4:10 gears?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 332
Likes: 41
From: Mesa, AZ
4:10 gears?
Finally thinking of getting a tune on the "04, six speed coupe. Currently just TI exhaust and a Honker CAI. Have been thinking about headers but not sure yet. Had a conversation with a tuning vendor here on the forum. His recommendation was to skip the header install for now and spend the $ on a 4:10 rear end. His reasoning is that even though no horsepower increase, the gears let the engine operate in a more efficient rpm band, thereby increasing the useable torque at cruising speeds. Operating at a rpm that allows the engine to propel the vehicle while in a more effective torque band without lugging the engine will allow for more efficient operation with very little loss of economy with the engine operating at rpm producing more torque.
So, anyone out there that has run or is running 4:10 gears, please give me some feed back, positive or otherwise. Not looking to race, just have an enjoyable, dependable road car.
Thank you for your time and information in advance,
Chas
So, anyone out there that has run or is running 4:10 gears, please give me some feed back, positive or otherwise. Not looking to race, just have an enjoyable, dependable road car.
Thank you for your time and information in advance,
Chas
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 5,278
Likes: 539
From: Kelowna BC
6 speeds come with 3.42's. A 4.10 rear with a 6 speed might be a bit much, I think you'll be getting out of first so fast you'll tire of it. Just my opinion, not speaking from experience. Now if you had an auto, I'd say run with that idea.
I'd go for the headers, aftermarket cats and X-pipe with your Ti mufflers, then get a tune (mail order should be good).
I'd go for the headers, aftermarket cats and X-pipe with your Ti mufflers, then get a tune (mail order should be good).
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 905
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
I ran a set of 4.10's and loved them - it's a 20% reduction which translates into the most significant-feeling N/A perfomance mod you can do to your manual C5. I had already done a head/cam/header package to my C5 that added 100 rwhp before adding the 4.10's so that's saying a lot. The diff upgrade was the most bang-for-buck mod I did - it was a blast to drive. I'm now adding a s/c so I down-graded back to 3.42's but I know I'll miss th 4.10's.
If I were to do it again just for the street, I think I'd go with 3.90's to reduce the shifting frequency a bit. As grantv mentioned, you do have to shift quicker wehn you go to a lower gear as it gets you through the rpm band that much quicker and I think 3.90's is probably the best compromise for the street.
As an aside, I popped my left over 3.42's in place of my wife's 2.73's along with a 3200 high stall converter along with a set of headers in her C5 and that also made for major grins.
If I were to do it again just for the street, I think I'd go with 3.90's to reduce the shifting frequency a bit. As grantv mentioned, you do have to shift quicker wehn you go to a lower gear as it gets you through the rpm band that much quicker and I think 3.90's is probably the best compromise for the street.
As an aside, I popped my left over 3.42's in place of my wife's 2.73's along with a 3200 high stall converter along with a set of headers in her C5 and that also made for major grins.
Last edited by Patches; Nov 3, 2015 at 02:33 PM.
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 283
Likes: 16
6 speeds come with 3.42's. A 4.10 rear with a 6 speed might be a bit much, I think you'll be getting out of first so fast you'll tire of it. Just my opinion, not speaking from experience. Now if you had an auto, I'd say run with that idea.
I'd go for the headers, aftermarket cats and X-pipe with your Ti mufflers, then get a tune (mail order should be good).
I'd go for the headers, aftermarket cats and X-pipe with your Ti mufflers, then get a tune (mail order should be good).
4.10 a bit agressive. Consider a swap out to 3.90's. I've done this swap good low end and gets through 1st very quickly. 4.10's would make 1st useless. IMHO.
Last edited by Big_George_S; Nov 3, 2015 at 11:24 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 159
Likes: 9
From: Greenville NC
I've not driven a car with 3.90's in it, but my car was / is great with 4.10's has been great. it only turns 2200 rpm at close to 80 on the highway and seat of the pants feels like it has a lot more power than factory. I will say that if it had a lot more power than factory (ie heads, cam, headers, good tune, etc...), first gear would be somewhat useless. with just exhaust, intake and some tuning, it does really well and is a blast to drive...
Last edited by wca_tim; Nov 3, 2015 at 05:44 PM.
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