Acceleration help
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 349
From: webster, ny
Acceleration help
I am posting this in the "handling section " because I am looking for input from people who actually run their car on road courses..
My question is - What is the " Best Bang for the Buck " to improve acceleration - specifically coming out of turns & on uphill sections .
Car has lots of torque but the speed seems to take a while to build .( no supercharger suggestions pls )
I have Nitto NT 05 tires
JLT CAI w 93 oct perf tune
only exhaust mod is Bassani Race mufflers
Appreciate some input - planning Winter upgrades .
My question is - What is the " Best Bang for the Buck " to improve acceleration - specifically coming out of turns & on uphill sections .
Car has lots of torque but the speed seems to take a while to build .( no supercharger suggestions pls )
I have Nitto NT 05 tires
JLT CAI w 93 oct perf tune
only exhaust mod is Bassani Race mufflers
Appreciate some input - planning Winter upgrades .
Last edited by 14901490; Oct 14, 2009 at 10:44 AM.
4th Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,291
From: CA
Best Bang..... for acceleration. You already have an intake and exhaust. Cams and valve springs can give you some nice results, but I don't know if you'd consider them a good deal.
I would have to say rear gears. If your car is a track *****, than something nice and steep would be great. I remember when they began limiting the Grand Am FR500C cars because they were blowing the competition away. I think they started with 4.10s, and now are limited to 3.55s. Just remember that the gearing does need to match your powerband (swapping cams may change that). If you still drive it on the street 3.73s would be the highest I would go.
I would have to say rear gears. If your car is a track *****, than something nice and steep would be great. I remember when they began limiting the Grand Am FR500C cars because they were blowing the competition away. I think they started with 4.10s, and now are limited to 3.55s. Just remember that the gearing does need to match your powerband (swapping cams may change that). If you still drive it on the street 3.73s would be the highest I would go.
4th Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,700
From: CA
Best Bang..... for acceleration. You already have an intake and exhaust. Cams and valve springs can give you some nice results, but I don't know if you'd consider them a good deal.
I would have to say rear gears. If your car is a track *****, than something nice and steep would be great. I remember when they began limiting the Grand Am FR500C cars because they were blowing the competition away. I think they started with 4.10s, and now are limited to 3.55s. Just remember that the gearing does need to match your powerband (swapping cams may change that). If you still drive it on the street 3.73s would be the highest I would go.
I would have to say rear gears. If your car is a track *****, than something nice and steep would be great. I remember when they began limiting the Grand Am FR500C cars because they were blowing the competition away. I think they started with 4.10s, and now are limited to 3.55s. Just remember that the gearing does need to match your powerband (swapping cams may change that). If you still drive it on the street 3.73s would be the highest I would go.
The FR500C's use a T-56 transmission, which has either a .82 or .84 5th gear.
The factory TR-3650 that we have has a .62? .64? 5th gear, making it worthless for road course duty.
Anything higher than 3.73 is going to run you out of gear on most tracks. Ask me how I know...
Former Sponsor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,936
Well, I'd recommend 3.73's, a light flywheel, and a one-piece aluminum driveshaft. The gears will simply give the car more grunt. The other two shed rotational mass and that allows the engine to rev more quickly. For that matter, a light set of wheels is big too as they are 4 big flywheels themselves.
4th Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,692
From: Ontario, Canada
Fortunately for me when they got to the 08's the ratio was changed to 3.73. 
The subject of rear end ratio's was discussed at length in another thread and as mentioned above tied to the track you are running on.
In my case with the 3.73s, 27 inch diameter tires and a rev limit raised to 6,250 by Roush I'm just about running out of revs at Mosport at the end of the back straight. We've tried shifting to 5th but it is a slug in 5th even with the SC
The subject of rear end ratio's was discussed at length in another thread and as mentioned above tied to the track you are running on.
In my case with the 3.73s, 27 inch diameter tires and a rev limit raised to 6,250 by Roush I'm just about running out of revs at Mosport at the end of the back straight. We've tried shifting to 5th but it is a slug in 5th even with the SC
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 667
From: CALI
Gearing is definitely important. Cutting rotational mass is also important as well just as Sam and others had suggested. I would also recommend going with Delete Plates as well because you will be utilizing the upper RPM mostly and will see gains in that range. For $150 and under cant beat the bang for the buck.