95Stealth302

Just ordered my 3.73s from FRPP, along with a rear end rebuild kit to freshen things up, new U joints, and obviously the speedo gear.

So what kind of a difference am I going to feel in my 95 GT all of you who have switch from stock differential ratios to 3.73s?

EmptyEvergreen

i am doing the same thing in a couple weeks, but i have been told that this is one of the most noticable things you can do for your stang considering the price. other mods like cold air kits and underdrive pulleys will ad horses but you an *** if you think you can feel the difference in 8-15 horses, gears will deffinately put a smile on your face that first time you gun it

mdvaldosta

Well, assuming your previous gears were stock 2.73's, going to 3.73's is a 27% increase of torque in each gear. A 95 5.0 had 275 lbs of torque if I remember correctly (less that the earlier 5.0's). And the 1st gear ratio is 3.35 in your T5. SO we can infer:

275 lbs of torque x 3.35 1st gear ratop x 2.73 rear gears = 2,515 lbs of torque going to your rear tires in first gear

Now with the gear change:

275 lbs of torque x 3.35 1st gear ratop x 3.73 rear gears = 3,436 lbs of torque going to your rear tires in first gear


Now it would take an additional 101 lbs of torque FROM THE ENGINE to achieve that difference at the rear wheels. Can you say supercharger? Thats right, your car is gonna pull as hard as a supercharged car in first gear (assuming the supercharged car is otherwise stock). Now, of course as you go up in transmission gears the difference is gonna be less and less, and actually as you shift into 3rd gear you've lost alot of your mechanical advantage. By 4th gear its only a difference of 275 lbs of torque (instead of 921). Of course if you are modded the difference will be larger.

And what does all this extra torque cost you? Only rpm's. You will give up rpm's in each gear in exchange for more torque. You give up top speed for acceleration. Me personally, I shoot for 1/4 mile times. So Im gonna use as much gear as I can so that in 4th gear going through the traps I am pretty close to redline.

Thats my $.02

chriscindy6369

very nicely Said mdvaldosta

Fox 5.0

3.73s are AWESOME.. i love mine, and you will too, if ur worried at all about freeway rpms, at 80 you'll be like around 2,600 rpms.

VertStangGT86

I've got some sitting in the garage still and waiting to get a couple paychecks before having them put in but it's been taking far too long[:'(]. Every time I read one of these I wanna get them in.

95Stealth302

Sweetness mdvaldosta, you always come through in the clutch, effieciency was thrown out the windown in favor of mechanical advantage a long time ago, so that doesn't concern me. I can't wait to get them in, and what's even better news is that 2600 rpm at 80!!! is way lower than I thought.

Thanks boys.