3.55 gears

[motor602]

where did you all get your gears and how much did it cost for purchase, installation, etc...?

mahesh Ramanadham
2001 sapphire RT/10, connelly leather, MGW gripper

 

[Newport Viper]

JonB parts rack!!!!!!!!

 

[Jeff Torrey]

Agreed. Parts Rack gears plus install around $1000.00

Mopar Performance quoted $2000.00

 

[J DAWG]

Are you guys satisfied with the 3.55 gears. I keep going back and forth on whether or not to get them. I autocross a lot. I know it wont really affect that. Do yall have any 1/4 mile times before and after the gears? I have run 12.4 at 115, having a difficult time launching the car.

 

[Ron Hickey]

The 3.55 gears make the car come alive. Much more immediate response. They're probably not as desirable if your car is substantially modified (>500 HP). 3rd gear is now as much of a monster as 2nd is in a car with 3.07's. Downsides: Noisier; might not be the best option if you're going to run an open-road race (like the Silver State); poorer gas mileage (who cares?).

 

[CAS]

Remember, the 3.55's are best for a stock/slightly modded motor. It will give you more punch, but you will be shifting a lot more (downside?).

Personally, I would do the 3.45's; they are almost as potent as the 3.55's, but allow for more extensive modification w/out rendering the car completely undrivable.

BTW, there is hundreds of posts regarding this: you can do a search and learn a WHOLE lot.

Clint

 

[J DAWG]

So if I plan on getting a supercharger in the future I should stick with the 3.07's.

 

[Stiffler]

I have been searching this topic lately and found this chart from a previous post... http://www.orbitdevelopment.com/viper/gears.asp I found it to be very helpful. Knowing what speed you expect to pass through the traps should help with your gear selection. From what I understand, fourth gear is the preferred gear to go through the traps in, gear your car accordingly.

 

[CAS]

J SMITH,

Yes, sometimes people who upgraded to 3.55's than get a supercharger return to the 3.07's..

Here's a GREAT thread with a TON of info regarding the swap: http://vca1.viperclub.org/ubb/Forum14/HTML/008860.html

Good luck

Clint

 

[unclgreggy]

Can someone help explain why the 3.55's dont work well with high HP Cars?

 

[Snake Bitten]

Three reasons come to mind...traction, traction, and then there is the whole traction thing...

 

[unclgreggy]

Is that the only reason?

 

[Gavin]

Really need to provide more information - example - what are your plans for the car
Street Only
Street and occasional Drags
Street, Occasional Drags, Occasional Road Course
Auto crossing - lower gear is a MUST

 

[unclgreggy]

I drive the car very rarely. Car already modified quite a bit all around, including the engine (heads, etc.) Next step is TT or supercharger. Haven't decided. I don't drag it or road race - just highway driving. I guess my question is, what does the gear do in high horse power car?

 

[CAS]

unclgreggy,

Beautiful car; I love that blue! Regarding the gears: short gears in a high horsepower car make it hard to handle for two reasons. First, as Snake Bitten mentioned, it reduces traction by effectively adding more torque; the motor turns more easily to produce the same result in rear-wheel RPM. The first reason is directly proportional to the second one, which is, in short, the car running out of gear. E.G. The car with the stock ratio's will go 40 MPH in first gear, and with the 3.55's it will go 20 MPH. (I made those #'s up). With a stock motor, 3.55's allow the motor to operate in it's powerband more easily and quickly, which translates to more fun/SOTP feel. With a modded car that has an increase in power, 3.55's combined with that boost in power makes the car exponentially rev faster, which shortens the time in the rev range, making you shift more frequently and risk banging the motor on the rev limiter. Basically, all that torque that the Viper motor produces won't be used to it's full potential if the car is geared too low, because the motor doesn't have anything to pull on.

If you do just highway driving, I would definitly just keep the 3.07's so you can retain the 6th gear overdrive.

If I didn't explain this clearly, I'm sorry. There are many other people out there who know this stuff much better than I do. Please correct me if I'm wrong or you are confused. Hope I could help a little though

.

Regards,
Clint

 

[unclgreggy]

I've got it! thanks.

 

[Mike Adams]

If you want more info on mopar assembly check out the link below

Mopar gears

 

[J DAWG]

Thanks for all of the explanations Clint. I think I will keep my 3.07's and go for more hp. Hopefully that new ROE SC when it becomes available.

 

[Newport Viper]

3.55 gas mileage. Newport Beach to Palm Desert 240 miles( round trip) with short trips to golf courses. Avg speed 70 mph. 18.5 MPG !!!!!!!!!

 

[MadMaxx]

With the higher gears and a blower, would a set of kumho's help out? They are supposed to be super sticky for the street... maybe it would give the added traction of the blower/gear combo?

MadMaxx