3.07 to 3.55 on the Street???

OKViper · Sep 4, 2006

Here is a question to you guys that changed from your stock drive to 3.55-
I have aftermarket 1.75" headers (Henn) with high-flow RT cats and 3" Borla, 1.7RR, K&N, 65mmTB and Mopar PCM. I have yet to get it dyno'ed but would guess around 430/470 or so (sound right to you guys?) Anyway, on the street, gears are long and I am thinking about 3.55's. Question is, I already have slight traction issues on the street with this set-up and am worried that with the shorter gear that I will do nothing but spin around. I have a car for the track (Corvette) so the Viper is for the street only (spirited street driving with the occasional car to car run...)
So, is a dedicated street car with my power faster (0-60ish) on the street with the stock gears or would the 3.55's be faster after I learn how to modulate the power???
I would hate to have SOTP benefit, but be slower around town (especially against those pesky Cobras, Z06's and EVO's) when I'm trying to run them.

Fast Freddy · Sep 4, 2006

3.55 gears are the best gears for a stock viper or even one making up to 500 rwhp in my opinion. if you feel that you are having traction problems a sticky set of tires will provide that lost grip you are looking for. :2tu:

OKViper · Sep 4, 2006

So, if two Vipers with equal power and equal drivers (skill) and both were running Pilots, would 0-80 be different on the street? I just wonder if I would have traction issues that would negate any gearing benefit...

Hisserman · Sep 4, 2006

From those I have discussed this issue with, they tell me that the 3.55 cuts down their chances of getting "jumped" by one of those other guys when you are in the wrong gear. The ones I know seem to be able to regulate the traction with the right tires and experience in handling their cars. :laugh:

ohiodoc · Sep 5, 2006

I have 3.55 and anytime I am at 3-4,000 rpm and punch it I feel like I am on ice. Car is harder to drive but also a blast. A perfect gear for drifting lol. Once you get use to it though it does feel awesome having the power right there when you need it. I love mine.

Whoaa GTS · Sep 5, 2006

So, if two Vipers with equal power and equal drivers (skill) and both were running Pilots, would 0-80 be different on the street? I just wonder if I would have traction issues that would negate any gearing benefit...

0-60 is obviously going to be quicker with the 3.55's because you are going to need to shift with the stock 3.07 gears as well. 0-70 is going to require a second shift if you have 3.55's where stock wont. 0-80 both gears will require the same amount of shifting so 3.55's will be faster

Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder · Sep 5, 2006

I like the stock gears for the street and general open track fun.

Had 3:55's in my 97 GTS which had bold on mods. No advantage IMO. More shifting on the street and on the track. And the RPM's were to high when crusing. Increased sound level was a pain on longer cruses.

I do not share the opinion of others about the increased use of 6th. As I use 6th whenever I drive my GT2, ACR or SRT10. I would not like the lower gear's on any Viper. For a spirited start the massive torque takes time to manage with stock gears. With the lower gear now 1st is harder to manage and 2nd can be a tire ripper.

joe117 · Sep 5, 2006

I changed top 3.55 gears and it does make the car a little harder to keep down the wheelspin.
I went to the sticky Kouhmo 700 tires and that seemed to solve the problem.

The main reason I changed was the 6th gear issue. I live in a fairly rural area with no big highways/
I found that with the stock gears, 6th was just never used.

The 3.55 moved the overall ratio to where 5th is just right and 6th is there if you want to cruise fast on a big highway.

Having tried both, I think the 3.55 is what belongs in these cars for normal street driving.

I suspect that the 3.08 comes with these cars to help with fuel economy, just like the skip shift feature.

KepRght · Sep 5, 2006

if you really want to spend money, you can change the gearing in the tranny too. so you could go 3.55 in the rear and adjust 4,5,6 gears for better cruising or what ever you can imagine

OKViper · Sep 6, 2006

I was hoping that there wouldn't be such mixed reviews. I really think that 3.07's are going to be faster on the street, since traction is always an issue.
If I go to a 20/19 combo, then I would get the 3.55's - otherwise I think my car might be spinning everywhere.

PhoenixGTS · Sep 6, 2006

I really think that 3.07's are going to be faster on the street, since traction is always an issue.

Why? Remember the gas pedal is not an on and off switch and wheelspin is much easier to modulate with the shorter gears and much easier to pedal out of with the shorter gears. You really need to find someone with shorter gears and offer them to swap cars for a short drive. Since I am never going to have a huge horsepower car I will never go back to the stock gearing. It is just crazy tall. I remember driving in parking garages with the stock gearing. I had to drive like I was taxi-ing a jet. Give it some gas then push in the clutch and coast, give is some gas then push in the clutch and coast. That is crazy tall gearing in first.

George Murray · Sep 6, 2006

3.54 or 3.55? I've heard both numbers. Whatever it is, I've got it in my ACR. And it's MUCH more fun than the stock 3.07 IMO.

Viper Scot · Sep 6, 2006

So, if two Vipers with equal power and equal drivers (skill) and both were running Pilots, would 0-80 be different on the street? I just wonder if I would have traction issues that would negate any gearing benefit...

Click to expand...

