Rearends

[jete]

For a 5.0 5speed how well do 3.27 gears work?

 

[CarFreakGT]

First of all, greetings from just down the road in Louisville!

As far as the gears, it depends on what you're looking for and if you have a 5-spd.nice: ) or an automatic. I don't know if you're looking to buy some gears to install, or if you already have 3.27's and are just curious what people think of them. Prepare yourself for a lot of opinions on this one. If you're looking for seat-of-the-pants kick, 3.27's just aren't gonna do it. But, hey, you'll get decent gas mileage.

Do you drive the car daily, or at least regularly? Or is it a weekend cruiser? I'd say the general consensus is that 3.55's may get you a little more 'oomph,' but if you want to KNOW that you have new gears in, you'd be best served to go w/ 3.73's or 4.11's. Some who do a lot of freeway/interstate driving do like 3.55's, though.

With a stick: 3.73's are good if it's a car that you will drive more than at the track because your car will still maintain some decent street manners. 4.11's will get you quicker launches at the track, but can be a bit much on the street (from what I understand--don't know from personal experience).

With an automatic: 4.11's seem to be what I hear a lot of people go with. I don't know personally. Both of my Foxes were 5-spds.

FYI--you're car will idle at higher rpm at highway speeds. Don't freak out if you're cruising at 2K rpm. And make sure to get a good brand, or you may have to deal w/ excessive noise (droning). Higher gears=having to shift earlier and more often in around-town driving.

If you don't get many replies to this, try a search. There should be plenty of threads out there.

Good luck in deciding!


EDIT: Sorry, I just realized that you wrote that you are inquiring about gears for a 5-spd. For what it's worth, I had 3.73's to put in mine but I didn't get to install them before I sold it.

 

[jete]

I know the oomph your talking about. I like it well enough, but I like highway acceleration alot better. Only reason I was thinking the 3.27's was so I could get better gas milege and I would have some better top end speed without running it through the roof. It would be a daily driver and ive been in a few drag mustangs with the 4.11 gears and such and im not a big fan of that much shifting. You got 350 hp and stock gears your still smoking most everything cept a high dollar car. For this kind of application would this be pretty decent since I am definitly trying to get good gas milage. I dont want driving my mustangs to be like driving my 4x4

 

[CarFreakGT]

I wish I could help more. I would think (opinion only, this is not personal experience--sorry) that maybe 3.55's might be a 'happy medium' for you. Personally, I don't know that I would want to go to the time/expense of changing out 2.73's for 3.27's. I wouldn't expect to even notice the difference.

As far as top end speed goes, I would think you would leave a lot on the table w/ the 3.27's. Do you have a 350 hp car? You may be able to 'smoke most everything' from a rolling or cruising start, but from a dead stop that 350 hp won't do much for you till you get it going. I hope that doesn't sound sarcastic, because that is not how it is intended at all. I would just hate to see you spend good $$$ for gears (new or used) and possibly labor, and then wonder what you paid for.

Do you know anyone w/ 3.27 or 3.55 gears in their car? If so, maybe a ride in their car would give you a better idea of what will work for you.

Either way, good luck and enjoy!

 

[GT89Mustang]

Personally i would go with 3:55's, I have them with a five speed and I think its a good match, their not steep enough to get annoying and still have a good performance feel.

 

[jete]

Well, after thinking about it for a while I think the 3.55's would be a better. I didnt really think about it to much til you reminded me "I" would prolly be doing the labor.

 

[ninety15.0]

i have 3.73's in my 5-spd fox and my bro has 3.55's in his 5-spd SN....i will be honest with you i love the insane first and second gears but the highway rpms are just a bit much with the 3.73's. I cruise at 2500 at 75mph. my brother cruises at 82 at the same RPM. I still cruise at 80+ in my car but im turnin some serious rpm ~2700. it all depends on the heads and cam in the car. stock HCI then i would go with 3.27's or 3.55's. If you have a mild or wild HCI i would say 3.55's or 3.73's for a DD.

 

[CarFreakGT]

it all depends on the heads and cam in the car. stock HCI then i would go with 3.27's or 3.55's. If you have a mild or wild HCI i would say 3.55's or 3.73's for a DD.

JETE--You mentioned 350 hp in your earlier post. Is that what you have? Or is that wishful thinking? (Just curious. Not a problem if it's wishful thinking. We all have to dream big, right? )

 

[rigamaroles]

I have 3:27's in my car, I enjoy them. They are a step up from a 2:73 which I've driven before. You get a good top end pull, but it does lack in the lower. When I get around to rebuilding my trac-lok I plan on putting in 3:73 though for whatever its worth. It wont be a dd then and its more for fun than anything. If the question is streetability, gas mileage and a bit of fun, 3:27 is a good way to go, and 3:55's are good too. There is a guy with a white GT on stangnet that LOVES his 3:27's, just dont know his name.

 

[C6AE]

I just swapped a 3.73 rear in my '91 Coupe(thanks 5OHALEX). I like the acceleration, but I don't think my AOD likes it very much
I have almost everything for a T5 swap, just need little stuff like starter plate bolts and a pilot bearing.
I have a V8 T5 I got, but have been thinking about finding a close ratio one instead. Decisions, decisions...

 

[jete]

Yes 350 would be correct. I find that anymore just... tears my **** up.