Originally Posted by
grip grip
I can't believe you've had 3.73 gearing in your XF for years, but never thought to share that with the rest of us.
Oops, My Bad, sorry about that, I meant my AMX. (A car that has the same weight, H.P. wheelbase, and frontal area as the NA Crossfire).
When I purchased my Crossfire brand new 8 years ago, I had every intention of installing a 3.73 gear in it, because I thought all I had to do was go down to my friendly Mercedes dealership and order a ring and pinion. I soon found out it wasn't that easy. The company in Germany that sold aftermarket gears stop selling them, and besides they were insanely expensive.
After doing some research I found out there was one year Mercedes SL that used a 3.91 gear, and I believe some Diesel wagons did too, but that was several years ago so don't ask me for details because I 've forgot.
Then somebody here on the forum told me the SL's differential housing was bigger than the one the SLK used so it wouldn't fit.
Finally, after reading the problems Jim had when he tried running 3.23's in his SRT, I put everything on the back burner.
With the news that Doubleloader installed a 3.7 gear in his SRT, it just blew me away. I thought WOW this is the best news I've heard since NeedsWings CAI.
Check out specifications of nearly any other sports car that competes with a Crossfire, and every single one has a gear ratio that's more conducive to acceleration than Top End. Since most of us don't have much chance of running the Autobahn on a daily basis, I would think winning stop light Grand Prix's would be more useful here in the good old U.S.of A.
The only problem I can think of when using a 3.73 gear in a Crossfire, is that it just won't work that well with a 6 speed. 1st. gear would be practically a "creeper" gear with anything more than a 3.54, maybe even a 3.42.
Automatic's should respond amazingly well though, and thanks to the Crossfire's tire size, I don't think a Wavetrac posi would be necessary on anything except an SRT.
Of course fuel mileage will go down on the highway, but may even go up slightly in the city.
FYI, I live in Ohio, and I've driven as far South as Miami, as far North as Toronto, to the East Coast several times, and as far West as St. Louis in my AMX with a 3 speed automatic (that doesn't have overdrive) and I was able to stay with most traffic running around 65 mph. at 3000 rpms, using a 3.73 gear. A Crossfire could cruise at 70 and 75 with no problem.
I hope this turns out to be a viable modifcation for many here. I can't wait to start hearing about 10 sec. SRT's.
