Gears With Manual Trans....

JasonQuartermile · Mar 23, 2023

Hey all, I just bought an 08 that's stock with 3.31 gears and it went 14.26 at 98mph. No traction problems but kind of hard to get it out of the hole smoothly, 2.2 60ft. First gear just seems too tall. Buddy said go 4.10s but now I'm a little worried seeing some people do a gear swap with no difference. I figure slicks and a manual trans where you can leave at whatever rpm you want ought to make the difference no? I know on the old foxbodies they used to be worth nearly half a second. Kind of another odd thing I saw was that the car seemed to make about the same amount of power from 4500-6000. Might be why some of the auto cars didn't see much of a difference. Anyways, just hoping there's some manual guys there that can point me in a direction.

Midlife Crises · Mar 24, 2023

I liked the drivability of my 2010 GT when it had 3.73s in the rear. 4.10s will make the car feel a little snappier but won’t do a lot to lower your ET by themselves. Improved traction will get you closer to a 1.5 sixty foot than gears alone. Consider what RPM you want to be turning in top gear when crossing the finish line and select the ratio closest to that.

86GT351 · Mar 24, 2023

A Gear change, Control Arms and a good tire will allow for improvement

JC SSP · Mar 24, 2023

You cannot go wrong with 4:10s

stkjock · Mar 24, 2023

4.10S.... /THREAD

proven for nearly two decades on this platform, a good tire and upgraded LCAs if you want to improve 60' times

MrBhp · Mar 24, 2023

My 07 ran 13.3 at 105 with just the shitty Shelby tune. (SGT's start life n/a)
4.10s alone netted a best 13.10, but was a bitch to launch. Most passes had worse 60' than with 3.55. Then I installed LTH's and still just went13.0's. Finally got the smallest slick available in 16" and went 12.54 first pass. After installing fully adjustable dampers, BMR rear upper and lower CA's, and a Triangle Speed tune, I was cutting consistent 1.4 60' and seeing 12.2 time slips. Reason for the small slick was the added peace of mind that I wouldn't break the transmission by leaving on full mash because a big tire would allow it. My launch rpm was set at 3200 IIRC. I was able to make just 8 or so passes with that setup. Ended up moving to where the track is nearly 4 hours away. Which really sucks. Haven't been to a track since. Wheels and tires are now up for sale. Which also sucks.

My home track was close to sea level, so we have really good air when the humidity and heat are down. Which does not suck.
I could occasionally carry the front tires a bit.

JC SSP · Mar 24, 2023

Thats a hard running car with minor mods. Congrats!

MrBhp · Mar 24, 2023

JC SSP said:
Thats a hard running car with minor mods. Congrats!

Thanks! I was very surprised after seeing other cars going high 13's to mid 14's. The slicks were actually D.O.T drag radials. Drove the car on the street with the front skinnies as well. Just got to plan your stops and turns.

JasonQuartermile · Mar 24, 2023

MrBhp said:
My 07 ran 13.3 at 105 with just the shitty Shelby tune. (SGT's start life n/a)
4.10s alone netted a best 13.10, but was a bitch to launch. Most passes had worse 60' than with 3.55. Then I installed LTH's and still just went13.0's. Finally got the smallest slick available in 16" and went 12.54 first pass. After installing fully adjustable dampers, BMR rear upper and lower CA's, and a Triangle Speed tune, I was cutting consistent 1.4 60' and seeing 12.2 time slips. Reason for the small slick was the added peace of mind that I wouldn't break the transmission by leaving on full mash because a big tire would allow it. My launch rpm was set at 3200 IIRC. I was able to make just 8 or so passes with that setup. Ended up moving to where the track is nearly 4 hours away. Which really sucks. Haven't been to a track since. Wheels and tires are now up for sale. Which also sucks.

My home track was close to sea level, so we have really good air when the humidity and heat are down. Which does not suck.
I could occasionally carry the front tires a bit.
View attachment 86378

Awesome info thanks man. Just what I'm looking for as far as info. Did the 16s fit with no brake mods? What tires are they?

MrBhp · Mar 24, 2023

Yes. 16's fit fine. They are Hoosier Drag radials.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/191925596922590/?mibextid=dXMIcH
Just for you to get an idea. I wish these things weren't so expensive to ship. They would be gone by now.

JasonQuartermile · Mar 24, 2023

MrBhp said:
Yes. 16's fit fine. They are Hoosier Drag radials.View attachment 86379
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/191925596922590/?mibextid=dXMIcH
Just for you to get an idea. I wish these things weren't so expensive to ship. They would be gone by now.

Yeah no kidding. Here in CA they'd be twice that. I have a buddy who works for Fed Ex let me see if he can do any magic for shipping....

