Anybody know what the gear ratio is in the differential?

 

3.27:1 per the service manual. The way the manual reads it's the same diff. regardless of which tranny you have.

 

I figured it was geared pretty low (numerically). For those of us that'll never go 150mph, I wonder how easy it is to find higher gears.

 

I don't know why you would want to go with higher gears. Mine only turns 2,200 - 2,500 rpm @ 70 mph.

If you went with a lower gear ratio (which would give you a slower top end speed) it would just about make first gear obsolete and your fuel mileage would go right down the toilet. You would only roll about 5 feet and it would be at redline (auto and 6 spd).With a 6 speed you wouldn't have to worry about it popping out of 1st gear because you would be starting in 2nd.

 

When I said higher gears, I meant numerically higher. That is true that gas mileage would go down, but it just seams like the car could benefit from a slightly higher gear ratio.

 

Higher numbers = lower gear ratio

The only benefit would be a little quicker launch off the line. I don't know anout the 6 speed but the 5 speed has a pretty low first gear already.

Now you you really mean a Higher gear ratio (lower number), it would be a little sluggish off the line but you would get a little better fuel mileage cruising on the interstate. However your city fuel mileage would suffer.

It all depends on what you're looking to accomplish and what your personal driving habbits are.

In any case... Do whatever it takes to taylor the car for yourself.

 

WMichaels Wrote:"...With a 6 speed you wouldn't have to worry about it popping out of 1st gear because you would be starting in 2nd". :lol:

Hey, what's with the popping out of 1st gear humor??? That's a thing of the past!!! :wink: :wink: :wink:

 

Just an illustrating point... :lol: :lol: :lol:

Glad they are all fixed now.

 

numerically higher gear ratio = lower gears

numerically lower gear ratio = higher gears

Our car is geared to go 150mph so it has a numerically lower gear ratio, or high gears. What I am saying is most of us don't need that kind of gearing, so if you put a numercially higher gear ratio in the differential you could have more access to the RPM range. The end result would be a lower top speed and possibly a decreased gas mileage. But you would have more access to the engine's power band.

If you were to put numerically lower gears in the car you would be able to acheive a higher top speed (assuming wind resistance didn't take over), but then your daily power would be greatly reduced. Just remember, lower RPMs does not necessarily mean better gas mileage. All engines have an RPM range that they run most efficiently at. A low RPM can ruin your gas mileage just as bad as a higher RPM.

 

You are absolutely right. If you have too high a gear it's very easy to lug it down too low in the powerband making the engine work way too hard to maintain speed.