Ideal rear gears?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
If you want to move quickly off the line {track or red lite} the 4 series gears would be a better choice. If the interest is in going a buck fifty or more a low 3 series gear would suit the purpose. I prefer the quickness of the 4.11 and 4.56`s because I have no use for a buck fifty street car. 
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 20,715
Likes: 25
From: Sorrento Italy
Originally Posted by norvalwilhelm
I run a 5 speed and with the 4.11 gears it was 4 th gear before I could really lean into it. At the top end of 3rd gear you could still break it loose by just rolling into it. It was no fun.
I ran those 4.11 gears for about 18 years and really got sick of them. I switched back to the stock 308's and found them alot more controllable on the road.
Trust me you could not do a U turn or a tight turn and punch it with my car. It would just wipe out.
I ran those 4.11 gears for about 18 years and really got sick of them. I switched back to the stock 308's and found them alot more controllable on the road.
Trust me you could not do a U turn or a tight turn and punch it with my car. It would just wipe out.
i agree a lower gear is more controllable on the road, i agree that 4.11 or higher gear is a pain to drive if you have plenty of ponies and dont have somebody on the passenger seat who cleans your swet with a cotton handkerchief every two minutes.
also you must agree that how fast you go on a bend does not depend only on what gears you have in the rear but to multiple variables...and that i could loose control on a sharp bend not only with your car and a 4.11 gear but also with my mom's small fiat and the longest gears you could image to have...
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
I'm iwth Norval on this one. I run a 3.08 rear in mine and conbined with a 2.87 first gear I am happy with that. Gears are just torque multipliers, if you have the power you don't need steep gears IMHO. I would like to try 3.55's but I know I would go back to the 3.08's. No way would I even consider a 4 ratio gear for the street 
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
I have run 308,355,373,410 and 456 in various cars and at one time thought 456 was the way to go. I ran for years with 456 and no overdrive and took the car on long cruises, No more. We tried 456 last year in the mustang and even with .68 overdrive the car felt like we needed another gear. Even my 9 year old grandson riding in the passengers seat asked me if I was going to shift into high gear.
Yes he does drive an off road moster jeep. He also motocrosses with a 60 cc Kawi with 6 speed tranny.
We spend 99 % of the time on the street and only occassionally run it hard off a light or at the drag strip. Why compromise the 99% for the 1%.
If you need more gearing just up the power.
Jim with his 540 is knocking on the 9 second door and still runs street gearing.
I know my car is alot faster off the lights with the 308's then with the 411's on street tires.
A street gearing is so much more comfortable on the street, gets better gas mileage, runs cooler, less wear and tear on the motor and doesn't make you cringle on the expressways.
That said I am switching gears this winter to 3.55 to give a bit more rpm for my new 270 @ .050 cam.
Yes he does drive an off road moster jeep. He also motocrosses with a 60 cc Kawi with 6 speed tranny.
We spend 99 % of the time on the street and only occassionally run it hard off a light or at the drag strip. Why compromise the 99% for the 1%.
If you need more gearing just up the power.
Jim with his 540 is knocking on the 9 second door and still runs street gearing.
I know my car is alot faster off the lights with the 308's then with the 411's on street tires.
A street gearing is so much more comfortable on the street, gets better gas mileage, runs cooler, less wear and tear on the motor and doesn't make you cringle on the expressways.
That said I am switching gears this winter to 3.55 to give a bit more rpm for my new 270 @ .050 cam.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 1
From: Rosemount MN
For what it's worth, I'm with the 3.55 gear crowd.
My engine is only a 480 HP/490 Torque 383.
I had a really poorly set up 3.70 gear set that hand grenaded with the motor upgrade, tires would go up in smoke until 4th gear.
The 3.55's still allow me to do a good burn out and I can still break the tires loose when I want, but I don't have to feather the throttle as much.
That's still with the 255 rear tires.
The 3.55's may be the best compromise gearset, but you've got and extra 100Ft/Lb on me so maybe you'd be OK with 3.08, depends on what you're after.
My engine is only a 480 HP/490 Torque 383.
