3:55 versus 3:73 Gears

mad0953 · May 23, 2013

A website where I purchase parts from advises to use a 3:55 gear set as opposed to a 3:73 due to excessive heat and wear and tear on the drive train. I like 3:73 better than a 3:55. My question is: has anybody had any major issues using a 3:73 gear set as opposed to a higher ratio? TIA

uvbnbit · May 23, 2013

I had 3.73 for 4 yrs. No problems, even with a Roe. I switched to a 3.33 2 yrs ago. You need a 3.73 Ring/Pinion?
Make offer....

1OF76RT/10 · May 23, 2013

I have had 3:73's for years with no problems. I do like them a bit better now that i put 19 inch wheels on though.

mad0953 · May 23, 2013

uvbnbit said:
I had 3.73 for 4 yrs. No problems, even with a Roe. I switched to a 3.33 2 yrs ago. You need a 3.73 Ring/Pinion?
Make offer....

Not knowing how you drive and the fact you have a blower I'll stay with going new.

JoelW · May 23, 2013

Uvbnbit's a pussycat. I bet the "blue" used to check gear lash is hardly worn off. His wife keeps a brick under his accelerator pedal - especially for next weekend in the TOD!! But you better be ready for for a lot of shifting with a 3.73. My 3.55 made 6th gear useable - 80 mph on the interstate is just under 2000 rpm so with a 3.73 you need some tall tires for interstate cruising. I wouldn't like ia 3.73 if I had 17 inch tires for sure!

NI-KA · May 23, 2013

I have only had 3.73s on my GEN II. Bought it that way. No issues. It is hard for me to imagine running any other way.

First gear goes by very fast. I have had experienced track people tell me that it is not a good track ratio but I have also seen this ratio used by racers i'll bet for specific tracks.

mad0953 · May 23, 2013

JoelW said:
Uvbnbit's a pussycat. I bet the "blue" used to check gear lash is hardly worn off. His wife keeps a brick under his accelerator pedal - especially for next weekend in the TOD!! But you better be ready for for a lot of shifting with a 3.73. My 3.55 made 6th gear useable - 80 mph on the interstate is just under 2000 rpm so with a 3.73 you need some tall tires for interstate cruising. I wouldn't like ia 3.73 if I had 17 inch tires for sure!

I have 18's. I just remember having GTO's and Chevelles back in the 60's and 70's with 4:11's or lower and loving it. And that was with 4 speeds!!!! Speed limit in Oregon on the interstate is only 65 as well.

coupe · May 23, 2013

If you were to switch between 3.73 and 3.55 or vice versa, you probably wouldn't even notice a difference. And one set does not generate "excessive heat" or "wear and tear" any more than the other set. Use whichever ratio you want and have it put in by a professional.

Solid Red 98 · May 23, 2013

I just made the swap from stock to 3.54's on my Gen 2 with 19" wheels. It definitely transforms the car in a positive way. I can't imagine using the 3.73 gear set. I feel that it will just spin the motor too much, chomp on fuel even more, and necessitate a whole lot of unnecessary shifting. For an N/A Gen 2, 3.54's are ideal. As far as excessive heat with the 3.73, I doubt it would be a problem. IMHO.

evomind · May 23, 2013

These cars make so much low end torque im not sure why anyone wants to switch gear ratios. It blows the tires out in first gear as it is.....

uvbnbit · May 24, 2013

mad0953 said:
Not knowing how you drive and the fact you have a blower I'll stay with going new.

Now my feelings are hurt

. I thought everyone knew I was a granny. Roe is for show-TT for dough

But seriously, you'll be shifting sooner of course and won't be able to get thru 1/4 mile in 4th with OE whee/tire from what I remember.

VIPER GTSR 91 · May 24, 2013

A lot depends too on your desired application running your car. I did the 3:55 gears on my old Gen 2 GTS and yes the acceleration was much quicker in the first two gears but top end suffered. For road racing on longer tracks I wished I had left the stock gears in as there were too many shifts and hurt times badly. For drag racing which I dont do, I imagine the 3:73 would be a good choice.

coupe · May 24, 2013

evomind said:
These cars make so much low end torque im not sure why anyone wants to switch gear ratios. It blows the tires out in first gear as it is.....

You'd have to drive one with different gears to understand. They truly do drive much nicer with a bit steeper gear in the back. Just feels better on the street... more responsive and nimble at part throttle stuff.

