what to do?...Gear choice for 385
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,341
Likes: 1
what to do?...Gear choice for 385 Hi guys,
I have a dilemma...
My car currently has 3.73s in it and I am running M&H musclecar drags on the street (26.3 overall height).
This should be a great street combination but the gearing isnt ideal for the strip.
My 385 buildup is just about done and I need to decide what to do about rear gears. Projected power is in the 465-485RWHP and similar torque. Peaking approx 6300-6400rpm
Car weight is hopefully going to be in the 3400 pound range with driver.
Tire size is 26.3 on the M&H tire and probably a 26x10 ET drag I am going to borrow occasionally for the hardcore race days.
Now what gear should I go with? I want to balance street driving with great track performance.
I have 3.73's and will be undergeared with this tire with my current power level.
I dont want to rev the car to the moon. Looking to have the shiftlight at 6400rpms and actually shifting around 6600rpms.
4.11s will give me 127.8mph at 6700rpm through the traps on a 26.3 tire with perfect hook
3.91s will give me 134mph at 6700rpm and 130mph at 6500rpm
My current 3.73's will give me about 140.5 at 6700rpm and 136mph at 6500rpm
My projected trap speed should be in the 127-128mph range give or take a mph.
The 3.91s sound like an ideal combo for both street and track but I have heard they are noisy as hell.
The 4.10s look to be the best choice for drag racing but will I hook on the street?
What are your thoughts?
One constant is that I am staying with a 26.3 tall tire.
I am going to street drive a lot and think 4.10s might be a bit much with that power level?
Your thoughts appreciated!!!
I have a dilemma...
My car currently has 3.73s in it and I am running M&H musclecar drags on the street (26.3 overall height).
This should be a great street combination but the gearing isnt ideal for the strip.
My 385 buildup is just about done and I need to decide what to do about rear gears. Projected power is in the 465-485RWHP and similar torque. Peaking approx 6300-6400rpm
Car weight is hopefully going to be in the 3400 pound range with driver.
Tire size is 26.3 on the M&H tire and probably a 26x10 ET drag I am going to borrow occasionally for the hardcore race days.
Now what gear should I go with? I want to balance street driving with great track performance.
I have 3.73's and will be undergeared with this tire with my current power level.
I dont want to rev the car to the moon. Looking to have the shiftlight at 6400rpms and actually shifting around 6600rpms.
4.11s will give me 127.8mph at 6700rpm through the traps on a 26.3 tire with perfect hook
3.91s will give me 134mph at 6700rpm and 130mph at 6500rpm
My current 3.73's will give me about 140.5 at 6700rpm and 136mph at 6500rpm
My projected trap speed should be in the 127-128mph range give or take a mph.
The 3.91s sound like an ideal combo for both street and track but I have heard they are noisy as hell.
The 4.10s look to be the best choice for drag racing but will I hook on the street?
What are your thoughts?
One constant is that I am staying with a 26.3 tall tire.
I am going to street drive a lot and think 4.10s might be a bit much with that power level?
Your thoughts appreciated!!!
4.10 on a 26" tire works well for me on the street, but i can't hook it at the track. i am pretty sure i'm undergeared and too small of a tire, i keep spinning bad even on mid 1.5 sixty foots.
i wouldn't go smaller than 4.10 if i were you. but i def agree with 01-butthead, leave it, go make shakedown, and then decide what's best for the new combo.
i wouldn't go smaller than 4.10 if i were you. but i def agree with 01-butthead, leave it, go make shakedown, and then decide what's best for the new combo.
I have a similiar issue with changing trannys and deciding between a 4.30 and 4.56 based on some gear calculators. Decided to do the same and run my current 3.70s on some shakedowns and then make the decision.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Originally Posted by Chris ARE 360
already have a 26.3 inch tire 
Where I am staying motor I think a 28x10 and a 4.30 would work perfectly.
Where I am staying motor I think a 28x10 and a 4.30 would work perfectly.
You are absolutely right! So ditch the 26's, slap on a 28" tire and gear that **** to high hell!
next year I'll be running 26 inch tire with 4.30 gears, I'll be nowhere near the power level you are at, and I have a M6. If you had a 9 inch, you could try 3.89 or 3.75 gears, I know a couple guys that run that in mustangs with similar power levels (470ish hp,450ish tq) to you on 26 inch tires. Car's are in the 3400 race weight range, and are running low 11's high 10's, depending on the day. Depends on your converter too, they are all running 3500 to 4000 stall converters. Know
Thread Starter
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,341
Likes: 1
Update
Just ordered 4.11's
The M&H tires I have are actually measuring out to be 26.5 inches tall. With .4 of an inch tire growth at 125mph I should be ok and crossing at ~6300-6400rpm.
I'll let you know how everything works after I get the gears installed and hit the track
Just ordered 4.11's
The M&H tires I have are actually measuring out to be 26.5 inches tall. With .4 of an inch tire growth at 125mph I should be ok and crossing at ~6300-6400rpm.
I'll let you know how everything works after I get the gears installed and hit the track