Reae Gear Q

[Bouttime09]

Starts off, I purchased a 96 Cobra from an older couple while I was deployed back in March. They told me that it was all stock with the exception of the 3.55's. First time driving the car the lack of traction at full throttle anywhere in 1st or 2nd gear was OBVIOUS, as was my less than expected MPG. I figured that I had some horribly cheap tires, or a factory freak. Later in forum search I stumbled apon a gear calculator. After punching in my RPM's in 5th and a certain speed it turns out that I have 4.56. Now all be it fun to burn out at will any time any where, is this really a good gear for the street? Are there any downfalls to having such a high gear...aside from gas mileage. And how do I go about putting a power adder on (planning on nitrous) with such horrible traction? Am I just being a whiney baby, or are these valid questions and concerns?

If you get around, I posted this in the SVT forum as well...sorry for the double post.

 

[Matt94GT]

for the street I say 3.73 they are a good all around gear, 4.10s if you want that extra get up and go but by the sounds of it you might get a power adder in the future so I say go with 3.73s.

WOW 4.56 lol must have NO first gear.

 

[2slo95fiveoh]

Gees... A T56 transmission would be perfect for a 4.6 Dohc and that steep of gears.. But the downfalls are pretty much gas mileage,
having to shift more frequently, and gas mileage. Oh, and gas mileage.. Do you plan on driving it on the highway much, or just around town?
I would suggest dropping down to 4.10s for your Modular.. You'll have enough "get up and go" without having to start out in 2nd gear
at stop signs.. When you eventually want to put a power adder on it, the slightly longer gear will allow you to stay in 4th going
through the traps on the 1/4 mile..

 

[atlanticblue98]

i heard that 4v's love steep gears

 

[Mean98GT]

Holy shifting. 4.56? Wow thats steep. Talk about clutch work.

 

[vermilion]

great sales pitch. it has 4.5xxx no i mean 3.55s.

 

[9psi 98]

Forget the calculator. Jack the rear of your car up. Put a mark on the inside of the tire and one on the drive shaft with white chalk of something so you can see them both. See how many turns of the driveshaft equal one turn of the tires.

A little over 3 and a half turns = 3.55
A little over 4 turns = 4.10
A little over 4 and a half turns = 4:56

This method eliminates any RPM discrepancies in your tach, and works with any transmission final drive ratio....any othe ratio's, you get the point. 4.56 is extremely high for the street and is pretty much a track car only kind of thing, however some people do run up to a 4.90:1. Give it a shot, let us know what you have.