Bob Gumm wrote:....So now I'm considering somewhere in the 4.10, 4.56, 4.88 gear range. However, 3.73 gears are fine even on the highway, but just a change to 4.10 gears has me driving more slowly on the highway as the engine just screams constantly with those gears and I'm sure it would be worse with even lower gears...
Bob, I went that route over 20 years ago with my Vega, everybody kept telling me it wasn't spinning that bad, but I went from 3.73s to 4.10s, then to 4.56s, then to 4.88s. STILL ran 12.40s (street trim), no matter what. Each gear change seemed to bring wheel spin down, but didn't make the car any quicker. Then one night, on a whim, (and chance availability), I borrowed a set of
8 x 26" drag slicks, (with the 4.88s,
), I was out of motor at about 1000', but it yanked the front tires for the first time, and went 11.91, through the mufflers. This was back to back on the same night. With a taller slick, it probably would have run an 11.70.
What I'm saying is,
traction is the answer, not gearing, and you can't really figure out the best gearing until you have good traction,
Rickracer
ASE Master Auto Technician, 36+ years
'76 Vega Notchback, Twin Turbo 355/TH350 (soon to be a Powerglide w/Brake), 4 link, Koni Coilovers, 3.50 geared 9" w/Spool & Moser Axles, drag only, best all motor 1/8 mile pass to date, 6.90@99mph, 6.57@107.0 on a 60 shot, Best 1/4, 9.66@139.78, still tuning...
Project Album:
http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i4/Ri ... 20Begins/'93 S10 RCSB, Hyd. Roller Vortec head 363 ci SBC, 2800stall lockup 700R4, LS Front Brakes, Narrowed F*rd Exploder 8.8 disc brake 3.73 posi rear,
8.0s@89 mph, (all motor, haven't sprayed it
yet...)
and tows the Vega to the track too