TXSSIVE

Hey,

What would be the better option? I do a fair amount of highway driving and the car will be a DD. I know the 4.10 is the popular choice but I have heard a little on the 4.56. Any input? Is there a good middle ground? I want good low end power & torque for city street driving and lower rpm at highway speed (65-80 in Texas), say around 2000 rpm @ 70mph. Thanks

SMOKNSS

iTrader: (3)

I have 4.10s and think it is about perfect for what you are describing. I drove my car everyday for a little while, mostly highway, and I liked it. Even in stop and go traffic it was alot better than the WAY too long legged six speed with 3.42s. But I have even been contemplating a slight bump to a 4.30 gear (12 bolt) just to help me out a bit with stop and go traffic, with my new set up.

TXSSIVE

How would the 4.30 help in stop and go traffic? That's another gear I was going to look into actually. And as far as the 4.56, is that too high a gear? I don't need a 180+ top speed but I don't want to render the sixth gear useless either. Sounds like the 4.30 would be a good compromise. Correct?
Oh btw, the car will have a LSX 454 (will that affect gear ratio choice?) and it will be with either a 12 bolt or S60 with DR's or high performance summer tires like Michelin Pilot PS2's on 18" wheels most likely.

SMOKNSS

iTrader: (3)

If you would like to go with 4.30s you will have to use the 12 bolt. The S60 has 4.10s and 4.56s. 1" difference in diameter really isn't gonna change your gear any, so I would say the 4.10s would be fine. I have seen 4.56s in cars and i personally would find that too much in my car (most speed limits around here on the road in 45-55 and highway is 65 or 70) and 4.10s has done me really well. I am contemplating going to 4.30s because of my camshaft. With just the little bump they offer over the 4.10s I would never see the RPM range that I gave up drivability in ~1000-1300. When I had my stock cam and full bolt ons I LOVED my 4.10s and wouldn't have had anything else.

TXSSIVE

When you say the 4.56 would be too much, what does that mean? (I'm a newbie). Here in Texas the speeds are anywhere from 35-50 on the roads and 65-75 highway. I don't have the car yet, I'm just in the planning stage but the cam will be something like 236/246 .635/.635 113, so idk what gear would be best for that cam to make good low end & good highway performance.

RS_SS69

iTrader: (31)

I ran 4.56s for awhile in my bolt on only car, man ill tell you what I sure do miss them alot. Great gear, rapped up really fast and pulled hard, really really hard. at 80mph I was about 2400rpm and just over 2000rpm at 70mph. It was easy to drive never gave it gas taking off, barely had to downshift at all to pass someone. I did sacrafice top end and some mileage, about 50 miles a tank which wasnt bad. Hope this helps.

TXSSIVE

Really? Dude, that sounds perfect. Exactly what I'm looking for. Where there is lots of low end power & a nice low rpm at highway speed. I'm not really concerned about losing the very top end of the spectrum, not going to be doing 140+ on the highway. Ha ha. And a little drop in mileage like you stated isn't that big of deal either. BTW, what would cause the drop in mpg though? I mean if the rpms are low how does that make lower mpg? I though it was the opposite. Just curious. Forgive me, I'm a

I'll seriously consider the 4.56's. So it's between that & the 4.10's I think.

puggerton03

iTrader: (1)

^^^^^^^^^^^ he said he was a little over 2000 rpm at 70 with the 4.56s. on the stock 3.42s at 70 the tach is at 1500. the lower the operating rpm the better the mileage.

TXSSIVE

Oh you're right, I'm sorry. I was thinking about my car. I currently have a '95 V6 A4 camaro and I'm at 2000-2300 rpm at 65. And that's with everything stock. But I was right then about the lower the rpm the better the mpg. Cool.

jmm98LS1

iTrader: (28)

I've had 4.56's and 4.30's with 26" tires and now have 4.33's with 28" tires. Those 4.56's were an absolute riot on the street, only reason I switched was to be able to finish the 1/4 in 4th gear.

RS_SS69

iTrader: (31)

Exactly, mpg's went down due to higher rpm. Great for torque and power all around. The whole thing is manners, if you can handle it then they are great but always remember that 1st gear is almost not there, you get through it so fast you almost forget to shift LOL. In the end its your decision, I went 4.56s cause it was different and I hadnt heard anyone running them.

TXSSIVE

yeah, understood. If I do go with the 4.56's could I skip first and start in 2nd for normal around town driving? I've driven a lot of cars with gobs of low end torque in my auto detailing days. Like Porsche 911 Turbos, 996's, Vipers' and the like and many times I would skip first all together. Like when coming almost to a dead stop and then start rolling again or even from a dead stop.

I'm just afraid if first is too short a gear I'll get tired of it after a bit, you know?
If that's the case, is it hard to swap out the gears to say 4.10's or if I go with the 12 bolt, to 4.30's?

RS_SS69

iTrader: (31)

Its not too hard and yes I did start out in 2nd alot which was easy with the torque. To make it easy for your decision I would recommend going 4.30s, best of both worlds. That way you wont have to spend extra on swapping the gears out later.

TXSSIVE

Fair enough. I'll probably go with the 4.30's then. But I will have to get the 12 bolt. The reason I asked about the 4.56's was that I was considering the S60 and the gears that are available are the 4.10's & 4.56's. Couldn't use the 4.30's. But it looks like it'll be the Strange 12 bolt & 4.30's. Thanks guys for all your input and help.

RS_SS69

iTrader: (31)

No problem man enjoy!

puggerton03

iTrader: (1)

in your above post you said you had an automatic v6? if so then you should get 3.73s if anything.

silverLSWON

iTrader: (16)

i have a 12 bolt with 4.56's and it's to much on 1/4 mile for me. even with the 27" tall tire it still puts me out of rpm range. i thinking about going with 4.10s with a 26" tall tire for the 1/4. i was gonna go with 4.30's but i am putting a little bigger cube engine in it.

TXSSIVE

Well right now I'm driving a '95 V6 A4. I'm going to be selling or trading it in and getting a '98-02 Z or SS with a M6. That's why I've been posting questions on mods, so I have a good idea on what I want and what would be smart choices on gears, rear ends, wheels, heads and all that.

Just doing research. I do that with a lot of stuff, hell when I bought the home theater speakers I have I researched different ones for almost a year before I finally bought.

ndfrsd6

iTrader: (5)

i loved my 4.56's actually im selling them cause i got rid of my M6 for a th400 so i went back down to 4.11's but they were awesome !!!! for a M6 there the best gear IMO but you will need 28 in tall tires for the 1/4 mile track runs

BlackScreaminMachine

iTrader: (17)

If the car was raced more and less of a DD, then 4.56 all the way. But for a 26" tall tire, do the 4.10's

BUT some people run a 28" street radial and go to the track on the same (but now a bias ply slick), or even keep it down to a 26" for the track to really help the heavy car get out of it's own way.