Dino Dino Bambino · Mar 24, 2023

JasonQuartermile said:
Hey all, I just bought an 08 that's stock with 3.31 gears and it went 14.26 at 98mph. No traction problems but kind of hard to get it out of the hole smoothly, 2.2 60ft. First gear just seems too tall. Buddy said go 4.10s but now I'm a little worried seeing some people do a gear swap with no difference. I figure slicks and a manual trans where you can leave at whatever rpm you want ought to make the difference no? I know on the old foxbodies they used to be worth nearly half a second. Kind of another odd thing I saw was that the car seemed to make about the same amount of power from 4500-6000. Might be why some of the auto cars didn't see much of a difference. Anyways, just hoping there's some manual guys there that can point me in a direction.

You need:

1. Tires - drag radials are a good compromise for track and street duty and won't require you to have two sets of tires (slicks, street radials) and rims.

2. Rear lower control arms - the first recommended suspension upgrade for any S197. They reduce wheel hop and improve traction.

3. Gears - 3.31s are definitely too tall for a manual unless you install a positive displacement supercharger since that builds torque virtually from off idle. Leave axle gears for now until you decide which route you want to take with performance mods.

4. Short throw shifter - will make shifts snappier and more precise especially if the stock shifter bushings have some slop. MGW & Barton the best on the market.

5. Driver mod - practice practice practice especially with the launch.

JasonQuartermile · Mar 24, 2023

Dino Dino Bambino said:
You need:

1. Tires - drag radials are a good compromise for track and street duty and won't require you to have two sets of tires (slicks, street radials) and rims.

2. Rear lower control arms - the first recommended suspension upgrade for any S197. They reduce wheel hop and improve traction.

3. Gears - 3.31s are definitely too tall for a manual unless you install a positive displacement supercharger since that builds torque virtually from off idle. Leave axle gears for now until you decide which route you want to take with performance mods.

4. Short throw shifter - will make shifts snappier and more precise especially if the stock shifter bushings have some slop. MGW & Barton the best on the market.

5. Driver mod - practice practice practice especially with the launch.

I used to drag race manual 5.0s back in the day, powershifted the crap out of em, so driver mod shouldn't be that hard....getting to the powerband in 1st does require an amount of clutch slip I'm not comfortable with, so I think gears will be in order. I'm in California, so no supercharger I could find was 50 state legal....but maybe nitrous? No wheelhop yet, but might be a problem with slicks. I'm ok with having two sets of wheels and tires or at least a different rear set. I had drag radials on my old Mercedes S55 and they made it a lot of fun, but also only lasted about 3000 miles.

JasonQuartermile · Sep 16, 2023

Just a quick update! I finally finally got gears installed after getting the run around by a few shops for months. Hard to find good people, and good people are busy! Anyway, went from a previous best of 2.17, 13.69 at 102 with a tune to 2.09, 13.37 at 104 with the 4.10 gears, skinnies, and drag radials. Keep in mind this was still on the street. I think I'm going to need to hit the track to see 12s. Also the drag radials are too big and tall for the car (305s, and 27.8in tall) I found some shorter 275s I think will help, and now I HAVE to buy them because I got a nail in the sidewall of my drag radial the first drive after the gears! Oh well, win some lose some. I'm definitely happy I went with 4.10s though.

07 Boss · Oct 5, 2023

JasonQuartermile said:
Just a quick update! I finally finally got gears installed after getting the run around by a few shops for months. Hard to find good people, and good people are busy! Anyway, went from a previous best of 2.17, 13.69 at 102 with a tune to 2.09, 13.37 at 104 with the 4.10 gears, skinnies, and drag radials. Keep in mind this was still on the street. I think I'm going to need to hit the track to see 12s. Also the drag radials are too big and tall for the car (305s, and 27.8in tall) I found some shorter 275s I think will help, and now I HAVE to buy them because I got a nail in the sidewall of my drag radial the first drive after the gears! Oh well, win some lose some. I'm definitely happy I went with 4.10s though.

Yep, tire height makes a difference in your final drive ratio. I have 4.10s with a 29" tall tire making my effective gear ratio about 3.70 which is fine with boost.

JC SSP · Oct 5, 2023

Sometimes people will over gear and the car just shifts very quickly, runs out of the power band, and really doesn’t accelerate much… it just runs out steam.

I have had 2.73, 3.08, 3.27, 3.55, 3.73, 4.10 and 4.56.

Unless you have something radical and big tire… for me the 3.73-4.10 was the best overall gear for any car I have had.

XJCasper · Oct 5, 2023

Y'all are better at the math and I understand.

Have 4.10 gears. Going to a 295/45r18 (diameter 28.45"). Effectively, what would eb my actual ratio?

Thank you
Jason

MrBhp · Oct 6, 2023

@JasonQuartermile What drag radials did you go with?

86GT351 · Oct 6, 2023

Don't fear the gear.

skwerl · Oct 6, 2023

I had factory 3.73 gears in my 2009 Bullitt. I loved it, but I also drag raced with a 26" tire. I think 4.10 gears will suit you best.

Gears With Manual Trans....

Junior Member

Senior Member

forum member

Senior Member

---- Madmin ----

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Junior Member

Senior Member

Junior Member

I have a red car

Junior Member

Junior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

forum member

Senior Member

forum member

tree hugger

Similar threads

Support us!

Sponsor Links