question on the 4.77 gear ratio preferences

[86boy]

Why do people switch out to the 4.77 ring & pinions?! I have a 4.30 in mine.. and I want a 3.90 or something in that range. The gear ratios are crazy to begin with. I also drive the piss out of my car highway/town. on the highway with the 195/50/15 tires at 65 mph I'm at around 4300 rpms... I can only imagine what it would be with a 4.77 Does this allow for 5th gear drifts? lol not sure why people jump up to it and there's a lot of people that do, and it seems as if they run the T50 trans. I would feel as if I couldn't drive my car anywhere, and I also shift like crazy to begin with even with a stock 4age. Now I could see if swapping out to another trans and it has some insane "top speed" gearing, but other wise what is the real purpose of that rear end gearing?

[dr.occa]

Improved acceleration but poorer gas mileage. Top speed is reduced.

[86boy]

that's what I'm still confused by... I was drifting my 86 with the factory gear ratio, and factory engine etc. I could see doing the 4.77 if you didn't want to do anything to the engine to get a little more power out of it.... That's about the only thing I could see in any reason for doing that. I want to drop to a 3.80-3.90, and try that. I keep finding myself being stuck between 1st and 2nd or 2nd and 3rd while drifting. I was really hoping the trans I had was a w58, but it is not so the gear ratios are about the same as the t50.... so I won't notice much difference to that trans. I keep having people tell me I need to do the 4.77, but I don't see any reason why I should. To me I should be going the other way for longer gears/top speed vs acceleration.

3.9 final drive should be 3300 rpms at 65 MPH. With as much travelling as I do with the car that would be a hell of a lot better than what's in it now. Also for drifting. I would stay in second for semi long corners and have more of the power band to play with than between 6500-8000ish

I would like some opinions from people that run different gear ratios, and their thoughs on the performance of the car.

[dr.occa]

Modifications should be performed based on your driving/performance requirements. If you believe going "down" to a 3.8/3.9 and it's beneficial then you've "upgraded".

[86boy]

that's one thing is this will be the first time of me playing around with different gear ratios to improve a car. maybe I'm posting about this the wrong way lol

[luisae86]

that's one thing is this will be the first time of me playing around with different gear ratios to improve a car. maybe I'm posting about this the wrong way lol

no your not what Doc said is correct you have to adjust and build your car according to ur driving , about 4.77 doc is correct again , in my opinion i love it havent had issues wit it its a bit annoyin on highway drives but i only track my car nothing more so its all the more reason why i did it

[86boy]

do you have the stock 4age? Also can you drift in 3rd/4th gear with that ratio?! thats just straight up insane to me. lol

[hotdoghogie]

Big thing about the 4.7* is powerband. It's great for the stock 4age powerband. Curious though, 4300rpm on 195/50's. Thats my new setup, if that's the case then I'm stoked! lol.

[Manifesto]

you have a ze, so you dont need a 4.x gear ratio as seriously as i do with my whopping 80 horsepower. i may as well jump out and run ahead of my car with 3.x ratios

[dr.occa]

you have a ze, so you dont need a 4.x gear ratio as seriously as i do with my whopping 80 horsepower. i may as well jump out and run ahead of my car with 3.x ratios

LOL!

OT: I just noticed that your location is Helms Estate. Would that happen to be the Tidwell & 45 area of Houston, TX?

[86boy]

/\ HAHAHA!!! ya Manifesto I know that feeling. the final drive with the stock 4age was ok. I could see the 4.77 being benifitical with that setup. There's a guy with a 20v that swears by the 4.77.... he keeps telling me to get a 4.77 even with the GZE setup. I'm not exactly sure why he likes that ratio but whatev. To each their own I guess.

Ya before the GZE I never though about getting a 3.8/3.9, but now things are a little different. Seemed to have more than enough power yesterday even for tight turns lugging 2nd then opening to a bigger turn did a little clutch kick and away we went again. So i'm fairly certain giving the car little longer legs wouldn't hurt too much with drifting. Even then.... just add a little more boost. to make up for it if it does cause hardcore bogging. I don't something I'll have to play with.

[bt20v]

I wouldnt go with 4.77 personally you drive your car a lot it seems so far...The 4.30 are almost to agressive

[luisae86]

I wouldnt go with 4.77 personally you drive your car a lot it seems so far...The 4.30 are almost to agressive

Agree if u daily or drive ur car more the just to track an back don't bother wit 4.77

[86boy]

Ya that's what Im saying. There's quite a few that keep trying to talk me into a 4.77...... I face palm them every time. I'm really thinking 3.90 final drive. Then again.... idk how much that will affect the power to the ground. I guess more boost? Lol the most I can get out of the sc12 from what I've read is 14-15 pounds. I'm already pushing 9-10 pounds with deleting the VSVs etc. I'm going to get adjust timing gears and get that squared away. After those I'm ordering the pulleys. But I haven't decided if I want to order pulleys or the final drive yet.... decisions decisions. I also still need to get another clutch and a drive shaft made :/

[wizzurp]

I wish I could go with a 3.70 or similar back end without fear of it breaking. Having a turbo car is useless in first with the stock 4.30 already, I can't even imagine 4.77's.