Viper tranny owners, what gear are you using?

[forced87GT]

Well finally saved enough coin for the Viper from D&D.
But now what gear should I use?
Right now I have a 3.55, but throught other posts guys went with a 4.10.
This is a street driven car with H/C/I and blower setup.
Do you guys think that 4.10 are good are should I go with 3.73's.
I used a great site to calculate the RPM for each gear with 4.10's.
Just my main concern is traction.
Thanks
Tino

 

[TrophyHead]

Dont have a Viper spec tranny. But I'm gonna say you'll have some traction issues with 4.10's if you have a stock suspension set-up.

Do you plan on running a power adder in the future?

That tranny is so bad ass.

 

[forced87GT]

Right now I run a power adder.
As for my suspension is all Maximum Motorsports.
Torque arm
Panhard bar
Sway bar
Lower control arms
Coilovers
Thanks

 

[ill advised]

Doesn't that tranny have a lower ratio 1st (and maybe 2nd) gear than the regular T5? If so, that should help offset the 3.73 or 4.10. Plus your suspension has been slightly improved.

 

[TheUser]

don't have the viper spec T56, but I do want one...who doesn't!? I most likely won't get one anytime soon since buying a house within the next year is one of my main goals. I think one of the major reasons, at least for me, to spend the extra grand or so on a T56 rather than a Tremec TKO, besides higher torque numbers, is the 6th gear which would be good for a lower gear...4.10's, etc on the highway. To me, unless you're making tons of torque and need a beefier tranny, 3.73's matched w/ a T56 would be pointless. I'd go 4.10's at the least w/ a T56, but that's just me

 

[stangbear427]

How much power are you running? The more you have, the less gear you need (or should have). Also, how important to you is your timeslip? If it's a big deal, then you want to pick your gear based on your rpms in the 1/4 and your powerband. Otherwise, you can get away with 4.10 with that tranny on a daily driver if you really like the feel of low gears, but looking at your combo I don't think going that low will help you any more than your 3.55's are. You shouldn't have huge traction issues with that suspension and good tires, but I personnally wouldn't bother. It isn't like you still have stock ones in there. Do you hook well now?

 

[forced87GT]

Thanks guys, for the replies
Stangbear427,
I currently run 423 at the wheels
I read in a couple of other posts that guys who went to the Viper trans lost some performance with there 3.55's. But a couple for other guys love them because they are open track monsters. I am looking for a great street gear to suit that Viper trans.
I don't want to lose traction, because it has taken me along time and allot of money to get it. I run KDW for tires. Ever since the tires, the torque arm, and panhard bar,
she hooks up! I love it, but first is so short, and thats what I don't like.
I owned a 2000GT and I loved first gear in that. 3.27 rear gear and a 3.37 first gear.
Some guys use a formula like 3.27(for rear gear) multiply 3.37(for first gear) and gives you 11.0199. What that number means is beyond me?
Do you think 3.73's is a big difference from 3.55's in the Viper trans??
I just don't want to keep the 3.55's if its going to make the car lose performance.
Thanks
Tino

 

[stangbear427]

With over 400HP, you should have plenty of the low end HP that low gears give you the illusion of having. That's why you think your 1st is too short, you don't need that low rear gear. If you think 1st is too short with your 3.55's, then you need a taller gear and you're thinking the wrong direction. 3.73's or lower will only make it shorter. 3.27's would give you some of your first gear back. On the other hand, with that much HP you could also keep your 3.55's, or step up to 3.73's or 4.10's, and launch in 2nd gear. It's all about how you're comfortable driving.

 

[forced87GT]

Thanks stangbear
I think I made up my mind. Going 4.10's, and this is why.
I talked to a ford tech, and he told me about a RPM calculator on all ford mustangs.
He told me(hopefully he's right or I am going to feel pretty stupid)to use that calculator to find out what every gear is reving at a certain speed.
He said the lower the RPM the longer the gear has to whined out.
So, I used it. Here's what I came up with.(hopefully this helps other people also)
T-5 trans with 3.55 gear in first at 60 mph(don't pay attention to the mph)rev's at 9339 RPM.
A T-45 trans with 3.27 at the same rate of speed rev's at 8602 RPM.
A Viper T-56 with 3.55 7415 RPM
A viper T-56 with 3.73 7791 RPM
A Viper T-56 with 4.10 8564 RPM
All at the same rate of speed.
So the Viper with 4.10's will pull for a longer period of time that the T-5 trans will with the same power.

Please anyone correct me if I am wrong. I hate to give false info.
Later Tino

 

[stangbear427]

No, you're info is right, but I think you're interpreting it wrong. When he said lower, that was numerically lower- which is actually higher/taller/steeper. The purpose of lower (numerically higher) gears like 3.73's and 4.10's is to make your engine rev quicker, putting you in your powerband sooner or keeping you there easier as you shift. The purpose of higher rear gears is better economy, smoother take offs, etc. Just look at your last three specs for the Viper. The 4.10's (the lowest ones, numerically highest) have the highest rpm for that speed, and you will accellerate to that speed faster than the other two will. Conversly, with 3.27's, you can probably go 80mph before you redline in 1st, with 3.73's you'll redline closer to 60 in 1st. (hypothetical speeds) That means you'll have to shift into second sooner with the 4.10's then with the 3.27's. See?

