4.10/3.90 age old question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: Tucson Arizona
4.10/3.90 age old question
Yes, I searched... and read countless threads. Here is the situation, I am looking at a gear swap shortly after a Vararam install. The hot rodder in me wants to go 4.10's... the other side of me says stay with 3.90's. I gather the gas mileage loss is similiar on both sides, what about the performance difference in the two? Plans for this year for the car include headers/x-Pipe and Vararam with whatever gears. Next year, H/C/I with the goal of 450~475 at the wheels. Its a 6 speed car by the way. Sorry to batter an often revisted question. Just looking for a little more input before pulling the trigger.
As a side note, the car is used for weekend driving only, for the most part anyways. We do take the car on the occasional road trip (got one planned for Highway 1 for example), but it is mostly an around town type of car. Thanks for any input.
As a side note, the car is used for weekend driving only, for the most part anyways. We do take the car on the occasional road trip (got one planned for Highway 1 for example), but it is mostly an around town type of car. Thanks for any input.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
It's just really a matter of personal choice and how you like to drive the car etc... and how you use the car. I can tell you most folks here are going to tell you to just go with 410's.
My personal choice was 390's (I have a 6 speed heads/cam with 410RWHP) and this is plenty of gear for me. I do a good deal of highway driving and am still happy keeping the RPM realtivly low when cruising in 6th. I also stayed away from 410's in case I wanted to add a supercharger or start getting into really big power. As it is now the 390's spin the tires pretty easy...
My personal choice was 390's (I have a 6 speed heads/cam with 410RWHP) and this is plenty of gear for me. I do a good deal of highway driving and am still happy keeping the RPM realtivly low when cruising in 6th. I also stayed away from 410's in case I wanted to add a supercharger or start getting into really big power. As it is now the 390's spin the tires pretty easy...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,404
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From: Lino Lakes, MN _________________________ I Figured out how to do this!
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06
If you are going to add H/C then my suggestion is 3.90's. Thats what I ended up going with due to my H/C as my tuner said to go with.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: Tucson Arizona
Good to hear as I am actually leaning much more towards the 3.90's, even if the H/C/I plan fell through. The only thing really that would change my mind would be a drastic difference in 1/4 mile times for the 4.10's. Thanks for the response fellas!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 8
From: Belleville Il
Another vote for the 3.90s. I have a basically stock 2000 FRC and it does great with the stock 3.42s. 3.90 would be quite a step up from what you have now,,and 4.10s would border on overkill .You will probably be running into traction issues with 3.90 as it is.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 28
From: San Dimas Ca.
I would do the H/C first and then the gears later if you feel you need them. I have a 6 speed with 3:42s and a Procharger. Traction is a bit of a problem now. With 4:10s I don't think it would be any fun at all since I could only use half throttle. Of course I could use drag radials all the time but then I would have to have the whole drive train redone. New output shafts, different torque tube, bigger better clutch, new transmission braces etc. So if it were me I would save my money. If your going to leave it stock then the gears would be a good idea.
Rick
Rick
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: Tucson Arizona
Thanks for the advice fellas!!! Whiteonrice, actually part of the hope is that the gears combined with bolt ons will do the trick and hold me over, hehe. I think everyone here has confirmed my original thoughts on the 3.90's. Maybe they will save me the investment of the H/C/I, at least for a longer period of time... hehe.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,167
Likes: 55
From: Kempner TX
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I say 4.10's all the way! I have H/C/I and nitrous along with every other bolt on imagineable and I absolutly love the way my car wraps over to 130 in no time at all!
Now, having said that... I am running a lot of rubber out back and I barely break traction. I have 325-30-19's and I can actually do a dig with them and most of the times I dead hook and can go 3/4 to full throttle with no breaking loose. I also have a cam that allows me to rev to 7000 rmps which gives me more room for the 4.10's. If you plan on doing a cam... get the 4.10's and better flowing heads because it wont hurt you down low as bad.
I was worried about trapping too high in the rpms or even having to shift into fifth gear on the 1320... but thats not true either. All the guys here say they trap at about 6300. I redline at 7000.
Now, having said that... I am running a lot of rubber out back and I barely break traction. I have 325-30-19's and I can actually do a dig with them and most of the times I dead hook and can go 3/4 to full throttle with no breaking loose. I also have a cam that allows me to rev to 7000 rmps which gives me more room for the 4.10's. If you plan on doing a cam... get the 4.10's and better flowing heads because it wont hurt you down low as bad.
I was worried about trapping too high in the rpms or even having to shift into fifth gear on the 1320... but thats not true either. All the guys here say they trap at about 6300. I redline at 7000.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
From: Sahuarita AZ
I also struggled with the 390 vs 410 issue. I settled on 410s after alot of corvette people said go for it. The car will be a animal and it is! I get 26 to 28 mpg on the road. In town, it is great compared to my new pickup. The car does not need much acceleration on take off. I do a few road trips and in South Dakota we drive 80 mph. The rpm is 2100. The motor can handel this with ease and take a pounding when you want to let loose. My tuner says there is a heck of a difference from 410s to 390s. I still need to run the quarter mile this summer. Oh, the vette has a six speed. Hang On!