I have a 4.11 ratio in my Gen 2 and, believe it or not, I really enjoy it around town. 6th is still very conservative on the highway.

evomind · May 24, 2013

coupe said:
You'd have to drive one with different gears to understand. They truly do drive much nicer with a bit steeper gear in the back. Just feels better on the street... more responsive and nimble at part throttle stuff.

I have a 4.11 ratio in my Gen 2 and, believe it or not, I really enjoy it around town. 6th is still very conservative on the highway.

I had a couple gen 3s and a gen 4 all geared with 3.55s but those cars make their power higher in the rev range, the gen 2 its way down low. I have been wondering how the gear would work in the gen 2 but im afraid first gear would be next to useless.

vancouver-gts · May 24, 2013

I have 4.10 gear and like member coupe, I like the steeper gear in the back. Not concerned about top speed loss. I use all gears through and have no problem using first either. 3rd and 4th gear acceleration is where the 4.10 shines. Don't feel more heat generated hence rpm is only hundreds not thousands higher in normal driving. If I ever wanted to go FI that would be a different story.

v10enomous · May 24, 2013

mad0953 said:
I have 18's. I just remember having GTO's and Chevelles back in the 60's and 70's with 4:11's or lower and loving it. And that was with 4 speeds!!!! Speed limit in Oregon on the interstate is only 65 as well.

Once had a worked 69 LT1 camaro with 513's :omg:

Back then no one took you seriously unless you had at least 411's or 456...

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/pts/3680124684.html

evomind · May 24, 2013

mad0953 said:
I have 18's. I just remember having GTO's and Chevelles back in the 60's and 70's with 4:11's or lower and loving it. And that was with 4 speeds!!!! Speed limit in Oregon on the interstate is only 65 as well.

The older muscle cars were sitting on 15 inch rims though....

v10enomous · May 24, 2013

evomind said:
The older muscle cars were sitting on 15 inch rims though....

Some were even 14's but what difference does the rim diameter make ? It's the tire diameter that counts toward final drive ratio.

Jack B · May 24, 2013

What is your tire diameter, that matters. A car with 27.5" tires and 3.55's is the same as a 26" tire and 3.07's. I run approx 130 in the 1/4 mile with 3.55's. I would be against the limiter with 3.73's.

Marv S · May 24, 2013

A VCA member in Phoenix had a supercharged Gen 1 with 3.73 gears for years. And yes, he drove it in the summer here. He didn't have heat problems or the drivetrain breaking and really liked the 3.73 gears. Ran against him on the drag strip a few times. I have met others with the early cars that love them too. Not my personal choice, I like stock or 3.33, but everyone has their own preferences and that's cool.

dannyv6 · May 24, 2013

Is that true about the 27.5" tire and 3.55's being the same as 26 & 3.07's???

evomind · May 24, 2013

dannyv6 said:
Is that true about the 27.5" tire and 3.55's being the same as 26 & 3.07's???

Probably.......

Jack B · May 24, 2013

I was a little off, the 27.5 and 3.55's equal the 3.33's

26/27.5 =	0.945
.945 x 3.55 =	3.35

Personally if I ran a 27.5" tire I would run the 3.73's and with a 26" tire it would be 3.55's. I ran the 27.5" MT DR's and did not like them with the 3.55's. I went back to a 26" DR.

dannyv6 · May 24, 2013

Jack,
So you would run a 3.73 with 27.5" tire on a gen 2?
I have a set of 3.55s I was going to install as soon as I could motivated to start wrenching. Now I'm scratching my head thinking 3.73s are the way to go. Just a weekend cruiser with minor mods.

Jack B · May 24, 2013

I have run the 3.07's, 3.33's and the 3.55's. IMO the 3.55's and a 26" tire are perfect. I felt the 3.55's lost a lot with the 27.5" tire, that is why I think the 3.73's would be better with a 27.5" tire. Either one is a huge improvement over the 3.07's. If you only have minor mods and do not drag race, the 3.55's will be fine.

dannyv6 said:
Jack,
So you would run a 3.73 with 27.5" tire on a gen 2?
I have a set of 3.55s I was going to install as soon as I could motivated to start wrenching. Now I'm scratching my head thinking 3.73s are the way to go. Just a weekend cruiser with minor mods.

Martin2000GTS · May 27, 2013

Had 3.73's in my Gen 2 for 8 years, ran a 19in wheel in back, for a stock motor car I thought it was a perfect choice. With Ps2's I was still able to get good traction at WOT in 1st gear to redline, the pull in all gears was great. No problems ever, drove about 15-20k miles on them. I would recommend them hands down for a stock 450 - 500hp viper. JMO

3:55 versus 3:73 Gears

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