3.55's instead of 3.73's?

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Jul 13, 2013 | 09:03 PM

#21

2011 Kona Blue

Shelby GT500 Member

Joined: November 26, 2011

Posts: 2,633

Likes: 4

I clearly don't have a Gt but when I installed my 3:73 gears in my 11 v6 it totally transformed the car into something different. Mine is a lightly modded V6 and several months ago I test drove a 2013 5.0 with auto which had standard 3:15 gears. I swear my V6 felt faster than that 5.0 . I would think that if the 3:73 gears transformed my little sixer, than can't imagine what it would do to a 5.0. I would go with the 3:73 gears and don't look back.

Jul 13, 2013 | 09:22 PM

#22

GTCS 2k9

GT Member

Joined: January 28, 2010

Posts: 134

Likes: 0

From: Ontario, Canada

In my 4.6 standard trans, I have the 3:55s. In a 420HP Mustang I would stick with this rear gearing. That kind of torque in a 3:73 IMO is too hard to manage.

Jul 13, 2013 | 09:34 PM

#23

2011 Kona Blue

Shelby GT500 Member

Joined: November 26, 2011

Posts: 2,633

Likes: 4

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTCS 2k9

In my 4.6 standard trans, I have the 3:55s. In a 420HP Mustang I would stick with this rear gearing. That kind of torque in a 3:73 IMO is too hard to manage.

Well, the man has a point about the torque. With 390 lbs torque it may be too hard to manage. My 11 v6 model is no where near the 5.0 level on torque and mine is way more manageable. Mine shoots hard off line with almost no traction issues and I'm on factory stock 17 inch tires.

Jul 14, 2013 | 04:25 AM

#24

Depwraith

Member

Joined: May 23, 2012

Posts: 37

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011 Kona Blue

I have a 13 GT 500 with 707 lbs of torque at the rear wheels and 3.73's...I manage it just fine.

Jul 14, 2013 | 04:47 AM

#25

2011 Kona Blue

Shelby GT500 Member

Joined: November 26, 2011

Posts: 2,633

Likes: 4

Quote:

Originally Posted by Depwraith

I have a 13 GT 500 with 707 lbs of torque at the rear wheels and 3.73's...I manage it just fine.

Well darn son. You must have some darn good sticky tires. Lol.

Jul 14, 2013 | 06:32 AM

#26

kn7671

Mach 1 Member

Joined: July 26, 2004

Posts: 724

Likes: 0

From: Arlington, TX

3.73's are a waste for the street primarily used as a Daily Driver.

Let's look at this another way, let's compare a 2010 4.6 GT w/3.73's to a 2011 5.0 GT w/3.73's, both with a 27.2" tall tire:

2010 GT = 315hp @ 6000, 325tq @ 4500, redline = 6250
2011 GT = 412hp @ 6500, 390tq @ 4250, redline = 6800

2010 4.6 GT w/3.73's vs a 2011 5.0 GT w/3.73's:
1st = 40 mph vs 40 mph (equal)
2nd = 68 mph vs 60 mph (-8)
3rd = 102 mph vs 87 mph (-15)
4th = 135 mph vs 111 mph (-24)
5th = 147 mph (MT82 only)
Top gear @ 70mph = 2000 rpm vs 2100 rpm (+100 rpms)

Should be obvious why it feels like it feels like you shift more with an MT82 5.0.

As you can see, things start going bad for the MT82 5.0 in 2nd gear with 3.73's, as the internal gearing of the MT82 gives you 5 non-overdrive gears compared to 4 non-overdrive gears of all other transmissions.

Without a traction improvement, it is NEVER been better to throw more gearing at more horsepower and torque, which is why all the factory high horsepower cars have long 1st gears.

More extreme, a 2010 4.6 GT w/4.30's vs 3.73's in the 2011 5.0 with 3.73's:
1st = 34 mph vs 40 mph (+6)
2nd = 58 mph vs 60 mph (+2)
3rd = 89 mph vs 87 mph (-2)
4th = 117 mph vs 111 mph (-6)
5th = 147 mph (MT82 only)
Top gear @ 70mph = 2325 rpm vs 2100 rpm (-225 rpms)

How many of the 4.6 GT guys are driving around with 4.30's in their cars?

