Which gear ratio will do me best in the long run

depends, what do you want to use your car for

 

Unless you're running stupid high boost and racing it 24/7, I'd go 3.55 and call it a day.

 

I've had Stangs with 4.1 & 3.7 Gears but I was running tall over height Street Slicks so it was a good combo
For the normal (short tires) most Stangs run (and I run on my Mach 1) I have to admit the 3.5 Gear is perfect for big power :headbang:

 

3.55 or 3.73 for sure.

 

Since you plan on boosting your stang I wouldnt do the pi head swap. It raises your compression so the amount of boost you can on pump gas is limited.

 

I'm going with 355s after I swap out the 410s in my car but I'm also tracking the car. But I still use it for a daily so having 373s in 2 previous sn95s I'd vouche for them. They're fun and not too aggressive. Especially if you have different rear ends and they're already in then just go to the 373s, you'll enjoy them

 

Also...you're gonna get spanked....learn to live with it. I don't ever try to worry if I'm gonna get spanked or not because I know my car doesnt compete. I do however know for the year and generation of cars put out in that Era that it's one of the faster cars so I hold my car up to others from the 1990-2000 time because that's roughly what it could "compete" with

 

Hmmmmmm fair enough. Go 3.73!

 

lol well a 500hp isnt a stock or era correct number for our cars hahah, with that much power by all means my friend do all the walking over fire kittens and vetties you want

 

After running multiple power adders and 3.55s, 3.73s, and 4.30s in less than a 4 year span... On your build I would personally recommend the 3.73s. I miss my 3.73s because of the way the T-45 has ratios in 3rd. However, you're running a T-5 from what I gather. The 3.73s will be happy with future mods and current and give you a beyond good balance for drivability, acceleration, and highway comfort in fuel economy and noise.

 

Absolutely the 3.73. Sounds like the ideal gear for your plans.

 

Yes and no. Im not saying to skip the blower because using to stock npi heads will limit you. They wont flow like pi's but you can still make good power with npi heads and will keep the stock compression ratio. Doing a pi swap minus the heads wont give you gains like that of a full pi swap but youre not losing out on much.

My recommendation, 3.73's, turbo, npi heads, pi intake, either pi or blower cams and an aftermarket throttle body and plenum. A pi swap and full bolt ons would give you a good bump in power but what if you want more? The compression will necessitate either lower boost or race gas/e85.

 

Speaking from a having an all motor car on 4.10's (both NPI, PI head swapped and Pi'd motor) roots blower with 4.10's and a turbo PI'd motor with 3:55's...

either go 3.55 or 3.27. 3.55's even with a fully built motor on 12psi (about 550rwhp) was stupidly fun and would knock the tires off in every gear (including fifth!).
With a turbo you benefit more with a numerically lower gear like a 3.27 or 3.55 because the engine stays loaded longer so get the turbo to spool and stay within its power band longer. To Tall of a gear and your constantly shifting, to low and you never get to shift, so its really a balancing act.

If it was me, i'd stick with the 3.27's.

 

Turbo 3.27, centri blower, 3.73.. Don't worry about the high compression.. It will be more fun with a high compression low boost set up

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