Auto with 3.73 gears
02-13-2009, 09:37 PM
#2
1st Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NC
Posts: 122
I have this set-up on my 05 GT. The 3:73's really woke the car up without ruining the highway cruising. After installing the Paxton I was really glad I didnt go any lower. Plenty of bottom end, tire frying power and I still have plenty of top end to play with.
02-14-2009, 06:54 AM
#4
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ
Posts: 825
I went from the stock 3.31's to the 3.73 (automatic here) It wasn't a night and day difference, I was slightly disappointed, but it is better than stock, however slightly. As far as revving higher on the highway, and gas consumption, you probably won't even notice, I didn't at all ! I guess its worth it to go 3.73 if you don't want a big difference, for an all around car vs having a track only car. Choose carefully as to who you have do the install, I have issues, and will have it re done by someone else. They must use the gear install kit, and replace the pinion bearing, I was told you cannot re use the pinion bearing. My installer used nothing new, just swapped the gears outt, now I have a howling noise from 40 -60 mph, and coasting from 60- 40. Its annoying! Also, I learned with the auto, as far as the tune goes, you have to adjust the shift points as well for the new gearing to take full advantage of it. You don't only change the gear ratio in the tuner for the speedo. BTW Install labor, 3.73 FRPP gears, Royal Purple 75W 140 (2 qts), and 1 bottle of Ford friction modifier, it all came to 500 bucks.
02-14-2009, 12:15 PM
#5
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Illinois
Posts: 20
JimsGT,
Thanks for the response. You have re-affirmed my concern over this upgrade. I do have a really good performance shop, who guarantees no gear whine, but it's $700 total for parts and labor.
It's interesting how there is such a difference in options on whether it was worth it or not. There seem to be ALOT of people who run into issues after upgrading gears. Brenspeed said they don't do them anymore, because they are too hard to get right. If they are saying that.....makes you wonder.
I know 4.10s are suppose to make a big difference, but I do alot of highway driving and don't want to be running at 2800-3000 rpms all the time.
Thanks for the response. You have re-affirmed my concern over this upgrade. I do have a really good performance shop, who guarantees no gear whine, but it's $700 total for parts and labor.
It's interesting how there is such a difference in options on whether it was worth it or not. There seem to be ALOT of people who run into issues after upgrading gears. Brenspeed said they don't do them anymore, because they are too hard to get right. If they are saying that.....makes you wonder.
I know 4.10s are suppose to make a big difference, but I do alot of highway driving and don't want to be running at 2800-3000 rpms all the time.
Last edited by Redfire66; 02-14-2009 at 12:19 PM.
02-14-2009, 01:33 PM
#6
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Alabama
Posts: 2,935
I made a thread on this a while back and got several underwhelming responses. It doesn't seem like the 3.73's made that much of a difference. I decided to go with the 4.10's in my auto but won't have the money for install until next week, so I can't offer my experience with 4.10's. From what I've heard they will be a bit too much for the highway but I don't drive on the highway that much. Everyone I've talked to with 4.10's said they made a huge difference but I probably wouldn't go with them if you do a lot of highway driving.
02-15-2009, 04:01 AM
#8
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NJ
Posts: 401
I went from the stock 3.31's to the 3.73 (automatic here) It wasn't a night and day difference, I was slightly disappointed, but it is better than stock, however slightly. As far as revving higher on the highway, and gas consumption, you probably won't even notice, I didn't at all ! I guess its worth it to go 3.73 if you don't want a big difference, for an all around car vs having a track only car. Choose carefully as to who you have do the install, I have issues, and will have it re done by someone else. They must use the gear install kit, and replace the pinion bearing, I was told you cannot re use the pinion bearing. My installer used nothing new, just swapped the gears outt, now I have a howling noise from 40 -60 mph, and coasting from 60- 40. Its annoying! Also, I learned with the auto, as far as the tune goes, you have to adjust the shift points as well for the new gearing to take full advantage of it. You don't only change the gear ratio in the tuner for the speedo. BTW Install labor, 3.73 FRPP gears, Royal Purple 75W 140 (2 qts), and 1 bottle of Ford friction modifier, it all came to 500 bucks.
02-16-2009, 08:38 PM
#9
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: ATL
Posts: 2,955
