3:55's v's 3:73's

[Oldwilsonian]

3:55\'s v\'s 3:73\'s

Can anybody advise me as to which would be the better option, I run the car at the strip but want to keep it streetable. I notice the majority run the 3:55's here are the 3:73's too low?

TIA.

 

[PhoenixGTS]

Re: 3:55\'s v\'s 3:73\'s

Take an educated guess at what kind of traps speeds a car with your mods could do. Then find a Viper gearing calculator (the one I had bookmarked has disappeared) and plug in 3.55 and 3.73. If the redline in 4th would not allow you your potential trap speed plus a buffer then it is too short. Remember that if you want to run the taller 19" or 20" tires a 3.73 gear is effectively the same as a 3.55 gear on a Gen II with stock height tires.

I can tell you that after having them for awhile, with stock height Kumhos (so traction is not an issue) my 3.55s are right of the verge of having too much gear - in other words - for my mildly modded car the 3.55 are perfect at my 1,250 -1,500 feet of altitude often times with big heat.

 

[Oldwilsonian]

Re: 3:55\'s v\'s 3:73\'s

Thanks Phoenix.

 

[99 R/T 10]

Re: 3:55\'s v\'s 3:73\'s

I have one of each in the classifieds. PM me if interested.

 

[AG98RT10]

Re: 3:55\'s v\'s 3:73\'s

I don't think there's that much difference, really. But the point about 1/4 mile traps is significant - I don't like running at redline, so if I was really into 1/4 mile, I'd probably dislike having a fourth gear redline at 120. When running road courses, I usually shift into fifth at about 110, just because there doesn't seem to be much point of red-lining fourth.
The 3.73's do make sixth gear a great highway gear above 55 mph. I get 20 mpg on road trips. And blasting thru first and second with Kumhos has to be experienced to be believed!

 

[Detlef]

Re: 3:55\'s v\'s 3:73\'s

I have 3.73:1 as well and live at 5000 feet so they make up a little for the power loss at altitude. I don't quarter mile race so not an issue. On the road course I do shift more often than stock Vipers and since it's just for fun and not timed it's always an opportunity to practice heel-toe. On the street they are way more fun than the stock gears I had in my previous Viper and as mentioned before, 6th gear is actually usable.

 

[ruckdr]

Re: 3:55\'s v\'s 3:73\'s

PhoenixGTS and ALL,
Gear Calculator:
http://www.xse.com/leres/bin/gearratio?title=SS+%23670+with+MM6+manual+and+GU6+3.42+gears&rpm=6000&mph=55&gear1=2.66&gear2=1.78&gear3=1.30&gear4=1.00&gear5=0.74&gear6=0.50&reverse=2.90&axle=4.10&tire=diameter&diameter=25.91&circumference=81.40



Later,

 

[AG98RT10]

Re: 3:55\'s v\'s 3:73\'s

There's a great table on this site that shows speeds in gears with different rear axle ratios. I'll try to link it here, but if it doesn't show up, do a quick search in the technical stuff. There's really not much difference between 3.55 and 3.73s
gears table