i need quicker acceleration
06-20-2006, 02:02 AM
#11
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location:
Posts: 459
RE: i need quicker acceleration
this is first mustang..so i have pretty much down all the work my self except for the trannsmission,,screw that im messing around in there..so im actually learning quite a bit about cars in the process of all this stuff and this forum has been very informative to me in alot of areas,,but i have a long way to go..im still a grasshopper.lol
06-20-2006, 02:02 AM
#12
6th Gear Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Nicely done
Posts: 11,881
RE: i need quicker acceleration
well i'm no physics major, but i would say that if
the driveshaft is spinning at a given rpm (ie 2000rpm)
and you change the rear differential ratio and/or
rear wheel/tire overall diameter, you will change how far the
vehicle travels for each revolution of the drive shaft.
the driveshaft is spinning at a given rpm (ie 2000rpm)
and you change the rear differential ratio and/or
rear wheel/tire overall diameter, you will change how far the
vehicle travels for each revolution of the drive shaft.
06-20-2006, 02:05 AM
#15
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 180
RE: i need quicker acceleration
4.10's and drag radials. 
if you aren't heavily modded (and dont ever plan to be), 4.30's and drag radials would be awesome. some light suspension mods on the rear can really help your traction, which makes a huge difference when it comes to launching.
and don't worry about your top speed. you'll stop because of wind resistance long before you'll hit redline in your highest gear. gears might actually help you go just a touch faster actually, because your engine will probably be producing more power at any given speed than before.
and for anyone that might argue that it isn't true, i'll give you this: depending on your dyno curve, you theoretically COULD lose a little top end, because of your power falling off at high rpms. but since gears raise your RPMs at any given speed in a given gear, and since most engines produce more power in higher RPMs, you'll be making more power at that speed, and will be able to overcome wind resistance just a touch better. i'm not saying you'll see a huge difference or anything, my point of this is basically to point out that you won't really lose real-world top speed with a gear change, unless you can top out in your highest gear at red line already. at over 500hp, i still can't top out in 5th gear, so if traction wasn't such an issue, i'd go lower too. i shift at 6300rpm, and according to the gear calculator, at 6300rpm in 5th gear with my 3.73's, i'd be going over 190mph. i wish. wind resistance stops me before i hit that mark.
and gear ratio WILL change your speedometer. you either need to use a tuner to change it, or there's some kind of speedcal unit for around $100 if i remember correctly, that takes care of the speedo issue without needing a tuner.
if you aren't heavily modded (and dont ever plan to be), 4.30's and drag radials would be awesome. some light suspension mods on the rear can really help your traction, which makes a huge difference when it comes to launching.and don't worry about your top speed. you'll stop because of wind resistance long before you'll hit redline in your highest gear. gears might actually help you go just a touch faster actually, because your engine will probably be producing more power at any given speed than before.
and for anyone that might argue that it isn't true, i'll give you this: depending on your dyno curve, you theoretically COULD lose a little top end, because of your power falling off at high rpms. but since gears raise your RPMs at any given speed in a given gear, and since most engines produce more power in higher RPMs, you'll be making more power at that speed, and will be able to overcome wind resistance just a touch better. i'm not saying you'll see a huge difference or anything, my point of this is basically to point out that you won't really lose real-world top speed with a gear change, unless you can top out in your highest gear at red line already. at over 500hp, i still can't top out in 5th gear, so if traction wasn't such an issue, i'd go lower too. i shift at 6300rpm, and according to the gear calculator, at 6300rpm in 5th gear with my 3.73's, i'd be going over 190mph. i wish.
wind resistance stops me before i hit that mark.and gear ratio WILL change your speedometer. you either need to use a tuner to change it, or there's some kind of speedcal unit for around $100 if i remember correctly, that takes care of the speedo issue without needing a tuner.
06-20-2006, 02:11 AM
#17
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location:
Posts: 459
RE: i need quicker acceleration
i plan on getting headers and a plen/tb setup here soon after i upgrade my braking system..but heres a question for you guys.i need headers that will fit my 97 and will not touch my shifter on the driver side on the tranny
06-20-2006, 02:37 AM
#18
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location:
Posts: 344
RE: i need quicker acceleration
dont waste your money on a TB/plenum, not worth the money unless you go blown or some sort of FI. IMHO. I had them both on my 03GT a complete waste of money.
Some may dissagree with me and thats totally ok, just dont call me an idiot or anything.
Some may dissagree with me and thats totally ok, just dont call me an idiot or anything.
06-20-2006, 02:45 AM
#19
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Missouri
Posts: 642
RE: i need quicker acceleration
Since you already have gears and want more acceleration, I would look into a PI swap or maybe even just a set of cams. If you feel like pulling the tranny off, maybe get an alluminum flywheel, aluminum driveshaft, and some drag radials. That combo should get you accelerating pretty quick with those 4.10's.