Interesting comparison of a 2010 GT 4.6 w/3.73's vs a 2011 GT w/3.08's:
1st = 40 mph vs 48 mph (+8)
2nd = 68 mph vs 73 mph (+5)
3rd = 102 mph vs 105 mph (+3)
4th = 135 mph vs 135 mph (equal)
5th = 178mph (MT82 only)
Top gear @ 70mph = 2000 rpm vs 1750 rpm (-250 rpms)

And lastly, a 3.73's 2010 4.6 GT vs a 2011 5.0 GT w/3.31's:
1st = 40 mph vs 45 mph (+5)
2nd = 68 mph vs 68 mph (equal)
3rd = 102 mph vs 98 mph (-4)
4th = 135 mph vs 125 mph (-10)
5th = 166mph (MT82 only)
Top gear @ 70mph = 2000 rpm vs 1875 rpm (-125 rpms)

Last edited by kn7671; Jul 14, 2013 at 07:22 AM.

Jul 14, 2013 | 10:48 AM

#27

Black Fire

Bullitt Member

Joined: May 9, 2011

Posts: 261

Likes: 6

From: Michigan

Quote:

Originally Posted by kn7671

Interesting comparisons
And I totally agree with the more power and more torque with more gear is not always good comment. But add better traction and things change.
I have 3.73's, and I came from a 4th Gen F-body with a T56 that I drove for 13 years. With the steep gearing of the MT82 it's like driving that old Formula with a set of 4.88's. It can be a pain at times but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Jul 14, 2013 | 12:01 PM

#28

2011 Kona Blue

Shelby GT500 Member

Joined: November 26, 2011

Posts: 2,633

Likes: 4

Quote:

Originally Posted by kn7671

3.73's are a waste for the street primarily used as a Daily Driver.

Let's look at this another way, let's compare a 2010 4.6 GT w/3.73's to a 2011 5.0 GT w/3.73's, both with a 27.2" tall tire:

2010 GT = 315hp @ 6000, 325tq @ 4500, redline = 6250
2011 GT = 412hp @ 6500, 390tq @ 4250, redline = 6800

2010 4.6 GT w/3.73's vs a 2011 5.0 GT w/3.73's:
1st = 40 mph vs 40 mph (equal)
2nd = 68 mph vs 60 mph (-8)
3rd = 102 mph vs 87 mph (-15)
4th = 135 mph vs 111 mph (-24)
5th = 147 mph (MT82 only)
Top gear @ 70mph = 2000 rpm vs 2100 rpm (+100 rpms)

Should be obvious why it feels like it feels like you shift more with an MT82 5.0.

As you can see, things start going bad for the MT82 5.0 in 2nd gear with 3.73's, as the internal gearing of the MT82 gives you 5 non-overdrive gears compared to 4 non-overdrive gears of all other transmissions.

Without a traction improvement, it is NEVER been better to throw more gearing at more horsepower and torque, which is why all the factory high horsepower cars have long 1st gears.

More extreme, a 2010 4.6 GT w/4.30's vs 3.73's in the 2011 5.0 with 3.73's:
1st = 34 mph vs 40 mph (+6)
2nd = 58 mph vs 60 mph (+2)
3rd = 89 mph vs 87 mph (-2)
4th = 117 mph vs 111 mph (-6)
5th = 147 mph (MT82 only)
Top gear @ 70mph = 2325 rpm vs 2100 rpm (-225 rpms)

How many of the 4.6 GT guys are driving around with 4.30's in their cars?

Interesting comparison of a 2010 GT 4.6 w/3.73's vs a 2011 GT w/3.08's:
1st = 40 mph vs 48 mph (+8)
2nd = 68 mph vs 73 mph (+5)
3rd = 102 mph vs 105 mph (+3)
4th = 135 mph vs 135 mph (equal)
5th = 178mph (MT82 only)
Top gear @ 70mph = 2000 rpm vs 1750 rpm (-250 rpms)

And lastly, a 3.73's 2010 4.6 GT vs a 2011 5.0 GT w/3.31's:
1st = 40 mph vs 45 mph (+5)
2nd = 68 mph vs 68 mph (equal)
3rd = 102 mph vs 98 mph (-4)
4th = 135 mph vs 125 mph (-10)
5th = 166mph (MT82 only)
Top gear @ 70mph = 2000 rpm vs 1875 rpm (-125 rpms)

That's a lot of reading. Lol

Last edited by 2011 Kona Blue; Jul 14, 2013 at 12:03 PM.