handyandy

In an earlier thread someone explained to me sorta how gears work. I don't really fully understand, or forgot how, can someone give me a refresher? Something about the drive shaft turns 4.10 times for every 1 turn of the wheel?

Another question I wanted to ask is: why do they help acceleration? I know it gets the car into the powerband quicker, but it doesn't stay there long, and I have to shift right away out of 1st. From a dig, I have a hardtime even beating some of my friends in their old school pathfinders and non-muscle cars just since I have to shift so quick I'll lose em. For other people with 4.10's, how do you feel about them? I feel like it makes me slower in fact. I haven't experienced stock gears since I bought the car this way, but how would those feel?

sweet99

You have it correct. Driveshaft turns 4.10 times for each wheel revolution. Higher numerical gears like the 4.10's compared to the stock 2.87's or whatever the car you have came with is like riding a bicycle in a lower gear. You can spin the cranks aster and accellerate but you need to shift sooner.
What you need is practice and a good shifter if you don't already. My Turbo Talon redlined at 8500 and I studder box launched it at 5000 rpm's and believe me I bounced off the 9K rpm rev limiter a few times as shifting to 2nd came real quick. You'll get it! Mark

Silver714

I go thru 1st gear in a heartbeat too. But with the 4.10s, 2nd-5th gears are way meaner than they were with the stock 3.27s. The thing that really suprised me was how much 5th gear changed. Steppin on it at 60mph with the 3.27s the car just didnt seem to have any zip. Now with the 4.10s, steppin on it at 60mph gets me to 100mph pretty hubba hubba. I definately wouldn't want to go back to the 3.27s. I wish I woulda gone with an even steeper gear like 4.60!

geetee03

the average horsepower you put down with the 4.10's is higher. you do keep the engine in the powerband more. you have to shift earlier, but when you hit the next gear you are making more power than with lower gears. a good short shifter is almost a must with with the steeper gears.

lgruevski1

2nd on the short throw it works for me

weasel1088

thats kinda misleading, it sounds like your saying your making more horsepower when you swap gears

geetee03

your average RPM's will be closer to 5k, were you make the most power, hence you put down more "average" horsepower. i read this in a mustang mag a while back.

handyandy

I feel like I cant even keep up with non muscle cars from stop signs lately. I have to shift outta first in like 2 seconds, it makes me feel like I'm making NO power. I'm still not grabbing the concept. Do they actually help times and make you faster if you have to shift so quick? I feel like it decreases my power since I Just run through the rpm's so quick, it puts me up to power quickly yes, but you also dont stay in the power band for a long time... Should I just start in 2nd gear when I wanna race someone? so I can get traction plus I feel like I get more power from 2nd for a longer tiime.

s4697

sounds like u need to work on the traction aspect of it. gte come ca's and new tires. then u will find yourself rather pleased that once u hook up in first it will throw u back. o btw try to practice launching it like be easy on the ags as u let of the clutch untill u feel it hook up.

handyandy

I hope you're right. I think thats it. Do control arms go on the front too, or is that just rear suspension? And with a limited budget should I get uppers or lowers first, whats more beneficial?