the optimal gear, minimum gear you should get, but everyone who has 3.73 says that the 4.10's are too much gear! Wel it is obvious not everyone is going to like 4.10's but what are the pro's and con's to having them! Obviously one pro is improved acceleration and more multiplied torque! What is everyones opinions and how much did everyone pay to have them installed I cannot decide between the two thanks.
Click to expand...
I can say I do know a lot more people who gave up 3.73s for 4.10s than those giving up 4.10s for 3.73s. Don't get me wrong, I was dead set on going with 3.73s myself for quite a while. But I also realize, that if you're a pushrod motorhead, 3.73 is probably the way to go because of the lower hp to rpm peaks these engines make which still instills in so many of us to not go quite as high with gearing against something a little higher. I can say I've been guilty of not allowing my modular V8 the gearing that would match the higher hp/rpm curve that these engines deliver upon. That changed when a friend of mine showed me that when running 4.10s at 55-60 MPH in fifth gear, you could drop to fourth and be right into the start of the optimal hp/rpm curve. With 3.73s, you're still a tad below the curve, drop to third and you're near the top of the curve which wasn't bad but still two gears down. With stock gearing, you HAD to drop two gears to hit the low end of the curve. As for what everyone paid, I'm sure that the difference in the price between the two gears wouldn't exceed 20-30 dollars at an average total install cost of around 600-700 dollars (including gears and all!). Pushrods start loosing maximum power around 4500-5000 RPMs where the mods are right in the middle of their maximum power band. Mods don't start loosing power until around 5500-6000 RPMs (2V) and add about another 500-800 RPMs for the 4V DOHC modulars. Sure, an MPG or two can be lost at highway speeds, but as we all know, ya gotta pay to play! I for one will not regret going with 4.10s, especially when the next 'ricer' comes pulling up with his 'fart can' and thinks he wants a piece of an "American Icon" AKA The Ford Mustang!
 

shonoff

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#5
  • Mar 31, 2005
  • #5
joshheat25 said:
Yea what does everyone w/ 4.10's in an auto think about highway rpms??
Click to expand...
I got 4.56s in my 98 auto,and its not too bad at highway speeds.If I remember its about 3000 rpms @ 70 mph.
 

Mike97gt

it doe snot
Founding Member
Jan 26, 1999
10,633
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89
the people's republic of massachusetts
Mar 31, 2005
#6
  • Mar 31, 2005
  • #6
yeah i was going too get the 3.73's and changed my mind... i remebered the mustangs i drove with the 4.10's and then after what i read here that put the nail in the coffin of the 3.73 idea...

get the 4.10's
 

grendel

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Apr 23, 2004
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Mar 31, 2005
#7
  • Mar 31, 2005
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edbo said:
That changed when a friend of mine showed me that when running 4.10s at 55-60 MPH in fifth gear, you could drop to fourth and be right into the start of the optimal hp/rpm curve. With 3.73s, you're still a tad below the curve, drop to third and you're near the top of the curve which wasn't bad but still two gears down. With stock gearing, you HAD to drop two gears to hit the low end of the curve.
Click to expand...
when i am going 50-60 i drop down to 2nd and haul ass. i still get like 25mpg on the highway but around town since i cant seem to keep my foot out of it i get like 15.
 
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spikeGT_99

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Mar 31, 2005
#8
  • Mar 31, 2005
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i must have seen a thousand of these arguements on this site, but does anybody have hard #'s to back up claims? anybody know what the 1/4 mi. time difference is b/t the 3.73's, 4.10s, and 4.30's on similarly modified cars?
 
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spikeGT_99

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#9
  • Mar 31, 2005
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gear calc oh and by the way, maybe this will help you make up your mind too
 

Gunfighter

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Grapevine, TX
Mar 31, 2005
#10
  • Mar 31, 2005
  • #10
At highway speeds, I see the benefit of 4.10s, when you have to drop a gear to pass or 'play' From a stop, though, the 4.10s might be a little too much for good traction to get you up an running.

Everyone wants the best of both worlds, but in reality, I think you need to consider under what conditions do you do most of your driving/'playing' to decide which set to go with.
 

edbo

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Mar 31, 2005
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Valley, AL
Mar 31, 2005
#11
  • Mar 31, 2005
  • #11
shonoff said:
I got 4.56s in my 98 auto,and its not too bad at highway speeds.If I remember its about 3000 rpms @ 70 mph.
Click to expand...
Dude, You're SICK!
Funny you mention that as the shop that I called to install my 4.10's asked if I might want 4.56s on mine! After laughing my butt off for a minute thinking about it, I told 'em no, I'd just go with the 4.10s. Imagine that, 4.56s on a 5 Speed! I'd be one gear jammin', pavement slammin', engine screamin' nut! I still have 8 hours to 'think' about it too!
 

shonoff

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Apr 1, 2005
#12
  • Apr 1, 2005
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Be a man-go 4.56s
 

grendel

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#13
  • Apr 1, 2005
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my dad has got 4.56's on his vette and i dnt liek driving it much down the highway cause the car just sounds so wound out
 

shonoff

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Dec 16, 2004
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#14
  • Apr 1, 2005
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Forgot to mention its the wifes car.Shes the pavement slammin,engine screaming nut.
 

04GT

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Oct 8, 2003
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Apr 1, 2005
#15
  • Apr 1, 2005
  • #15
spikeGT_99 said:
gear calc oh and by the way, maybe this will help you make up your mind too
Click to expand...

Check out the calculator...make sure you pick the right transmission, b/c the 3650 will have lower RPMs than the T45.

I love my 4.10s...even on the highway. Drive it every day, 25 mile commute, with 50/50 highway and city driving. I've only had mine for a month, but less that 1 MPG difference so far.
 

Evenflow

yellow snow cone lover
Nov 4, 2004
116
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Mass
Apr 1, 2005
#16
  • Apr 1, 2005
  • #16
Aren't 3.73's better for being blown?
 

edbo

New Member
Mar 31, 2005
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Valley, AL
Apr 1, 2005
#17
  • Apr 1, 2005
  • #17
Evenflow said:
Aren't 3.73's better for being blown?
Click to expand...
Yup, for forced induction they are the standard. For Normally Aspirated, their better for getting blown as in 'blown away'.
 

twogts4us

15 Year Member
Apr 1, 2004
4,188
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Dunedin, FL
Apr 1, 2005
#18
  • Apr 1, 2005
  • #18
Got both 3.73s and 4.10s here - wishing we had 4.10s in both.
And, no offense to anyone - but I'm no young punk, but a 39 year old professional...and 4.10s are the way to go.
 
C

Conv99GT

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Feb 9, 2004
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Apr 1, 2005
#19
  • Apr 1, 2005
  • #19
for the people who r torn between gears what about 3.90s?
 

hotmustang331

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Apr 29, 2004
2,967
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48
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Apr 1, 2005
#20
  • Apr 1, 2005
  • #20
But dont most stang owners "plan" on being S/Cd? I am getting TTs, so 3.73 WITHOUT a doubt...heck I may need 3.55s so i can stay in 4th gear through the traps, especially once I forge the engine. Thats what you guys should look at...dont plan on trapping much over a 100 and are just going for some boltons, 4.10s ALL the way. Putting head/cam combo in and staying N/A....mild cams only I say go with 4.10s anyways due to increased RPM range....HOT cams/head setup, 3.90s are your gear IMO. Any nitrous/super charged/turbod cars, go 3.73s as you will be trapping 111+, and unless you have a built bottom, 4th with 4.10s WILL NOT get you there with your engine still intact.But hey you can do whatever you want, thats JMO.
 
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