4:10 vs. 3:73

[hank]

I have a 2002 GT 5-speed, I am considering a 4:10 or 3:73 ring and pinion. What are some of the plusses and minuses of each? I do some highway driving, at 65mph, what kind of rpm should I expect?

[96_4.6]

Funny thing, i just became in the same situation with my 96 gt auto, i thought i had 2:73 in mine but all the stang heads said even with automatic 96 and up has 3:08. I am also wondering 373 or 410 for gt's. 96-98's are dogs so i am thinking about 4:10's, thanks for any help for us

[stangt00]

I have 3.73's in my 5 speed and at 65 I am at about 2000 rpms. Lots of people here recommend 3.73's for daily drivers. They have my vote. 4.10's will put you at about 2300 rpm at 65mph. The choice is yours, its your gas $

[96_4.6]

Yea but i dont have a new gt like you, I have a 96 gt which means without a head change, juice or some kind of a supercharger i am shi* out of luck cause I will never see that much money for a long time. I should just get 4:10 so i can be quick but 3:73's are good enough so i am still goin over pro's and con's, thanks

[Hammer]

I'd go with 3.73s on a daily driver...

[Mustang92]

4.10's if you plan on keeping the car all motor and that would be a conservative gear. There is zero gas mileage difference between 3.73's and 4.10's. I saw no change in gas mileage (still get 19 MPG with 4.30's) when I changed from 4.10's to 4.30's.

Bill

[96_4.6]

What do you mean by all motor?

[97 Stang]

All motor means you don't have a power adder, suck as nitrous or a blower.

[96_4.6]

well damn thats me, all i have is an bbk h-pipe, k&n, flowmasters and i want gears, i will never be able to buy a power adder so i want some gears, 3:73 or 4:10 i dont know, maybe i'll get that head swap but i cant have more then like 400 bucks at a time in my situation so you guys are lucky who can buy shi* like that though i'm only 19 once get older a better job will come and so will income so for now gears are needed!

[stangt00]

Hey Mustang92. I cant believe you get 19 mpg with those gears, and no change even with the taller gears (Im not doubting you). I guess it's all dependant on how heavy your foot is and how much you like to get up on it with the added "seat of your pants" factor. I have "ZERO" self control in that category, so I am lucky to get 10 mpg daily use. Other than mpg, I guess the gear difference would take away from the life of the motor? Yes, no?

[Mustang92]

Originally posted by stangt00
Hey Mustang92. I cant believe you get 19 mpg with those gears, and no change even with the taller gears (Im not doubting you). I guess it's all dependant on how heavy your foot is and how much you like to get up on it with the added "seat of your pants" factor. I have "ZERO" self control in that category, so I am lucky to get 10 mpg daily use. Other than mpg, I guess the gear difference would take away from the life of the motor? Yes, no?

I get as much as 24MPG on long distance trips. The only change I saw in gas milege between 4.10's and 4.30's was long distance driving. I drove back and forth to the Georgia races and with 4.10's got 27MPG and 24 MPG with 4.30's but with my daily commute there was no difference. I do drive the car normally and get on it every so often. A lot comes down to driving style.

I don't believe in the whole life of the motor vs gearing, etc... If that was the case my motor would have failed 40K miles ago. Think about it I launch my car on the rev limiter on slicks (just imagine sitting at a stop light holding the gas to the floor and dumping it with zero tire spin), have over 600 passes on the car, 96K miles, 40K with 4.30's and 30K with 4.10's. My car went 12.55 three weeks ago I'd say the motor is running just fine. Seriously these motors can take the abuse you put at them as long as you maintain them properly. During my commute I'm at 2700-3000 most of the way and I put a lot of highway miles on the car.

Bill

[Paul01GT]

Good explanaton Bill
I'm at about the same RPM on the highway
For a daily driver I think 4.10's are fine - I get 19mpg around town

[skz4u]

I have a 96GT and have 3:73's and I only drive my car when it's nice out. It's a good daily driver gear, though I wish I had went to the 4:10's. RPMS are low on the highway so I know I could've gone higher. You will notice a difference in how the car pulls after the gear change especially on the highway. It's a lot better! I also drove my car from KY to Cleveland, OH and I noticed very little change in MPG from the stock 3:27 gear. Maybe 1-2 MPG difference, nothing drastic. Hope this helps you out!

[stangt00]

DAMN I would have put the 4.10's on instead of the 3.73's if I was a forum member here before I did the gear swap. Thanks for the info and schooling Bill. Just out of curiosity, what is your rpm range at 65 mph? Also, with the 4.30's whats the top speed you can get in first and second gears?

[Mustang92]

Originally posted by stangt00
DAMN I would have put the 4.10's on instead of the 3.73's if I was a forum member here before I did the gear swap. Thanks for the info and schooling Bill. Just out of curiosity, what is your rpm range at 65 mph? Also, with the 4.30's whats the top speed you can get in first and second gears?

Since the TKO swap my speedo is still pretty far off so I'm not sure. If I remember right 65 MPH was about 2400 - 2600 RPM, I know 80 MPH is 3050 because that is what I cruise at. No idea on speed per gear I never paid attention to that.

Bill

[explicitone]

I have 4.10s just not in yet wont have the money for the install till may

[GaryDawg]

Originally posted by Hammer
I'd go with 3.73s on a daily driver...

Agreed... especially with a 5-speed...

[explicitone]

Originally posted by GaryDawg
Agreed... especially with a 5-speed...

not to flame or sound like a jerk but how can you agree you still have the stock gears and the diff. in 3.73s and 4.10s is about 300 rpms but the are a world apart in performance
N/a no less the 4.10s but better with 4.30s
juice (nx,nos,nw) 4.10s
blower 3.73

I work with a guy that a daliy driven 94 5.0 with 4.10s and he loves them and he has had 3.73(well for about 2 months)before ditched them for the 4.10s

[Dark_5.0]

I was just wondering how many times this topic was gonna come up

[GaryDawg]

Originally posted by explicitone
not to flame or sound like a jerk but how can you agree you still have the stock gears and the diff. in 3.73s and 4.10s is about 300 rpms but the are a world apart in performance
N/a no less the 4.10s but better with 4.30s
juice (nx,nos,nw) 4.10s
blower 3.73

I work with a guy that a daliy driven 94 5.0 with 4.10s and he loves them and he has had 3.73(well for about 2 months)before ditched them for the 4.10s

I also know people (as you do) that had both in 5-speeds and thought the 4.10 were a bit too short in first gear for daily city driving... An auto may be a different story.