I am getting ready to order my gears and am having a hard time deciding between 4.10's and 4.30's. I have a 2003 GT with an automatic. Currently I only have a Flowmaster catback, Mac o/r H, and MM CC Plates along with some 18x9 and 18x10 wheels with 305 drag radials out back. I am not planning on going with any kind of forced induction and I don't drive it on the highway very much. It's primarly a Sunday car that I just drive around the streets and the highway occationally. I might make one or two trips to the track as well.

I very much want to wake this thing up but I don't want it to be an uncomfortable riding car. For some reason I get the idea that with 4.30's if I was going 35mph it would feel like a car that was just downshifted in a manual transmission (that kind of held back feeling? Its hard to describe..like if you were going 40mph and you downshifted back down to 2nd..)

Is that how it feels while crusing on the street?

 

I understand exactly what you're saying, but it's not going to be nearly as dramatic as you're thinking. I think pretty much everyone is going to suggest the 4.30's for your application.

 

Not everyone. I see that the car doesn't get a lot of miles, so a shorter gear is definitely an option for you. The automatic will prevent you from having to row thru the gears manually as I do, but the car will still go thru gear much more quickly with 4.30s.

4.30s are a very short gear for street driving. I had a Mustang with 4.30s many years ago and swore I would never do that again.

Just this morning I swapped my 4.10 gears back down to my old 3.73s because I was running too many rpms in 4th gear in the 1/4. Do some calculations and understand what rpms you will be turning at certain speeds on the street and what rpms you'll be turning at the track before you decide which gear ratio to go with.

I'm absolutely NOT saying 4.30s are the wrong gear!!! Just be sure to calculate your rpms under some situations you will use the car in and decide from there.

YOU WILL LIKE THE NEW GEARS!!!

 

The car doesn't get very much drive time..its a 2003 and only has 30,000 miles on it. I pretty much just use it as something to have fun with. I don't take it on trips or to a destination in perticular, just driving around. The miles per gallon thing doesn't mean anything to me. That is not an issue. I am just concerned about wear and tear and it feeling uncomfortable when just crusing around.

 

If you're not going going FI (BTW that's what we all say) and not worried about gas mileage then I would most def suggest 430's. Just my 2 cents tho. Good luck dude.

 

I would think the 4.30's would be more fun since it doesn't get very much drive time, doesn't see long trips, mpg's doesn't matter, you're staying n/a, etc...

Also it should be a little quicker overall. It really boils down to preference. IIRC, you're only looking at 200-300 rpm difference between the two.

 

Dude! when are you getting your car tuned!!!????!?!?!?! Just bustin ya bawls dude, Op, I'm eventually going to 4.30's, when I get them I'll let ya know how they are

 

4.30s

 

5.13s or bust.


Seriously, I'd stick to 4.10s. With your rpm range it leaves room for improvement in power and you'll still be able to pull ~113mph thru the traps

 

They dont make 5.13's, they just make 5.14's and thats just too much. If it were 5.13's id be all for it...

/sarcasm

4.30's man. At 60mph youre not even 100rpm away with 4.30's from where you'd be with 4.10's and the 4.30's will be that much more fun.