Cams or Gears?

[1989GT]

I'd go with the gears, but I'd go 4.10 minimum 4.30 or 4.56 would be my choice. You can adjust for the gear change with the xcal.

[00stang]

Yeah, I can definitely calibrate the speedometer with the Xcal 2.

The $400 was just for labor, not including the installation kit, gears, or fluid.

I was told it would be safe for me to go with 4.10 with the automatic, but I would lose gas mileage. Since I do drive it everyday, and on the highway, I think 3.90s would be the happy medium to go with.

[explicitone]

Originally Posted by 00stang

Yeah, I can definitely calibrate the speedometer with the Xcal 2.

The $400 was just for labor, not including the installation kit, gears, or fluid.

I was told it would be safe for me to go with 4.10 with the automatic, but I would lose gas mileage. Since I do drive it everyday, and on the highway, I think 3.90s would be the happy medium to go with.

you wont lose much MPG if you keep your foot out of it..... I have 4.10s cams and a blower and I still get 20+MPG highway and around 18 city (skip shifting)


I would go with the gears.... as for the price thats around what i paid but then a again my gears now have 35k and over 350 passes at the drag strip and they have no signs of wear

my buddy went cheap a few times on going with halfass installers and he is on his 3rd gears set because he keeps breaking the ring gear.. ( I am making more power as well)

[mlsataec]

Definitely go with the gears. I would say a 4.10 would be noticeably better thatn the 3.90, but you must consider where you are driving. I too have a '00 GT Convertible, but I have a 5 speed. I went with a 3.90 gear and am very satisfied. I also bought the Superchips tuner (mostly to correct the speedo) and set it to the performance level. Definite noticeable increase in HP. I chose the 3.90 gear because I do alot of freeway driving and at 70 to 80 MPH in OD I'm running about 2,600 RPM. That's about as high an RPM I would want to sustain for long periods of time and not decrease the life of my motor too much. But who am I trying to fool? I can't keep my foot out it. I really like the acceleration I've gotten on the freeway in 4th gear above 60 MPH.

[explicitone]

Originally Posted by mlsataec

Definitely go with the gears. I would say a 4.10 would be noticeably better thatn the 3.90, but you must consider where you are driving. I too have a '00 GT Convertible, but I have a 5 speed. I went with a 3.90 gear and am very satisfied. I also bought the Superchips tuner (mostly to correct the speedo) and set it to the performance level. Definite noticeable increase in HP. I chose the 3.90 gear because I do alot of freeway driving and at 70 to 80 MPH in OD I'm running about 2,600 RPM. That's about as high an RPM I would want to sustain for long periods of time and not decrease the life of my motor too much. But who am I trying to fool? I can't keep my foot out it. I really like the acceleration I've gotten on the freeway in 4th gear above 60 MPH.

it wont hurt the motor... and a 3.90 to a 4.10 is only about 150rpm


I have driven my car for 4 hour trips with cams a blower and 4.10s turning 3000rpm and has never missed a beat

[collinjay71]

I would definitely go with the gears and depending on how fast you like to drive 4.10's would be a better choice for an automatic. It would be better to do the gears before the cams so you will be able to use the extra rpm the cams provide. Also since you will lose some low end torque with the cams the lower gears will help with that.