LETZRIDE

iTrader: (6)

Question for you guys- I keep reading on here that gear selection doesn't make a difference when you have a high stall converter (3600+)

How is this physically possible?

if I run a car with 3.42 gears and 4000 stall I get that the shift extension will be at say 5000 rpm so I will always be making the power the car should in that range, but if I ran a 4.10 gear with that 4000 stall should I not be considerably quicker? I mean the gear is shorter letting the car spin up much easier and through the gears.

Theoretically I should climb to 6000rpm / shift point much faster because the gear is shorter

Is what I am reading a direct result of guys going from numerically low gears to high gears but sticking a taller tire on the car thereby nullifying the gear change essentially?


I'm asking about this here because I am building my LS1 street / strip car and my current 8.8 has 4.10 gears in it (from my 3800) but I have 3.73's that I will be putting in this summer. However, if there truly is no difference when running a 4000 stall (which is what I plan on grabbing from Yank- although the possibility of a 3600 is still lingering) then why should I kill my top end so much, I should just go with a 3.55 instead.

The concept just doesn't make sense to me

T6Rocket

A loose stall will push the car into the higher RPM's, regardless of rear end gear. The gains with lower gears wont be as dramatic as they would with a stock stall, where you are relying pretty much on the gear to get up in the RPM's.

It should still be quicker with the lower gears, provided you have traction. But the difference before and after won't be as much as it would if you were working with a tight stall.

Al

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Stall always has much bigger impact on a combo over gear.

LETZRIDE

iTrader: (6)

A stall would- you see torque multiplication, shift extension, they are generally lighter meaning less rotating mass, and you leave at a higher RPM off the line.

Gears only get the car moving quicker.

You could argue that aside from nitrous, a stall converter is the best bang for your dollar ET wise.

I just don't understand how I have read about all these guys who go from a 3.42 gear to a 4.10 when they already have a stall, and they see zero reduction in ET?

Just doesnt make sense to me...

spicebird98

iTrader: (10)

most of the time the more aggressive gear is coupled with not being able to hook anymore. Also, a lot of times guys will still shift at the same rpm or have the same rev limiter setting. its not counter productive, but you definitely wont see as big of a gain compared to taking advantage of a shorter fall back and crossing the strip right at your rev limiter with the lower ratio.

I dont really like the idea of 4.10's with the stock trans, since it doesnt particularly like being zinged rpm wise. Thats unless you want to shift it low, say 6200 and go thru the lights letting it eat. Or go to a 28" tire, but i like the short ones. Just helps get the most of a 60' as long as it hooks. Lots of options to go with.

STANGKILLINZ28

hey guys new here but i would like to add something. I have a 3800 stall in my z28 i went from 273 gears to 410s and i picked up 8 tenths in the 1/4 .

LETZRIDE

iTrader: (6)

was that after you had already run the car with the stall or combined with the stall and gears?

STANGKILLINZ28

i already had the stall when i ran the car with my 273s . The only thing that changed with the car was the gears .

LETZRIDE

iTrader: (6)

Interesting...seems like a major gain for a gear swap, I saw 2-3 tenths in my v6 with the swap irrc. I wonder what your DA difference was between the two days.

What were you crossing the traps at rpm wise?

STANGKILLINZ28

yeah it really surprised me for sure ! i was around 5900 rpm at the end of the 1/4.

LETZRIDE

iTrader: (6)

Looks like the shop that is supposed to do the gearing is a little slow at the moment, so they are going to do the 3.73's next week while I have the 8.8 out of the car still and before I swap it into the LS1

Part of me thinks that I should just go to a 3.55 gear, but I hate giving up performance, and I really loved when my v6 had 3.90's...I hated the 4.10s though. I also drove my v6 with a 3200 stall, not a 4000 like I plan on getting for the LS1...decisions decisions decisions!!

End goal is to crack a high 11 in the 1/4 with bolt ons only and N/A, but still daily drive the car in the summer...

Mystery Bird

iTrader: (7)

I hit high 11's years ago with 3.42 gears and a 3000 stall converter.

BAIN

iTrader: (5)

Is the end goal with the LS1? If so 3.73's and 3800-4000 stall will get you there.

LETZRIDE

iTrader: (6)

Yes with the LS1 - V6 is gone now

gator's 99TA

iTrader: (2)

Big gears only reduces your trap potential. I have a 3.73 gear and 275 radials. I have gone 1.28 60'. I need less rear gear at this point. She is legging it out the back.

Think about overall gearing when considering the trans gearing.

LETZRIDE

iTrader: (6)

you can go to a taller tire to combat that

But that is my concern when I look at where I want the car to be at when I am done with it. Realistically, theoretically 120+mph you're in the 10's...without considering converter slip, 3.73's should not have an issue with you running out of gear in the top end. I think at 6200 rpm you should be able to turn 130mph in 3rd

gator's 99TA

iTrader: (2)

Tires taller than a 275/60 look gay unless it's slammed with a mini tub. Even then....

I am looking towards 150 traps. My point is big gears are a dumb way for an auto to improve at the track.

LETZRIDE

iTrader: (6)

that's why you have dedicated track tires... you care about how you look, or do you care about going fast?

I don't see how any mod that gives you an improvement at the track is dumb...if you build your setup properly you're building it around what you need and everything works fluidly.

If you're trapping 150 I'm assuming you have a setup that is turning the motor to at least 6500rpm... if so you're best looking at a 3.73 gear on a 28" tire rather than going to a 3.55 on a 26" tire - you should see a better result that way and will be crossing the traps at about 6500rpm which is perfect assuming you're still making power there

There is nothing dumb about matching your setup

gator's 99TA

iTrader: (2)

What the hell are you taking about? I dont see your point. Give me cliff notes.

6500 rpm on a 150 mph trap car? Have you ever had this result?

RENE'S RAGE

iTrader: (96)

He can't even set his on car up, but he's trying to tell you how to set your car up. That's funny!