idriveamustang

hey guys my friend just purchased a 97 GT 5 spd and came stock with 2:73 gears?.. He wants to know before he starts moding it if he should Put 3:73's or 4:10's in it right away or wait. He dosent do much Highway driving but even now and then he does. Wich would be the best and should doing the gears be one of the first things he does to mod his car?

2001_SaleenS281_08

I say 3.73 for the manual, but 4.10's are okay. I just swapped my 3.73's out for 3.55 in anticipation of FI

98LS1

I'd do it the opposite way. If my car was a manual I'd go with steeper gears, 4.10's or 4.56's, but since it's an auto and a daily driver, I went with 3.73's.

I think you're gonna have to change carriers though to go with a 3.73 gear or a 4.10. I'm not positive though.

idriveamustang

his car is a manual and he is using the car pretty much as a daily driver

98LS1

Well, he'll be able to control his RPM's better with a manual. So his gas mileage should be decent at least. I'd definately go with 4.10's. Of course, that car isn't making much power so you might run out of gear fairly quickly if racing.

idriveamustang

yeah, he just wanted to know if he should start off by moding his car with gears.. since hes gonna have to do it anyway just wanted to know if he should get it over with.

98LS1

Gears are a great first mod. Definately a kick in the pants. You'll at least feel the difference with gears. 2.73's are teh suck!

idriveamustang

yeah i hear ya. How much do you think a place would charge to install them, i heard that its pretty difficult and we probally wont be able to do it.

ghost98

Definately 4:10's. Thats what I have on my car and it makes a huge difference in the feel of the car. His top speed will suffer, but I think it's worth it especially if he doesn't do much highway driving. I still get about 18- 20 mpg if i don't get on it too much.

98LS1

Well, I paid roughly $400 bucks to have new bearings, new crush sleeve, etc...basically the whole rear end re-done. Figured while they were in there might as well go all out.

You need to have them installed by someone who has done it many times. It requires special measuring tools also. I still think you may have to change carriers though. That's gonna cost some $. That's the way my LS1 is anyway.

Good luck.