0-60 is obviously going to be quicker with the 3.55's because you are going to need to shift with the stock 3.07 gears as well. 0-70 is going to require a second shift if you have 3.55's where stock wont. 0-80 both gears will require the same amount of shifting so 3.55's will be faster

I thought the reason the stock gearing is so tall was so that the car could record a very good 0-60 mph time since 60 could be reached in 1st?

Whoaa GTS · Sep 6, 2006

I dont think you can get to 60 in first with stock gearing....close though

Matthew Howell 97 GTS · Sep 6, 2006

I wish I had driven a Viper with the 3.55 before I installed it into mine. It is too tall of a gear for me. I would recommend something in the 3.30's as a good alternative.

ViperJoe · Sep 6, 2006

Isn't a higher number (3.55) a "shorter" gear and a lower number (3.08) a "taller" gear?

I wish I had driven a Viper with the 3.55 before I installed it into mine. It is too tall of a gear for me. I would recommend something in the 3.30's as a good alternative.

AG98RT10 · Sep 6, 2006

I have 3.73s and love them. Kumhos on the rear are a must.

This is with headers, smooth tubes, and exhaust only - probably way too much with more engine mods, but at around 450 WHP, it rocks.

kcobean · Sep 6, 2006

I have 3.73s and love them. Kumhos on the rear are a must.
This is with headers, smooth tubes, and exhaust only - probably way too much with more engine mods, but at around 450 WHP, it rocks.

You're getting 450 WHP with just those mods? How much of that HP is attributable to the gear change?

Big Medicine · Sep 6, 2006

I thought HP ended at the flywheel; everything else is soaking it up?

viper585 · Sep 6, 2006

I thought HP ended at the flywheel; everything else is soaking it up?

Correct. Gears don't affect the HP at all. Going to 3.55 over stock gives you a feel of 75 HP below 80 MPH range.(assuming traction)You lose that as the speed increases.

AG98RT10 · Sep 6, 2006

I have 3.73s and love them. Kumhos on the rear are a must.
This is with headers, smooth tubes, and exhaust only - probably way too much with more engine mods, but at around 450 WHP, it rocks.

Click to expand...

You're getting 450 WHP with just those mods? How much of that HP is attributable to the gear change?

Kurt, probably closer to 440 - Gen II's (98) tend to be pretty strong stock, with headers, exhaust, K/N and smooth tubes, probably +35 or so... In the 440-450 ball park with those mods. The gears just move the torque band, they don't increase HP. But more torque sooner equals a lot of excitement, imo. Just put sticky rubber on those rears!!!

Jay Herbert · Sep 6, 2006

I went with 3:45's on mine, maybe not a noticable dif from 3:55's, I'm not even sure if 3:45's are available any more.

The fellow that is working on my car ran from stock to 4:10's in his Viper powered Cobra, and he liked the 3:45's best, so that's what I went with. All I can say is his car was silly quick.... I'll be happy if mine is 1/2 as quick!

Nader · Sep 7, 2006

A viper powered Cobra. I would like to see that car.

got one · Sep 7, 2006

so...0-120...with a stock motor, which gear set would get you there faster?

PhoenixGTS · Sep 8, 2006

so...0-120...with a stock motor, which gear set would get you there faster?

120 mph with stock size rear tires is at 5,600 rpm in fourth with 3.55s so 3.55s it is. With 3.73s 6,000 rpm is 122 mph so you are a bit past the power peak.

fe4snake · Sep 8, 2006

My buddy and I have stock 02' GTS. He installed the 3.55's gears on his car while I kept mine stock. We took both cars out to Morosso Race Track and did four passes. On every pass he took me by an average of 0.35 sec. If this is any prove, all I can say is that it definitely will make your car faster down the 1/4 mile track. As for the autocross I think he will be in a disadvantage. IMO

Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder · Sep 8, 2006

To get a good reference you need to have before and after numbers. Your friends Viper may have better times with stock gears. And the same car with different drivers can have substantial variation times. With slicks I would expect better times with 3:55's vs stock. Stock tires I would expect better results with stock gears. Launch is difficult enough with stock gears, the 3:55's would seem to make it more difficult to launch?

As I recall a stock Viper will finish the Qtr in third or perhaps just hit the fuel shut off with a good run?

Bonkers · Sep 8, 2006

A viper powered Cobra. I would like to see that car.

Do a search "Double Venom." Truly awesome car... psychotic, but awesome.

Inferno · Sep 9, 2006

Love the 3:55's, do it if you can drive.

joe117 · Sep 9, 2006

"Launch is difficult enough with stock gears, the 3:55's would seem to make it more difficult to launch?"

To get a good dragstrip launch. Something is going to have to slip.

There isn't enough horsepower availabe at low rpm to get the car moving quickly from a dead stop.

So the engine is run up to a higher rpm where more power is being produced and then the wheels spin or the clutch slips until the speed of the car equals the speed of the engine through the geartrain.

With a 3.55 that matching speed and rpm will happen sooner than with a 3.08

The driver is going to have to feed in the clutch and/or deal with some wheelspin,
but this will be needed with either rear ratio.
With the 3.55 you don't need to slip as long.

A 3.08 gives you less torque at the wheels from a dead stop.
If you think less torque is good.
Try starting from a dead stop in second gear.

A car with an automatic will have a high stall speed coverter in order to allow a higher engine speed before lockup. This is sort of the same as slipping the clutch in a manual transmission.

3.07 to 3.55 on the Street???

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