Worth upgrading to 3.73s?

[HuskerGT]

Since my GT was originally an AODE car it came with 3.27 gears. I am going to be swapping out the rear brakes with a Ford Racing Cobra brake kit that requires pulling the axles to install the brackets for the calipers this Spring. Since I'm going to have the diff opened up anyway, will upgrading to 3.73 gears be noticeable enough to justify the cost of the new gear set, install kit, etc?

Thanks

 

[2v_takeover]

Usually people suggest 4.10's with the auto's I think! For the money, I think it usually reigns supreme on the 'bang for your buck' discussions.

 

[OnyxCobra]

yes it's worth it imo, that is if you don't think the 3.27s are enough. I went from 3.08 to 3.55 and it was quite a nice change. If you're going to add a power adder though 3.73 might be too much.

 

[Slykin]

I think for a non daily street/strip car 3.73's are fine.. though I personally am not a huge fan of mine for DD status. I like to travel a lot, and the 3.73's rev too high at cruising speed for me, plus 1st gear is basically useless without real good tires. They do give a nice pick up in acceleration though, I will admit that.

 

[Musturd]

3.73's rev to high for cruising speed are you sure ?

 

[vermilion]

i don't see how 3.73s on the highway rev too high. driving @ 70MPH, my engine is revving 2200 RPM. i have an aluminum flywheel and driveshaft. i simply dont see this logic. With the STOCK driveshaft and flywheel it was @ 2400 or so RPM.

 

[Saint]

At 70 mph I'm at about 2400 rmp...not too bad...It is a pain talking on the phone people think I'm at a race trak or something

I have 3.73's in an auto....the mpg suffered a bit...still happy....they pull so hard

No bs I've pulled on vette's audi's and other high end car's 3.73's make a world of difference

At about 70mph roll you'll have no pull so don't go racing some supped up civic unless you want to get walked

50mph roll the tires nearly break loose....And thats not even flooring it by they way

 

[Musturd]

I have no problem racing from a roll arm nitrous purge floor it

 

[GT Rob]

Just do it and you'll love them I have 373 and its auto you'll feel the diffrents

 

[OnyxCobra]

3.55s with a 26" tire and .68 OD i'm turning 2400rpm at 75mph, in my opinion that's a bit much but then again it's all what you're used to. with the stock 3.08 it turned 2000rpm at the same speed.


and how the hell does changing a flywheel and a driveshaft affect your RPM?

 

[Saint]

3.55s with a 26" tire and .68 OD i'm turning 2400rpm at 75mph, in my opinion that's a bit much but then again it's all what you're used to. with the stock 3.08 it turned 2000rpm at the same speed.


and how the hell does changing a flywheel and a driveshaft affect your RPM?

+ 1

After awhile you won't even notice you're at 2400rpm at 75mph

Just put them in and you won't regret it, may even get a speeding ticket or two

 

[Musturd]

2400 is nothing at 2000 rpm the car is gutless and super quiet . I don't mind driving 300 Miles on the highway with my car anytime

 

[JerZeyStangz]

Aode here with 3.27 factory stock to 3.73's. I honestly think they rev really high. It's kind of weird to say, but reason why I think this is because the modular motors start making power around 3k, and your almost right there, so it constantly sounds like your ready to mash the gas before a race, but at cruising speed if that makes any sense. The reason why I wanted 3.73's is because its being swapped to a stick soon, so I wont have to worry about the rearend not lacking gear.

 

[Brian95SVT]

I'm going to be loving my 3.90s here soon, just saying.

 

[Nacho98]

Note the OP is doing a 5-speed swap. I've got 3.27s with a 5-speed and it's just barely over 2000 rpm at 70. Anything higher for a DD I'd be kind of ehhhh, since it starts getting over 2k at 75-80 mph. Are you DD'ing the car?

 

[Brian95SVT]

I also don't DD my car so yall might have different needs / requirements.

 

[uncltrvlnmatt]

I have 3:73's. Pull about 2400 @70-75mph. I would do it again. My mpg did not suffer enough to worry about. Still getting 20-22mph with 187k on the clock.

The alluminum flywheel and drive shaft give less rotational mass. Don't know if it will turn less rpm, but it will get there quicker.

 

[Musturd]

Note the OP is doing a 5-speed swap. I've got 3.27s with a 5-speed and it's just barely over 2000 rpm at 70. Anything higher for a DD I'd be kind of ehhhh, since it starts getting over 2k at 75-80 mph. Are you DD'ing the car?

Isn't 80 mph speeding pretty goood there ? 3.73's on my 96 gt are great on the highway the speed limit here is 100kph so 60mph ... In 5th its usually lugging the car way to much with stock ghetto gears ... I'll never own or drive a dogged out stock geared car again. My new vert is getting gears before I do anything else to it

 

[Nacho98]

Most freeways here are 70 outside of the city (there it's usually 55-65), and I think there are a couple of 75ers. 80 is a good clip though, but sometimes you just feel like a pimp in your 225 hp turd.

 

[HuskerGT]

Note the OP is doing a 5-speed swap. I've got 3.27s with a 5-speed and it's just barely over 2000 rpm at 70. Anything higher for a DD I'd be kind of ehhhh, since it starts getting over 2k at 75-80 mph. Are you DD'ing the car?

Thanks for all the input. I did my 5-speed swap about 6-7 years ago. Mine isn't a DD since I put it away for winter, but I do drive it quite a bit in Spring & Summer. From my research, the rpms at highway speeds with 3.73s won't bother me that much. 2400rpm @ 70mph isn't anything to worry about, imo

Next question: Should I spend the additional $$ and get the master install kit that has the bearings etc? My GT has around 60k on it now