Help choosing gears!!
 

I have the stock 355s still and i have found a couple good deals on some frrp 373s my question is would i notice much of a differnce between my 355s or should i try some 390s i dont want 410s just cause i feel as if that is too much. Please let me know what youg uys thnk and what a normal install price is... My uncle says he can help with the install but id feel a little more comfortable gettin it done progesionally. Thanks

Hell I wish mine came with 3.55s. :( I've got the 3.31s. If I were you, I'd keep what you have honestly. The 3.73s won't really be enough of a difference IMO. I agree with the 4.10s, I don't really want them either based on what I've read. Right now I'm thinking about just slapping the D/S on there and calling it good for now. The cars fast and I can actually still get some traction... sorta. ;)

A typical price for install/parts is around $500~

Ford racing does not make 3.90 and 3.73 is not worth the effort, I assume you have a manual, 4.10 will be fine. I have 3.73.with my auto but I started with 3.31. The gearing differences in the two transmissions make the final result about the same.

If you have a manual, go with the 4:10s. Going from 3:55 to 3:73 are not worth the money and you will hardly be able to feel the difference.

There is not a huge difference in going from 3.55 to 4.10 except for highway rpms. Sure, there is more torque with the 4.10's, but it's not that dramatic.

If I had it to do over, I'd go with 3.73.

my buddy had 410s and i thought it was too much i can get some 373s for 70 shipped

i went from 3.55 to 4.10. At first i didnt like it but now i just cruise in a highter gear. also you will like the seat of the pants feel. dont cut yourself short and get the 4.10!! JMO!!!

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I am a fan.

Another vote for 4.10s. I have them and I drive my car 70 miles a day to and from work with about 65 miles being hwy. No problems at all. They are quiet. HWY MPG has not been affected that much, maybe 1-2 MPG drop. Car pulls harder at hwy speeds. Dropping from 5th to 3rd at 55-60 and accelerating is more responsive with the 4.10s than the 3.55s.

Since you already have the 3.55's, the 3.73 wouldn't be worth it. Since you dont like 4.10's, just stay with what you have.

I got quoted $250 for install from Bamachips reccommended shop. I also got a $350 quote from another shop.

On a side note, has your suede headliner stayed up with no problems?

When I changed the rear gears in one of my toy's from 3.23:1 I thought that the 3.56:1 would not be enough of a difference so I went with 3.92:1 gears.
Biggest mistake that I ever made! the car is .02 seconds faster in the 1/8 mile and my gas mileage went from 10.5 mpg to 6.5 mpg. Now it is a pain to take on the highway and just sucks more gas.
The 3.55:1 in my Saleen, is just about ideal with the fifth gear O.D.
I would not go higher than a 3.73:1 in your car. Just not worth it.
Unless you were to install the 6-speed from the shelby's with two O.D gears.

Eric

Might want to just save your $ right now. The tax man cometh.

I believe it would be more of a waste to go from 3.55s to 3.73. The 5 speeds in the S197 has almost the final gearing as the 6speed that is offered in the GT500. It seem when you changed gearing from 3.23 to 3.56 your MPG dropped by around 40%. I guarantee, if the OP keeps the same driving habits his MPG will not drop by 40%. I can almost guarantee that is overall MPG will stay within 1-3 MPG.

My Saleen has 400 RWHP and the 3.55:1 is sweet. Third gear at 70 ish scoots right up to 95 plenty fast, uphill. And it still gets great MPG. Very nice set-up.
No problem at all passing everything on the road. I am going to install a smaller pulley on the blower this week and it will only get better.

Eric

You have a manual and if you want to compromise get the 3.90's. make sure you have an installer that knows what they re doing to and give a guarantee on "No Whine!"

If going with a twin screw S/C, then 4.10s might be too much, although one of my friends is running a KB on 05 Mustang GT with auto and 4.10. The car is his d/d. Only problem is, that he has to use drag radials for every day driving.
3.90s might be good, but I have not read one post were some one with 3.90s didn't whine. It didn't mater what company they came from or who did the install.

4.10s!! Everyone who has them loves em. Highway rpms are not that much of a difference, and ur mileage in city will increase without much lost on the highway as long as you don't drive 80+ everywhere. Don't waste your time with 3.73s

LOL!! never would have guessed it Joe

You'll get a million opinions on this one. Some people with a twin screw say 3.73. I know others (Kolb02 for instance) who highly recommend 4.10 no matter.

Honestly if you can get traction then 4.10 would be my choice no matter what the situation.

40% ????? Don't think so!

If he's getting 20mpg now, he's not going to get 12mpg after getting 4.10's.

I get about 17-18mpg with my 4.10's. Closer to 20mpg if all I do is highway driving.

ya the suede is doing good

3.73's arent worth it unless you are in the diff already for something else like a tru trac.

I have a TS and plan on getting a set or 4.10's and running them with a 28" tall tire. That should give me a final around 3.90's which is perfect IMO.

That is my recommendation. 4.10's and 28" tall tire.

+1

My plan as well. 4.10s and a 275/50/R17. Probably M&H drags.

I edited my post. I was referring to 67fires 40% drop when he went from 3.23 to 3.56. I am assuming this was in his 67 Mustang. I said there is no that the OP would have his MPG decrease by 40% if went from 3.55 to 4.10.

whatever makes you happy is a good choice, i can tell you that imo i have the 5spd and went from the 355's to the 410 and think that it is the perfect gear for a stock motor or slightly modded (cai etc) i feel it gets everything out of the 4.6 and honestly did not change my mileage at all, i am not trying to persuade you either way just hate to see you miss out on the fun factor and that's coming from a 48 year old. good luck......jim

gman, "When I changed the rear gears in one of my toy's from 3.23:1 I thought that the 3.56:1 would not be enough of a difference so I went with 3.92:1 gears."

Read again please. 3.23:1 to 3.92:1

That "toy" has 11.5:1 Compression ratio and a .500/.500 lift cam with
.308/.320 Duration. It also runs on race fuel or stays parked. I did not wish
for him to loose out on the mileage difference that makes the car LESS FUN to drive on the street.
And even at the track, it was not worth the effort to make it less fun
on the street.

With the Mod Motors, it is more FUN to add boost! And when you are out of it, you still get great mpg. I get 20 in town and 26 on the highway. Not too much junk out there, has a prayer against you on pump gas. Just hit the "happy" pedal!

Eric

My fault, should have read it a little closer. Boost would be a good way to go, but can be a little expensive.

JIM, I would like to hear more. I have 3:31 gears, and 4:10 gears ready to go, but I've been rethinking going to 3.73's instead. I could care less about mileage or highway rpm.

The two concerns I have are first gear being useless, and forever shifting in mixed city traffic (not stop and go, but I drive 15 miles to work, which has lots of 55mph, and some 35 zones with lights and such).

What has been your experience in those two areas?

In city/town driving, I usually start of in 2nd unless going up hill or want faster acceleration. I really haven't noticed that I have to shift too often. 1st gear is not useless, in fact I believe 2nd gear is even shorter than 1st.

If your life is not spent on the highway, get the 4.10s. With all my mods, I still get 25mpg on the highway.

If you had emminent plans for FI then stick with the 3.55s.