 

[gp001]

Why not get a real 6 speed?

http://www.richmondgear.com/01pdfs/pages20-24.pdf

They even have a kit for the 5.0s

If you want I can print you up a chart like this

http://2mfffabshop.com/mycar.htm

for your car with the T-56 and different rear ratios. Just tell me what tires you are running

 

[stangbear427]

Because it isn't a toploader, won't accept any aftermarket shifters but Hurst/B&M, has farther spaced gates, and is a bigger PIA to install.



Actually, I don't know why. Those are some killer projects you have at your shop, I would love to see those cars. You guys may be real cruel to footballs, but you do some awsome work!

 

[gp001]

Because it isn't a toploader, won't accept any aftermarket shifters but Hurst/B&M, has farther spaced gates, and is a bigger PIA to install.

The Richmond uses a Long (manufacturer name) shifter setup. When setup correctly It is very precise and smooth. Won't get sloppy like the T-56 will after hard use. Long offers several handle styles. It comes with a short, straight handle. On my car (66 Mustang) I had to get a longer, bent handle and then custom bend it to fit my setup (I run 2001 Mustang seats and have them mounted farther back). While I don't have the dimensions in front of me, The gates on the Richmonds I've driven don't seem any farther spaced than the 2 vipers I've driven. I would think the Richmond would be easier to install since it uses scattershields/bellhousings made for the 5.0 and the Richmond is dimensionally smaller. The 5.0 kit includes a cross member and speedometer kit. Not to mention you get 5 close ratio gears and the benefit of overdrive as opposed to 4 wider ratio gears and 2 overdrives.

Actually, I don't know why. Those are some killer projects you have at your shop, I would love to see those cars. You guys may be real cruel to footballs, but you do some awsome work!

Thanks! We try to not be too hard on the footballs while we are building our rides

 

[RacEoHolic330]

I'm getting interested in one of these Richmond trannys. How much ft. lbs. can this tranny hold and how much does the complete kit for a 5.0 go for?

 

[stangbear427]

gp001- just ballbusting dude. I don't know anything about Richmond, except that for the price, they seem to be an amazing product.

I'm getting interested in one of these Richmond trannys. How much ft. lbs. can this tranny hold and how much does the complete kit for a 5.0 go for?

That's a good question- does anybody know? That's something I've wondered about since the first time I saw one in Summit Racing a few years ago.

 

[forced87GT]

Stangbear
You are absolutely right. I know the higher the numerical gear the high the rev's.
Like 4.30's will even be a shorter first gear.
I was just concerned with traction in first. But it looks like I will have a longer first then the T-5 and 3.55's.
Thanks guys
Tino

 

[gp001]

50mustang001 and stangbear,

I e-mailed my buddy who put one in his Road race 5.0. He said the part# is 7081610 and he paid right around $3200 for the kit

 

[ponyboy19]

Like I said in your other post. 4.10's and nothing less.. might consider 4.30's. Unlike most who post I have one and have seen the first hand difference with 461 rwhp and a t5 with 3.73's and the Viper T56 and 3.73's.. there was a noticable performance loss due to the softer gear and the fact the T56 will eat a little more power with the extra 75lbs it weighs. with my car and the power i had there is no way you could launch in 2nd gear with 3.73's D&D has never had one returned because it couldn't handle the power. I know they have been behind 1000 hp cars. shifting is anything but sloppy. 3.73+viper T56= 75-80 mph @ about 1800 rpms. with 4.10's it would be about 2000 rpms at 75mph. the tranny takes a little getting use to but the gears are perfectly spaced and the fact that you know it won't break is nice. and don't even waist your time with the stock shifter, buy a good one right from the get go.

 

[stangbear427]

OK, let me start out by saying that the best tranny advice anyone could give was at the end of that post: put a good shifter on it before you even turn the ignition key. That being said, I'm a little confused about most of the rest. Where did you get those numbers? A T5 weighs 75lbs. and a T56 weighs 120lbs. This is a difference of 45lbs, not 75. But what I'm really wondereing is, my TKO(100lbs) with 300HP at the road and 3.73 rear gears I can take off in second no problem. The TKO has a 1.89:1 second gear, the Viper T56 has a 1.78:1 second gear. You're telling me that with a full 150HP more than I have you can't launch in second? Hell, unless your rear suspension is totally stock (with that kind of money invested in your drivetrain, I certainly hope not) then you should be able to sidestep the clutch in third and still blow my doors in. What problems are you having?

 

[forced87GT]

Thanks ponyboy
Oh for sure. I ordered the D&D shifter with it. Its really a tri-ax with D&D's name on it.
I also ordered a set of 4.10's. Got them for $159. brand new.
Did you race down the quarter with that tranny???
Just wondering what your speed and what gear you were in at the end???(4th or 5th)
Your car is making 30 more horse than me, and your not having any traction problems in first?
I wonder why the stock Viper(car)has only 3.07 rear gear???
Proll'y because of that 450 flbs of torque. yea ha
Thanks
Tino