Best gears with a 6-speed

ExtremeSaleen · 04-06-2005, 04:10 AM

Ok, so I'm sure people are really tired of hearing this one, but I have a question about the best gears to run with a 6-speed transmission. I know a lot of people with 5-speeds are worried about gas mileage, high RPM's at freeway cruising speed, etc., but with a 6-speed these concerns are pretty much mitigated, or at least lessened. My car currently with 3.55 gears runs about 2400 at 80 MPH in 6th gear, about 3000 in 5th. So it seems to me I have a little room to play with, but is it really worth going to 3.73 or 4.10s? Is 4.10's too much when you're pushing about 600hp, my ultimate goal? Getting traction would have to be a real problem at that point based on current experience.

I'm only asking because everyone just seems to rave about 4.10's. Just curious what you guys think.

Birdieman4 · 04-06-2005, 03:07 PM

A couple things. Realize that when you decide to go to a smaller pulley on your series 5 screw blower, you low end power will come in sooner and steeper. If you are going to up the boost on your E car, I would wait on the gears, and see how your 3.55's handle the increased power. My feeling is that the 3.55's will be ideal with more boost, and going to a shorter gear will take away some of your car's drivability. The last thing you want to do is install shorter gears, then decide you wanted the 3.55's after you swap pulleys. My E car had 3.08 gears. -Super tall gears in a 6 speed. After deciding to up the boost, I wanted to see how the 3.08's did with the new found low end power. I actually was quite happy. If I still had the car, I might have gone with 3.27's or 3.55's by now, but I know for sure I wouldn't have gone with 3.73's or 4.10's. On the dyno with the 3.08 gears, in 5th (not 6th) gear I was turning the dyno at 202 mph, short of redline. Now that's a tall gear!

ExtremeSaleen · 04-06-2005, 03:19 PM

Damn, 202. Nice. And in fifth. The guy I bought the car from said he never used 6th before he changed the gears. With 3.08's 80's probably like 1500 rpm.

Thanks for the input.

Birdieman4 · 04-06-2005, 03:27 PM

I actually prefer a taller than shorted gear for daily driving, and especially for the freeway. I actually couldn't even shift into 6th until I was going around 75, otherwise it was bogging. If I had to do it all over agian, I would have probably been very happy with 3.27's running 18 psi.

99saleen351r · 04-14-2005, 10:14 PM

355's are perfect on my six speed and I have well over 600 horse I wouldnt change them.Car will go 130 in fourth threw the traps my other 351 ran 128 mph hitting the rev limiter at 5400 rpms in fourth with 355s so there mint you dont want to have to shift into fifth!But your car revs higher than mine so 373 might work.