3.55 vs. 3.31 standard axle gear ratio
11-03-2006, 10:08 AM
#1
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Join Date: May 2005
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Posts: 247
3.55 vs. 3.31 standard axle gear ratio
Hi. Just wondering if anyone can tell me if there is much of a difference in off the line performance between the optional 3.55 axle gear ratio vs. the standard 3.31 I am looking at purchasing a 2007 GT manual and there is one on the lot with everything I want besides the 3.55 axle. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks!
11-03-2006, 11:19 AM
#2
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 202
RE: 3.55 vs. 3.31 standard axle gear ratio
I have one like you describe (with 3.31s). It doesn't pull as hard in first, and won't bark the tires as well as one with 3.55s (I test drove a lot of Mustangs before I got mine). My situation was much like yours, except I did not like the wheels that were on mine either (fanblades). I worked out a deal with the sales manager to get different wheels. Due to limited selection, I got 20s which were bound to hurt performance some too. It still pulls hard. I have even barked 3rd gear before with a passenger. It also gets good gas mileage. It is not uncommon for me to get into the 27s on the highway. Go ahead and get it. I don't think you will be dissapointed.
11-03-2006, 04:04 PM
#4
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Erlanger, KY
Posts: 273
RE: 3.55 vs. 3.31 standard axle gear ratio
+1 on what Johnnie D said. Save the $100 for even a harder pulling gear than the 3.55. I have the 3.55 and it does pull hard and I can bark the tires very easily in the 1/2 shift as well as the 2/3 shift if I time it right, but I'm going to upgrade since even 3.55s aren't enough pull. I'm only going with 3.73s since a supercharger will by my last mod (4.10s make 1st gear useless if you add a SC), but if you're going to stay normally aspirated, get 4.10s.
11-03-2006, 04:31 PM
#5
I ♥ Acer
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RE: 3.55 vs. 3.31 standard axle gear ratio
^^^that is pretty ridiculous to say. There are many guys with FI pushing over 500 rwhp with 4.10 and even 4.30 gears.
The only time the 4.10's may be too much is if you are pushing serious (by 'serious'- I mean over 650) ftq on a TS or TC and you are running out of gear before the traps. Even in those circumstances, you will only know when you hit the track and find out.
HP and FI have nothing do with your gear choice. The torque you see from your set-up will determine your gears. If I had anything less than 650 ftq, I would run 4.10's or 4.30's in the S197 no questions asked... All other gears are a waste of money IMO.
The only time the 4.10's may be too much is if you are pushing serious (by 'serious'- I mean over 650) ftq on a TS or TC and you are running out of gear before the traps. Even in those circumstances, you will only know when you hit the track and find out.
HP and FI have nothing do with your gear choice. The torque you see from your set-up will determine your gears. If I had anything less than 650 ftq, I would run 4.10's or 4.30's in the S197 no questions asked... All other gears are a waste of money IMO.
11-03-2006, 04:34 PM
#6
RE: 3.55 vs. 3.31 standard axle gear ratio
ORIGINAL: fordfanboy
^^^that is pretty ridiculous to say. There are many guys with FI pushing over 500 rwhp with 4.10 and even 4.30 gears.
The only time the 4.10's may be too much is if you are pushing serious (by 'serious'- I mean over 650) ftq on a TS or TC and you are running out of gear before the traps. Even in those circumstances, you will only know when you hit the track and find out.
HP and FI have nothing do with your gear choice. The torque you see from your set-up will determine your gears. If I had anything less than 650 ftq, I would run 4.10's or 4.30's in the S197 no questions asked... All other gears are a waste of money IMO.
^^^that is pretty ridiculous to say. There are many guys with FI pushing over 500 rwhp with 4.10 and even 4.30 gears.
The only time the 4.10's may be too much is if you are pushing serious (by 'serious'- I mean over 650) ftq on a TS or TC and you are running out of gear before the traps. Even in those circumstances, you will only know when you hit the track and find out.
HP and FI have nothing do with your gear choice. The torque you see from your set-up will determine your gears. If I had anything less than 650 ftq, I would run 4.10's or 4.30's in the S197 no questions asked... All other gears are a waste of money IMO.
save the money for 4.30s
11-03-2006, 05:45 PM
#7
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location:
Posts: 853
RE: 3.55 vs. 3.31 standard axle gear ratio
ORIGINAL: fordfanboy
^^^that is pretty ridiculous to say. There are many guys with FI pushing over 500 rwhp with 4.10 and even 4.30 gears.
