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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

Whats gears should I go with ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter TeamStang
  • Start date Start date Oct 20, 2011
T

TeamStang

New Member
Oct 10, 2011
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1
Florida
Oct 20, 2011
#1
  • Oct 20, 2011
  • #1
The motor on my car is stock but i would like to do gears but i dont know what to go with are 4.10s to low for daily driving
 

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.
20+ Year Stangneter
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Oct 20, 2011
#2
  • Oct 20, 2011
  • #2
I would say no. They aren't my cup of tee, but they really wake a stock car up.

Kurt
 

foxbodymike87

Active Member
Jul 12, 2011
739
35
39
Oct 20, 2011
#3
  • Oct 20, 2011
  • #3
i wouldnt put gears at all on a stock car..its pretty much pointless
 
T

TeamStang

New Member
Oct 10, 2011
13
0
1
Florida
Oct 20, 2011
#4
  • Oct 20, 2011
  • #4
well its not always gonna be a stock motor but its says in the modds thing the first i should do is gears it has a intake an a full exghust
 

BlackVert

15 Year Member
Oct 3, 2003
5,589
9
98
Bethesda, MD
Oct 20, 2011
#5
  • Oct 20, 2011
  • #5
imo, 4.10s are too steep, especially if you have a stick and you drive the car alot. first and second go by in the blink of an eye. you'll get tired of it before long.

i'd say go with 3.73s instead.
 

95snoozer

Active Member
Dec 14, 2002
2,572
1
48
RCR
Oct 21, 2011
#6
  • Oct 21, 2011
  • #6
I would run a 3.90s or 4.10 gear in all N/a 302s if given an option. If it was a serious H/C 302 that spun to 6500. I would have 4.30s

I had 3.73s in mine and it always needed 4.10s, whether it had stock heads or the gt40p setup, it would have been faster.

Its laughable that anyone would say that 1st and 2nd are useless or that it is not necessary.


BlackVert: 4.10s are not too steep "especially for a 5 speed" In fact, I would say that 4.10s are pretty steep for an AOD because they have a nigher numerical OD than the T5. I would NOT do 4.10s in an AOD that was daily driven, I would do a 3.73s and a 2500
 

BlackVert

15 Year Member
Oct 3, 2003
5,589
9
98
Bethesda, MD
Oct 21, 2011
#7
  • Oct 21, 2011
  • #7
95snoozer said:
... Its laughable that anyone would say that 1st and 2nd are useless or that it is not necessary.

BlackVert: 4.10s are not too steep "especially for a 5 speed" In fact, I would say that 4.10s are pretty steep for an AOD because they have a nigher numerical OD than the T5. I would NOT do 4.10s in an AOD that was daily driven, I would do a 3.73s and a 2500
Click to expand...
Given that gear choice is a PERSONAL PREFERENCE thing, I find it offensive that anyone would say that someone else's opinion is laughable. I actually have had both 3.73 and 4.10 gears in my car over the years (have you?), so my statements come from MY OWN personal experience, and I have reasons for my statements.

When I had 4.10s, it was when my car had a T5 and I drove it all the time. It was MY OPINION that first gear was essentially useless, because the amount of time it took to get to 2700 rpm (my PERSONAL PREFERENCE for shifting from 1st to 2nd) was IN MY OPINION very short, and it felt TO ME that the car was still just barely moving. Over time, the FACT is that I found I did not like driving the car as much, specifically because of the gears. I actually tried starting in 2nd a few times, and found that I could without a problem, but I was worried that it might not be good for the clutch, so I didn't do it much. I also found that, with MY PERSONAL driving habits, when I was going through a neighborhood, the speed was such that the RPM in 2nd gear was a little higher THAN I LIKE IT, and a little lower in 3rd THAN I LIKE IT.

Then I had 3.73s, also while the car had a T5. It was MY OPINION that with 3.73 gears, 1st gear was not "essentially useless". And the FACT is that I found I liked driving the car more with the 3.73s.

Now I have an AOD and 3.27 gears. I think I would prefer 3.73s with this setup as well, because of MY OWN PERSONAL PREFERENCES.

Is that less laughable, Mr. Snoozer?
 

JJ95GTID

Active Member
Sep 22, 2003
1,141
4
49
Phoenix, AZ
Oct 21, 2011
#8
  • Oct 21, 2011
  • #8
One of my first mods was the 3.73's.
Looking back I wished I had gone with 4.10's. Even with some highway drive time.
Gears is definately worth doing early on in the modding process as it allows your engine to move the mass of the car with less effort.
I actually saw an increase in milage when I forced myself to not floor the gas at every streetlight!
 

Dino Dino Bambino

15 Year Member
Jun 13, 2007
1,672
89
79
Cyprus
Oct 22, 2011
#9
  • Oct 22, 2011
  • #9
TeamStang said:
The motor on my car is stock but i would like to do gears but i dont know what to go with are 4.10s to low for daily driving
Click to expand...

For a stock motor car the 4.10s are definitely too steep. I'd only use them if the engine has the ability to pull strongly beyond 6000rpm. Otherwise 3.73s are a good, all round choice.
 

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.
20+ Year Stangneter
Jun 14, 2004
9,300
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Acworth, GA
Oct 22, 2011
#10
  • Oct 22, 2011
  • #10
You can see how big of a debate this is. I think the 4.10s will make the car perform better, but they are a little annoying on the street. 3.73s seem to be the gear of choice. I don't like anything higher than 3.55s myself.