I had a really poorly set up 3.70 gear set that hand grenaded with the motor upgrade, tires would go up in smoke until 4th gear.
The 3.55's still allow me to do a good burn out and I can still break the tires loose when I want, but I don't have to feather the throttle as much.
That's still with the 255 rear tires.
The 3.55's may be the best compromise gearset, but you've got and extra 100Ft/Lb on me so maybe you'd be OK with 3.08, depends on what you're after.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
A combination of how you drive (street or strip) and which of them is more important to you will give you a better indication of what gear to run. Driving on the freeway at 75-80mph with 4.11 gears will get annoying after the first few times.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 61,415
Likes: 478
From: Here to make friends
St. Jude Donor '11, '16-'17
It's going to be mostly a street car until I go with a 4-link or ladder bar kit. Hopefully, by then, I'll have a better idea of what gears will work best.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
As it has been pointed out, it's a trade off. My car is street driven and drag raced a lot but sees very little highway time so the 4.11s coupled with my Super T10 are blast with the big block. That said 4.11s are no fun on the highway. 3.55s are probably the best all around gear. I would not go 3.08s unless you have the transmission gears to assist it. 3.36s are good on the highway and provide more grunt than 3.08s.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 535
Likes: 0
From: Southaven MS
I have a weak 383 by comparison of most of you guys, and I love my 3.55 gears and 700R4(now wishing I had a 200R4). Anyway when I put the 700R4 in it had the orgininal 3.08 gear set and still felt slow off the line. The 3.55 made a huge difference. I know that (and yes I am an arm chair engine builder) I have seen some of John Lingefelter vettes user taller gears than factory(like 3.08s) when he built 600+ hp cars. These things would hit 0-60 in like low low 3 second range. Just some food for thought.
Pro
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 518
Likes: 17
I think with 500ci you can pull any gear that you like, so I'd go with the 3.08's as well.
My 406/700R4 71 Coupe has 3.08's, which is the performance gear that A4 C4's came with. In my case, I can't leave at anything over 1500RPM without killing the street tires (rolling on the throttle etc), and I'm only making some 375 - 400 HP, 455 ft/lbs, so that monster motor of yours is going to kill the tires no matter what gear you use most likely.
As others have said, if drag racing then gear for redline through the traps (add slicks and a 9"), otherwise for the street with a M4 3.08's or even 2.73's if you can find any?
Zora once said his favorite street Vette was a 454 M4 with 2.73's...
Doug
My 406/700R4 71 Coupe has 3.08's, which is the performance gear that A4 C4's came with. In my case, I can't leave at anything over 1500RPM without killing the street tires (rolling on the throttle etc), and I'm only making some 375 - 400 HP, 455 ft/lbs, so that monster motor of yours is going to kill the tires no matter what gear you use most likely.
As others have said, if drag racing then gear for redline through the traps (add slicks and a 9"), otherwise for the street with a M4 3.08's or even 2.73's if you can find any?
Zora once said his favorite street Vette was a 454 M4 with 2.73's...
Doug
Originally Posted by 1972warship
I have a weak 383 by comparison of most of you guys, and I love my 3.55 gears and 700R4(now wishing I had a 200R4). Anyway when I put the 700R4 in it had the orgininal 3.08 gear set and still felt slow off the line. The 3.55 made a huge difference. I know that (and yes I am an arm chair engine builder) I have seen some of John Lingefelter vettes user taller gears than factory(like 3.08s) when he built 600+ hp cars. These things would hit 0-60 in like low low 3 second range. Just some food for thought.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,295
Likes: 30
From: one night in Bangkok you are never lonely
Originally Posted by MotorHead
I'm iwth Norval on this one. I run a 3.08 rear in mine and combined with a 2.87 first gear I am happy with that. Gears are just torque multipliers, if you have the power you don't need steep gears IMHO. I would like to try 3.55's but I know I would go back to the 3.08's. No way would I even consider a 4 ratio gear for the street
I had 3:73 and driving on the motorway to Pattaya the motor was screaming cruising at 90. Went to the 3:08 and with the 4 speed it still gets off the line and cruses good.