The only time the 4.10's may be too much is if you are pushing serious (by 'serious'- I mean over 650) ftq on a TS or TC and you are running out of gear before the traps. Even in those circumstances, you will only know when you hit the track and find out.
HP and FI have nothing do with your gear choice. The torque you see from your set-up will determine your gears. If I had anything less than 650 ftq, I would run 4.10's or 4.30's in the S197 no questions asked... All other gears are a waste of money IMO.
^^^that is pretty ridiculous to say. There are many guys with FI pushing over 500 rwhp with 4.10 and even 4.30 gears.
The only time the 4.10's may be too much is if you are pushing serious (by 'serious'- I mean over 650) ftq on a TS or TC and you are running out of gear before the traps. Even in those circumstances, you will only know when you hit the track and find out.
HP and FI have nothing do with your gear choice. The torque you see from your set-up will determine your gears. If I had anything less than 650 ftq, I would run 4.10's or 4.30's in the S197 no questions asked... All other gears are a waste of money IMO.
11-03-2006, 09:24 PM
#8
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Erlanger, KY
Posts: 273
RE: 3.55 vs. 3.31 standard axle gear ratio
Yeah, it's common knowledge and not ridiculous at all that 4.10s or higher is too much leverage than you need when you start pushing even 500 HP at the crank. The fact is that you just don't need the leverage that the gear will give you since you have the torque to turn the wheels as hard as you need at that HP level without losing traction. Gears are the leverage that we use to make up for the lack of torque. Many of the the guys running blowers say that the leverage a 4.10 provides makes 1st gear almost useless. My brother had 4.30s in a blown vette and you couldn't even take off without spinning the tires no matter how careful you were. Just stating that 4.10 gears or larger are the answer is being too simple about what mods other guys may want. You need to look at the whole picture. Unless you driven one yourself then you really don't know do you?
11-03-2006, 10:33 PM
#9
RE: 3.55 vs. 3.31 standard axle gear ratio
ORIGINAL: 06hoss
Yeah, it's common knowledge and not ridiculous at all that 4.10s or higher is too much leverage than you need when you start pushing even 500 HP at the crank. The fact is that you just don't need the leverage that the gear will give you since you have the torque to turn the wheels as hard as you need at that HP level without losing traction. Gears are the leverage that we use to make up for the lack of torque. Many of the the guys running blowers say that the leverage a 4.10 provides makes 1st gear almost useless. My brother had 4.30s in a blown vette and you couldn't even take off without spinning the tires no matter how careful you were. Just stating that 4.10 gears or larger are the answer is being too simple about what mods other guys may want. You need to look at the whole picture. Unless you driven one yourself then you really don't know do you?
Yeah, it's common knowledge and not ridiculous at all that 4.10s or higher is too much leverage than you need when you start pushing even 500 HP at the crank. The fact is that you just don't need the leverage that the gear will give you since you have the torque to turn the wheels as hard as you need at that HP level without losing traction. Gears are the leverage that we use to make up for the lack of torque. Many of the the guys running blowers say that the leverage a 4.10 provides makes 1st gear almost useless. My brother had 4.30s in a blown vette and you couldn't even take off without spinning the tires no matter how careful you were. Just stating that 4.10 gears or larger are the answer is being too simple about what mods other guys may want. You need to look at the whole picture. Unless you driven one yourself then you really don't know do you?
11-04-2006, 01:15 AM
#10
I ♥ Acer
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Posts: 1,527
RE: 3.55 vs. 3.31 standard axle gear ratio
Driven one myself...lol
I had 4.10's in my car with a custom powerhouse turbo, built 302 stroker, JDM custom heads and was making 648 ftq with no complaints. I only went down to 3.55's when my torque went over 700 ftq because I was running out of gear at the 1000' mark. If it wasn't for that (running out) I would have left the 4.10's in there.
David Beyer was running 9.50's in his S197 on 4.10 gears and only switched to 3.55's for the exact same reason. (running out at 1000' mark)
Nothing you can say will swade me from my opinion that for 99.9% of you guys, anything under 4.10's is a waste of money and anything under 550 ftq, I would do 3.30's
I had 4.10's in my car with a custom powerhouse turbo, built 302 stroker, JDM custom heads and was making 648 ftq with no complaints. I only went down to 3.55's when my torque went over 700 ftq because I was running out of gear at the 1000' mark. If it wasn't for that (running out) I would have left the 4.10's in there.
David Beyer was running 9.50's in his S197 on 4.10 gears and only switched to 3.55's for the exact same reason. (running out at 1000' mark)
Nothing you can say will swade me from my opinion that for 99.9% of you guys, anything under 4.10's is a waste of money and anything under 550 ftq, I would do 3.30's