Kurt
 

Three50won

10 Year Member
Jul 11, 2010
1,135
64
69
Oct 22, 2011
#11
  • Oct 22, 2011
  • #11
I have 4.10s in my 03. My 95 is getting 373s. I'm only going with 373s in the 95 because I don't want 2 cars with 4.10s. Plus the 95 has a high stall speed torque converter and it's extremely loud as it is. I see nothing wrong with the gear swap as a first mod if you're planning other mods in the future...however, if you have a manual trans then I'd say go with 373. If it's auto then go with 4.10s. In the end it's all about preference. Side note, make sure the speedo is corrected for the gears...
 

Black Stampede

Founding Member
Sep 3, 2002
1,811
2
39
Grand Rapids, MI
Oct 23, 2011
#12
  • Oct 23, 2011
  • #12
All depends on the setup. Stock up to a mild hci and my vote is 4.10s if you have drag radials. My buddy used to have a gt40p, tf intake and stage 1 cam setup and with drag radials 4.10s set it off perfect. Beyond that however, and 3.73s have my vote.

But don't kid yourself you will probably change gears more then once if you stay in the game long enough.
 
T

turbogt

Member
May 1, 2003
723
16
19
Montana
Oct 23, 2011
#13
  • Oct 23, 2011
  • #13
BlackVert said:
Given that gear choice is a PERSONAL PREFERENCE thing, I find it offensive that anyone would say that someone else's opinion is laughable. I actually have had both 3.73 and 4.10 gears in my car over the years (have you?), so my statements come from MY OWN personal experience, and I have reasons for my statements.

When I had 4.10s, it was when my car had a T5 and I drove it all the time. It was MY OPINION that first gear was essentially useless, because the amount of time it took to get to 2700 rpm (my PERSONAL PREFERENCE for shifting from 1st to 2nd) was IN MY OPINION very short, and it felt TO ME that the car was still just barely moving. Over time, the FACT is that I found I did not like driving the car as much, specifically because of the gears. I actually tried starting in 2nd a few times, and found that I could without a problem, but I was worried that it might not be good for the clutch, so I didn't do it much. I also found that, with MY PERSONAL driving habits, when I was going through a neighborhood, the speed was such that the RPM in 2nd gear was a little higher THAN I LIKE IT, and a little lower in 3rd THAN I LIKE IT.

Then I had 3.73s, also while the car had a T5. It was MY OPINION that with 3.73 gears, 1st gear was not "essentially useless". And the FACT is that I found I liked driving the car more with the 3.73s.

Now I have an AOD and 3.27 gears. I think I would prefer 3.73s with this setup as well, because of MY OWN PERSONAL PREFERENCES.

Is that less laughable, Mr. Snoozer?
Click to expand...




Blackvert is right... I have 4.10's in my cobra.. I shift into second at 15 mph.. If I don't come to a complete stop, I just start out in second..


If you do alot of stop and go driving, they are extremely annoying.. I would run 3.73's for a gear you know will be good all around, or 3.90's if you want a little more low end oomph..

With 4.10's, I'm at 3000 RPM at 80 on the highway, which is much higher than I would want if my car were more than just a toy.

Best advice, find someone who has 3.73's or 4.10's and go for a ride.. its the only way you'll truly be able to know what you want, otherwise its a gamble
 
8

88bluepony

New Member
Aug 3, 2011
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0
northwest ohio
Oct 23, 2011
#14
  • Oct 23, 2011
  • #14
my car is mostly stock and i used 3:55 gears, its actually perfect since my first gear is a 3:27, i drive it daily, so i say go 3:45 or 3:55
 

RangerJoe

I leave the horn on while driving
15 Year Member
Apr 26, 2010
2,560
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Georgia
Oct 24, 2011
#15
  • Oct 24, 2011
  • #15
I would take into consideration what your first gear trans ratio is and your overdrive ratio....then look at your driving habits. I have a z-spec t5 with 3.73 gears. Zspecs have a 2.95 first gear (versus 3.35 1st gear in other t5's), which takes alot of the bite out of my 3.73s, I also have a .63 overdrive (versus .68 in some t5's).

Given my setup, I will be replacing with 4.10's in order to get a little more pull in first gear. The .63 overdrive gear will help out with highway rpm's.

Try this calculator and see what rpm's you might be at a given speed. In my opinion, rear gears are a great first mod, right after cai and exhaust. Just remember, a more aggresive cam may require lower gears, so you will be ready when that time comes.

Wallace Racing - Calculate Speed for given RPM, Rear Gear Ratio and Trans Gear Ratio
 

ratio411

Founding Member
Apr 21, 2002
3,870
73
109
Pensacola FL
Oct 25, 2011
#16
  • Oct 25, 2011
  • #16
My .02...
If you don't drive interstate highway on a regular basis, 4.10s are the way to go with an AOD.
(I have no experience with 4.10s behind a T5)

I put a set in my son's car (headers, OR-X, GT40 intake, AOD) and he GAINED MPG around town over 2.73s. The car doesn't work as hard in traffic and stop and go, so it gains. He doesn't drive interstate, so even though it would be a slight loss in mileage there, it's not an issue.

As long as you have that OD gear, you'll still go 140 at redline. Do you need to go faster?
Yeah, they'll be even better with heads and cam too.

My .02, worth what you paid. I might also be a bit bias if you judge by my screen name.
(and I run 4.11s old school... no OD!)
 
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