rear end gearing

[killer7]

Well, I'm a bit confused and figure'd I'd ask here.

I've been debating on either regearing my rearend or just picking up a new one with 4.11's out of the scrapyard for acceleration.

But, my dad was saying that throwing a 3.08 would be best. (He drag/street raced for years, his chevelle was a beast till it got totaled. 3.05 and it could pick the front end up.)

Was just wondering what you guys would have to say. I was taught that shorter gears were better for accel to a point.

 

[Blee1099]

Tell your dad he's a little slow.. 3.05 would make it slower than a turtle.. Depending on what your axle ratio currently is, 4.10 may be a great swap. A higher gear ratio will give you more power vs a lower number which will give you better gas mileage.

 

[Turdle]

Well, if you have about 1000 hp and want to run in the 8's , then yes you'll need a tall gear ( lower number) to achieve the 170 mph speeds.

However, if a car is short on power, A higher gear will usually make it "quicker".

Ideally, for drag racing, you should be at the top of your last gear at the end of the 1/4 mile. If you aren't, you need a lower gear ( higher numerical ratio)
If you are redlining before you cross the line, you need a taller gear( lower numerical ratio)

I think if you geared your sport to perform well on the track-it would be worthless on the street.

What you want is a turbo. Leave the gears alone.

 

[killer7]

Well, if you have about 1000 hp and want to run in the 8's , then yes you'll need a tall gear ( lower number) to achieve the 170 mph speeds.

However, if a car is short on power, A higher gear will usually make it "quicker".

Ideally, for drag racing, you should be at the top of your last gear at the end of the 1/4 mile. If you aren't, you need a lower gear ( higher numerical ratio)
If you are redlining before you cross the line, you need a taller gear( lower numerical ratio)

I think if you geared your sport to perform well on the track-it would be worthless on the street.

What you want is a turbo. Leave the gears alone.

I havn't had a chance to get it to the strip so the best I've been doing is 4 telephone poles (roughly a quarter mile here). Generaly im around 80ish with most of 3rd left to go.

And yes, I'm really thinking of putting a remote turbo in near the end of the summer, just starting a new job on Monday with some really hectic hours (50+ a week) so time is going to be a premium now.

My reasoning for shorter gears (im 3.73 right now) is that I rarely - if ever - use this vehicle on the interstate so 55-60 is well within O/D capacity to make up for it imo. (But I really can't say for sure, its just a guesstimate.)


I'm starting to lean towards your thinking though jt.

Thanks for the help

 

[d4rizob]

I swapped out my 3.73 for a 4.30 and picked up 3 tenths in the 1/8th. My gas mileage fell about 1 mpg, not to bad, and I can still drive it on the highway.

 

[Jakee]

If your set on a turbo then you'll want to stay away from the step gears. You'll notice on a turbo car that they'll produce boost under load, and a step gear can take that load away a bit. I have 3:73's and that's just about right at the end of the 1/4.

 

[killer7]

If your set on a turbo then you'll want to stay away from the step gears. You'll notice on a turbo car that they'll produce boost under load, and a step gear can take that load away a bit. I have 3:73's and that's just about right at the end of the 1/4.

Yea, I'll probably wait and see how it is with a turbo (If I can save up that much. I'm always finding plenty of $2-300 parts that I'd like. heh. but first I deffinitly need a wideband. im sick of blindly tuning.)


thanks for the help you guys. I didn't even think about the issue with the turbo.
(And the fact that 4.10's with a turbo would probably just end up with large tire bills )