IMHO - YES....
3:93 VS 4:10 gears
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 488
Likes: 2
From: Fort Lauderdale Florida
Jealousy
Originally Posted by davisce
Are you looking for "Low End" torque (say, quarter mile speeds) or do you want “top-end” performance capability as well?
4:10 gears will give you a lot of off the line (traffic light to traffic light) torque and speed, but won’t do anything for sustained top end driving. With 4:10's you’ll be shifting gears a lot sooner and maxing out your RPMs as well with 4:10’s. If you're gonna "Drag Race" a lot and not us your Vette as a "Daily Driver" then 4:10's are your gears.
3:90 gears will give you faster off the line performance over your 3:42 gears for sure. Plus, you’ll retain more top end performance, but again you’ll reach your max engine RPM range sooner as you shift through the gears and your engine RPM’s will rev will be higher for gear as well.
3:73 gears will give you faster off the line performance over your 3:42 gears as well. You’ll maintain more top end performance also. Now, if you plan to do any engine modifications like adding a “Super Charger” later on then I wouldn’t go any higher than 3:73 gears.
For me, the 3:90 gears would be my pick. I’m over here in Germany where running on the “Autobahn” is a daily event at speeds between 120-160 mph are common place. “Top End” is King here in Germany ! If you can’t sustain at least 130 - 150 mph for an hour or so on the Autobahns, then you shouldn’t be driving a Corvette over here ! ! !
So, for me 4:10 gears wouldn’t work over here. Now, back there in the states where Speed Limits are restricted to way lower speed limets you can better utilize the "Taller" gears and still drive your Vette. But again, if you want a "Daily Driver" I would go with the 3:73's or 3:90's. .
. Unless you’re gonna do a lot of "Drag Racing".
Closing Comments: If you're a "Cruiser" like me and not a "Racer" I would get the 3:90’s, but that's just me. . .
Good luck on whatever setup you decide on. . . .
____________________________________
Cecil
Heidelberg, Germany
Germany-American Corvette Club
1999 C5 Coupe
LS6 Engine ~ (With Henrik's Auto Racing 475 HP Head and Cam Package)
4:10 gears will give you a lot of off the line (traffic light to traffic light) torque and speed, but won’t do anything for sustained top end driving. With 4:10's you’ll be shifting gears a lot sooner and maxing out your RPMs as well with 4:10’s. If you're gonna "Drag Race" a lot and not us your Vette as a "Daily Driver" then 4:10's are your gears.
3:90 gears will give you faster off the line performance over your 3:42 gears for sure. Plus, you’ll retain more top end performance, but again you’ll reach your max engine RPM range sooner as you shift through the gears and your engine RPM’s will rev will be higher for gear as well.
3:73 gears will give you faster off the line performance over your 3:42 gears as well. You’ll maintain more top end performance also. Now, if you plan to do any engine modifications like adding a “Super Charger” later on then I wouldn’t go any higher than 3:73 gears.
For me, the 3:90 gears would be my pick. I’m over here in Germany where running on the “Autobahn” is a daily event at speeds between 120-160 mph are common place. “Top End” is King here in Germany ! If you can’t sustain at least 130 - 150 mph for an hour or so on the Autobahns, then you shouldn’t be driving a Corvette over here ! ! !
So, for me 4:10 gears wouldn’t work over here. Now, back there in the states where Speed Limits are restricted to way lower speed limets you can better utilize the "Taller" gears and still drive your Vette. But again, if you want a "Daily Driver" I would go with the 3:73's or 3:90's. .
. Unless you’re gonna do a lot of "Drag Racing".Closing Comments: If you're a "Cruiser" like me and not a "Racer" I would get the 3:90’s, but that's just me. . .
Good luck on whatever setup you decide on. . . .
____________________________________
Cecil
Heidelberg, Germany
Germany-American Corvette Club
1999 C5 Coupe
LS6 Engine ~ (With Henrik's Auto Racing 475 HP Head and Cam Package)
Jealous of your autobahn adventures in the Vette. How does it hold against the Euros? I was in Mannheim (Coleman Barracks) a couple of years driving an 850i. Loved the drive from Mannheim to K-town.
I have a DD 00 with only a Blackwing. Since I don't plan on modding out, I'm gonna try the 4.10s. I think the deciding factor for me is I'm not interested in the top end speed.
VETSTYL
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 283
Likes: 2
From: Troy MI
4.10s here and no regrets. It is a DD and I skip gears when shifting - so I am not shifting any more than before. You can't really go wrong either way. I figured if I was going to do it - go all the way. If I choose a future mod that develops too much rwhp (is there such a thing?) then I will just change the gears again and figure that into the cost of the mod. Just my $0.02.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 481
Likes: 0
From: Lake Forest CA
I have a '99 6 spd and went with the 3.90 from DTE Engineering. It transformed the car.
It took .9 secs off 10-60 mph. That's huge.
Also solves the 1st to 4th shift limiter problem at low speeds.
Around town I go from 1st to 3rd to 5th. Going from 1st to 3rd, it doesn't lock you out the way it does going 1st to 2nd.
RPM in top gear @ 70mph before: 1500; after:1750. Almost negligible.
Only motor mods are a Vortex cold air intake and B&B exhaust. I was going to put headers on, but the ones that really give you the most HP boost can't be smogged in California.
A guy at West Coast Corvettes suggested the 3.90. Best performance bang for the buck out there for my money.
Make sure you do the 500 mile break in.
It took .9 secs off 10-60 mph. That's huge.
Also solves the 1st to 4th shift limiter problem at low speeds.
Around town I go from 1st to 3rd to 5th. Going from 1st to 3rd, it doesn't lock you out the way it does going 1st to 2nd.
RPM in top gear @ 70mph before: 1500; after:1750. Almost negligible.
Only motor mods are a Vortex cold air intake and B&B exhaust. I was going to put headers on, but the ones that really give you the most HP boost can't be smogged in California.
A guy at West Coast Corvettes suggested the 3.90. Best performance bang for the buck out there for my money.
Make sure you do the 500 mile break in.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,405
Likes: 26
From: Whippany NJ
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Originally Posted by MRG99V
DTE put 4:10s in mine and it completely changed the car. When you hit the throttle you are thrown back into the seat. When I am cruising I start in 2nd then 4th to 5th.
4.10s here and this is truly the gear to get when your staying n/a. Each gear pulls real nice. 3rd gear punch on the highway is amazing, so much fun to drive!! and I still get 28/29 mpg highway for long trips like Cruise IN.
Last edited by Ikester; Oct 13, 2006 at 08:01 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 789
Likes: 38
From: Shreveport LA
Originally Posted by Ikester
4.10s here and I still get 28/29 mpg highway. 
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 3
From: Sacramento CA
I went with the 3.90s because I plan on doing a TON of auto-x and some track time with some drag racing. In my mind they are AWESOME for auto-x. I love them at the drag strip also. I have not been to a track day yet, but I will soon and I will see how they do there. On the street they are awesome as well. I have heads and cam work and about 410 RWHP 380 RWT
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