3.55 gears in a gen 3

dester243

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I did a quick search but didn't really see anything so sorry if there's already a past thread about this.

On 3.55 gears on a gen 3. I believe from what I understand you can use the 2013's stock 3.55 gear set?

What else is needed to get it installed?

If I pulled my differential unit out, about how much would I expect to pay to have it installed? The diff looks really easy to pull and I figured I could save a couple dollars if I did it myself.

I've rebuilt my own FWD Honda gear boxes, but have never setup a ring and pinion gear set and don't want to mess it up. I looked through the DIY and it seems like you have to build a couple "specialty" tools.

I am also pondering if people do these gears in the car instead of pulling the pumpkin out and doing it on the bench?

I know VPA has this "kit"
https://www.viperpartsofamerica.com/index.php/products/2013-srt-viper-355-rear-gear-kit

Is that everything I need other than LSD additive and fluids?
 

Timnineside

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Not to Hi-jack the thread but anyone know what to expect to pay for gen 4's 3:55? Anyone know if they are the same as Gen 3?

-Tim
 
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dester243

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I posted the link above. Looks like you just buy the 2013 3.55 ring kit "kit" and it fits a lot of years.
 
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dester243

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I called a local ring and pinion specialist and was quoted 300 labor if I supplied parts if I brought the diff in. Didn't seem TOO bad
 

cowger

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I called a local ring and pinion specialist and was quoted 300 labor if I supplied parts if I brought the diff in. Didn't seem TOO bad

Not bad at all. It's a 2 week DIY project (search on "my diy differential" if you want to see the sausage being made), so $300 is cheap if you trust that shop.

I changed mine over to 3.55 and love the gearing now!!
 
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dester243

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I saw a DIY thread for gears and it looked pretty time consuming. Also seemed like whomever it was (sorry, didn't remember the screen name) made some special holders to hold the unit in a vise. Case spreader and other misc stuff. I felt 300 was a fair price.
 

intense5.5

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viper04

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To me one of the best mods for the Gen 3, car feel a lot better.
 
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dester243

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345sb spinning has some spreadsheets that he made up in the performance section. I didn't really look into it but I think if I remember right, factory 5th will do about 200 and 6th is like 258 or something crazy.... That's with the 3.07s

I have a Paxton car but went with a much taller tire dropping my effective ratio from 3.07 to 2.8X So I figure going 3.55s will get it close to an overall effective ratio of 3.3X which should be good for me.
 

JoelW

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You can do the math with the recommended tools but at Road Atlanta my call will go 140+ in 5th gear with the 3.55s at around 5000 rpm - I really don't have time to look as you top turn 9. Maybe some of the other folks who have gears can comment. At 80 mph on the interstate it turns about 1750 rpm in 6th gear. I suspect the top speed in 6th will still be limited by wind not by the gear but top speed would be more than 160. Whatever the possible top speed is, the gear change made the car a lot more fun to drive and that is really the bottom line in my book.

Doing the gear swap, does it top out around 160?
 

MoparMap

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I must be crazy then liking the stock gears, lol. I just have an intake/exhaust/tune gen 3 and I feel like it blows the tires off at full throttle in the lower gears and it still pulls like a freight train up high. I'd think 3.55's would just roast tires even more and make full throttle unusable in more gears. I don't mind lugging it around in 6th on the highway either. I'll cruise 55 on the way to work in 6th without it being an issue. If I feel like "speeding up quickly" for whatever reason on the highway I'll downshift anyway. 5th for something small like a pass, 4th for some sport, 3rd if I'm really trying to show off ;)
 
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