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 547
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From: Ft. Myers FL
my car with its old tune made about 490whp this is on a road race tune, fully built 427 with 4.10's i get around 18 miles per gallon around town and 26-30 highway depending on how fast i go and if im using cruise control or not. first through third spin pretty well. 6th gear is still like overdrive, i dont think its as bad as you think it is. you still get nice mileage just more of a low end punch, im planning on getting better tires then the stock z06'ers to keep my rear end in place. compared to my auto c5 with 3.15's it runs through the gears much quicker (as of course you would expect from having almost 200whp more. if you plan on staying all motor i think the 4.10's are a great choice. if your like me and never satisfied, then get a taller gear so you can throw some boost on her down the road 
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Like I said before, its a personal choice, just like which exhaust sound each person likes. Don't make a decision just because everyone says 410's are great, or 390's are great. Make your decisoin based on what YOU think is best for you. There is good feedback on the forum, and its good to post asking what people think, but at the end of the day , it's your car do what you will be most happy with. Sometimes that means taking a test drive in someone elses car to try it out.
Good luck
Good luck
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 404
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From: KY
I'm probably repeating what others have said, but here's my take. My car is an 04 mn6 with some bolt ons and a tune. I've got the 4.10s and they are perfect for me. The only mods I am considering for the future are a cam and some lt headers. If you are on stock rims or something similar then you'll have to consider traction very seriously. Another thing to consider is 4.10s are generally a weaker gear. So if you've got ultra stickies and a habit of lauching hardcore then you may frag them early if you've got a car making 480-500 rwhp. That doesn't mean people don't do it and have good luck with it.
It kind of sounds like you are wanting to build your car around your gear choice. And that's basically how I'm approaching it. After I get my cam and headers I will have a car that will really haul and still be very manageable on stock rim sizes in everyday situations.
It kind of sounds like you are wanting to build your car around your gear choice. And that's basically how I'm approaching it. After I get my cam and headers I will have a car that will really haul and still be very manageable on stock rim sizes in everyday situations.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: Tucson Arizona
Actually, it would be fantastic if anyone in Tucson/Phoenix area had a 4.10 car that wouldn't mind me taking it down the road to see what the difference is. That being said... I am new to the Vette community and know a grand total of one other Vette owner... who works with me and drives the car more as a status symbol than anything else, ie. stock car. If anyone in the area would want to get together and allow me to go down the road in the car, I'd be all for it. I'd even purchase/prepare(if not at a restaurant) the food/drinks. 
So there it is, my cry for help and my attempt at meeting local Vette guys... hehe. Besides, I have really been wanting to start getting together with some Vette guys/gals anyways, even if no one has a 4.10 car in the area, hehe.
So there it is, my cry for help and my attempt at meeting local Vette guys... hehe. Besides, I have really been wanting to start getting together with some Vette guys/gals anyways, even if no one has a 4.10 car in the area, hehe.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 547
Likes: 2
From: Clinton Twp. Michigan
Auto vs. 6spd.???
I have been reading questions and statements on this for some time now. The big diff seems to be if its a 6spd. or auto. Not everybody tells you which one they are driving or the amount of power they are pushing. There is a Big diff between the two. Type of use also comes into play, drag,autocross,street,highway,DD,weekend cruise only,20yrs old vs 80yrs old. Generally 3.42 to 3.73 for auto and 3.90 to 4.10 for 6spd. The more HP the less gear. Also, like previously replys stated the more tire patch the better you can handle a lower gear.
Just my 2 cents.
ME, (01 coupe 6spd 3.42 DD 50/50 60yrs) I'm in the current process of doing 4.10, LPE tubs, 345's on 13'S. Then the power comes on untill Im
Oh ya, I've had cars with 2.76,3.23,3.55,3.73,3.90,4.10,4.30,4.56, 4.88,AND5.36. ALL Automatic used mainly street as DD. All FUN but 4.88 and 5.36 were just a little too much without monster tires.
Just my 2 cents.
ME, (01 coupe 6spd 3.42 DD 50/50 60yrs) I'm in the current process of doing 4.10, LPE tubs, 345's on 13'S. Then the power comes on untill Im
Oh ya, I've had cars with 2.76,3.23,3.55,3.73,3.90,4.10,4.30,4.56, 4.88,AND5.36. ALL Automatic used mainly street as DD. All FUN but 4.88 and 5.36 were just a little too much without monster tires.
Last edited by Double G; May 17, 2008 at 10:57 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: Tucson Arizona
Thats a good question, I guess whoever gives me the best deal. I would really like to do the install myself or with a local experienced board member. However, without finding one I will most likely try and find a god shop here in Tucson or Phoenix. Any suggestions on who to get the gears from?
