usernamesarelame

While inspecting a couple curious items in my new to me 2001 mustang GT i noticed a steeda short shifter as well as a dallas mustang speedometer calibrator. it also has aftermarket guage faces, beyond this i dont know what this car has, or doesnt have in the way of aftermarket, I've had the car less than 10 hours. my question is, has anybody ever used one of these to recalibrate for new gauge faces???
thanks.
-kevin

SilverGTV8

It's not for the faces it's for the gears that are in the car. You must have 3.73s or 4.10s in the car.

usernamesarelame

Hmmm.... This is interesting. so, its probably more likely that i have gears than just using it to compensate for a new speedo? well whats a good way to tell if the car has different gears in it?
i know the trans is a little louder than i thought it should be, but no grinding, it almost sounds like the heater is running... i am very new to mustang ownership, but not new to cars.... please bear with me while i learn more about the car.
thanks guys
-kevin

roundman

jack up the rear end and turn the driveshaft by hand while watching the rear wheel make 1 full revolution. count the turns on the driveshaft it takes to make the wheel go 1 turn and this will tell you the approx. gear ratio. 4+ turns = 4.10 gear; 3-3/4 turns = 3.73 gear; 3+ turns = 3.08 gear, etc etc.

usernamesarelame

how hard is turning the driveshaft by hand?

roundman

not hard at all, just make sure both rear wheels are off the ground on good jackstands and that the trans is in neutral and the parking brake is off. put some chalk marks on both the wheel and the driveshaft for reference marks so you can count the turns and you will be able to do it no sweat.

usernamesarelame

thanks for the tip, I'll probably be doing that tomorow as long as the weather is nice enough.
-kevin