Best gearing for nitrous or forced induction
 

I have a 94 5.0 5spd. I do run on the highway to go to work, this is my DD, and I like to race from a dig and from a roll until someone "taps out". Mpg is a concern, but not a big one. So I want good off the juice performance and even better on the juice performance. I have plans for a 75-100 shot.

Is traction really that hard to get with 4.10s and nitrous?

Some say 4.10s, others say 3.55s and yet others say 3.73 or even 3.90s.

What are the determining factors into what gear to run?

What gears are you guys running? What tires? Peak power? How is 1st gear...useless or not?

RE: Best gearing for nitrous or forced induction
 

Do you want to run drag radials or street tires? If you want to stay on street tires then you don't want much gear.

RE: Best gearing for nitrous or forced induction
 

Do you have any idea how much torque you are making? If your making a good amount and fear running out of gear then don't go with 4.10's. Go with something higher like 3.73's or 3.55's. The more torque the higher the gear. Lower gears like 4.10's and 4.56's are good for stock and near stock w/ DR's or sticky streets that want to make up for the lack of torque.

RE: Best gearing for nitrous or forced induction
 

id go with 4.10s if from a dig without too much torque, otherwise 1st is useless.

RE: Best gearing for nitrous or forced induction
 

the rpm raise per gearset is only about 250, so the mpg you lose is nonexistent...what i'm saying is that yes...a jump from 2.73 to 3.73 is about 1000, significantly more than you were....another 250 to go to 4.10's doesn't make a diff in mileage...it does however make a diff on ET and getting it going.

i am a huge 4.10 fan, personally i will use no other gear, if i had a twin turbo car probably i'd go 3.27 or 3.55, but since i never will....4.10's it is and i'm on my second that way. i had 2 aod's w/ 3.73 and it needed to be wet for them to spin the tires still

yes traction will be an issue though...have a spare pair of wheels that match the rest....on weekends and track time throw them on there w/ some mickey thompson et streets

not even counting the juice...you will destroy the tires at part throttle on a 5-speed car.

1st gear is not useless... it's short ...i'll give you that....i'll be shifting into 2 by the time i'm in the intersection from a red light...in 5th by 35-45 mph , but i still get 20-21 mpg , and tach 3000 at about 80-85

my '89 went 13.20's on 4.10's, long tubes, ac delete, smog delete, southsides, 2 1/2" catback and stock everything else, then 12.50's squirting 75 dry.

my buddy w/ a '92 notch 5-speed never got out of the 14's w/ 3.73 and et streets..... on a stock headed car, they will still bog, just lack the gear to get it going. still quick...but not the knockout punch your looking for.

i'm not even giving times for my '93 til i have it done...just disgusting

you won't regret it...and the fable of "running out of gear" .... not true at all...you'll hit the traps about 5500 (real rpm's...not the f'd up stock tach reading)

RE: Best gearing for nitrous or forced induction
 

nitrous doesn't need gears!! it creates it's own gears ...fast and faster

RE: Best gearing for nitrous or forced induction
 

i found 4.10 daily driven is fun for quick blasts, but daily driven on highway is a lil annoying

RE: Best gearing for nitrous or forced induction
 

cant go wrong with 3.73's

RE: Best gearing for nitrous or forced induction
 

as far as im concerned, i agree with nitrous bob, 4.10's are great. For just about most applications, I like the short 1st gear, but i still never have to shift out of 3rd at the track, its screaming, but the 4.10 help get that car moving real well! Id stick with the 4.10's

RE: Best gearing for nitrous or forced induction
 

Any choice will be a comprimise. Low will be problem on the highway, especially if you like to drive fast and have concern for mileage.

I daily drive with 3.73's and mostly use the right lane and get passed by everyone. Too low for my goal.

High gears will hamper your et by a couple tenths. Is that couple tenths that important to you?

If you can't hook up due to regular tires. What you've gained low gears, you've lost in traction.