DrBlockHed

I have a 2000 TA m6, stock except for an slp lid. Im going to do arh lt headers, ory and catback at some point. In looking to gain some performance without spending 2 grand, i was going to do 3.90 gears. On a stock car, will there be a noticeable difference, would it be a bad idea to do this before the exhaust?

FirstYrLS1Z

iTrader: (4)

Going from the stock 3.42s' to 3.90s' will be a noticeable difference. Most M6'ers go to 4.10s,not trying to talk you out of 3.90s',just saying what most go with.
Will be a 14% increase in torque to rear wheels

DrBlockHed

Thanks for the input, I've done some research and my reasons for the 3.90's are they are little stronger and will affect the mpg a little less. I don't drive it daily, but when I use it to commute (about once a week) it's 130 miles round trip. So 1-2 mpg adds up real fast.

Unless I'm completely wrong, which isn't outside the realm of possibility

garygnu

check out a quick Performance 9" rear for $2000.do the exhaust first .a stock 10 bolt with a M6 ,its a matter of time before it goes.

DrBlockHed

You saying the gears will take its toll on the rear?

redbird555

iTrader: (14)

2k is about 4 times as much as doing a gear swap and the op may not have the cash but if he did i would recommend it over the 10 bolt.

however to the op I run 3.90s and like them a lot they are def a big difference over 3.42's. i felt that the 4.10's are just a little too short for the street and st gear is almost non existent. as you said the 3.90s are a little stronger because of the larger pinion and should hold up a little better. people break 10 bolts often with an m6 but i think as long as you dont do clutch dumps at the track with a good tire you'll be ok.

keep in mind that the 3.90s are only available as a performance gear cut and there may make a little noise. mine have a slight noise around 45-55 but you need to have the windows up and radio off to hear it and even then you'd have to know what to listen for. with that said i love my 3.90s and have no regrets.

DrBlockHed

Im aware that the 10 bolt is weak. Ive had the car for 6 years and it hasnt seen the track and i havent launched it yet, the mods are for the fun factor.

Thanks redbird, thats what Im looking to here, big upgrade, lots of fun.

DrBlockHed

Anyone else have any thoughts putting 3.90 gears into a mostly stock TA? Most people seem to do gears after a few mods exhaust or H/C/I.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

ramair 1

iTrader: (2)

I just got 390 gears installed .I went with them over 410 due to there the same size as my old 373 auto setup.As said earlier i can still get some use out of first gear.If i was in your situation i might consider longtubes ,exhaust,maybe tune first then gears but thats the way i did it,Gears will give a good kick in the pants feeling for the price.

KingPin1094

iTrader: (12)

Id just like to share this so you can play around with it a bit. http://www.csgnetwork.com/rpmcalc.html
Put in your tire diamater (if stock about 26") put in the gear ration, and the top gear of an m6 is .5 You can play around with it and see how your RPM's will change when you put different gears in the car

HioSSilver

iTrader: (8)

3.90's are a great gear for these cars...even near stock or 1st mod.

4.10's are a bit to much gear unless your running a taller tire than stock...then your really asking for trouble out of the 10bolt.

FST SS

I have 3.89's and wouldn't change a thing!

TORK?

iTrader: (27)

I had 4.10s in stock 10 bolt and they were fine. Now I have 3.89s in a 9" and I like it a little better. I like how first gear doesn't go by so quickly with the 3.89, and there is a couple hundred rpm difference at 70.

From a performance standpoint, gears as a first mod won't get you faster et's. But like you said you're just looking for fun factor, the car will FEEL a ton faster and be more fun when downshifting and taking off.

A bonus with steep gears is that you can cruise around in town in 5th or even 6th gear.

DrBlockHed

Exactly what I was looking to hear. The car wont see a track for a long time, but if it makes it a more fun ride, thats what i want.

Part of the reason im going to so the gears is that one of the rear wheel studs snapped off when trying to loosen it by hand. Ive been told it can only be replaced by pulling the axle, im def going to do gears in the future so i dont want to have pay to pull the axle twice.

One of the reasons gears hopped to the front of the list.

TORK?

iTrader: (27)

I've done rear gear change in an a4 and m6. For the money, there isn't a much more fun mod you can do.

I'm sure you're next thread will be "what brand gears should I get?" I've used Motive gears with good success no noticeable noise increase.

30th t/a

iTrader: (51)

Ive had 4:10s & now 3:90s. Both in a 10 bolts with a 6 speed. Never had a problem. I had about 50 track passes on the 4.10s. Both are great but I vote 3.90s.

01BlackCamaroSS

iTrader: (1)

I run 3.90s they were the first big mod that I did to my car it was a very noticeable difference from the stock ones. I've put a ton of passes on them and have no regrets.

DrBlockHed

I actually already planned on motive gears, so thanks for the confirmation!

dailydriver

I went from 4.10s installed when the car was <2 years old, to 3.73s because of the strength factor, as well as because that gives the same effective overall ratios as the C5 Z06's MN12 Tremec with it's stock 3.42s.

MUCH, MUCH better for open tracking/road racing than the unusable 4.10s, and more responsive than the stock 3.42s with the stock MN6 Tremec.

That being said, IF there were 3.90s with even a chance of being quiet, and guaranteed to be made HERE, I would have considered them.

HioSSilver

iTrader: (8)

my 3.90's are quiet.