I was wondering what everyones opinions were for shorter gears. Dumb? Possible? Thoughts?

 

Racing Beat sells a 4.30 turbo rear end gearI think, that's your only economical option.

 

Even for a totally stock car, 1st gear is practically useless.
On mildly modded ones, 1st gear is useless - you can start the car in 2nd gear.
Why would you want shorter gearing?
If anything, I would want taller gearing - better mileage, higher top speed.


-Ted

 

Im really tempted to try launching the car in 2nd gear now. I know you dont literally mean to drag lanuch off of 2nd gear, but do you think it can handle it? I'm probably only putting out 260whpish. My first gear loose a good amount of traction if i just floor it

 

Honestly, I couldn't tell you. Just something that had popped up in my mind and I was curious for opinions. There are a few things that you never see discussed with rx7's that you see discussed with other cars in great depth. Gearing is one of those that I'd not seen talked about to much.

One of my mustang friends (probably suggests why) asked why my gears were so long and I didn't have an answer for him.

 

Compared to a Mustang, the FC gearing is pretty damn short!
Most FC's come with a 4.10:1 rear end.
Mustangs come in like 3.20 - 3.50 rear end ratios?
Your 1st gear is something like a 3.xx ratio.
Did you know that?
You should tell your Mustang buddy that - I bet he'd freak.

I wonder if we're getting the terms mixed up.
"Tall" or "longer" gearing refers to numerically lower ratios - due to the smaller ratios, it takes "longer" for the engine to hit redline.
"Short" or "close-ratio" gearing is just opposite that: ratios are numerically higher, but the engine revs faster to redline.

Taller ratios - higher top speed but slower acceleration
Shorter ratios - lower top speed but faster acceleration


-Ted

 

people confuse the terminology all the time. You can have "shorter" gears/final drive numerically but take "longer" to get through a given gear because you rev your car way higher than whatever vehicle you are comparing it to.

 

If you really want quaffie sells a straight cut gearset, it was like $4000 or so. The 5th gear becomes 1-1 ratio or something, I forgot. Its probabley better for non turbo application

So, what do you think about launching the car in 2nd gear? Have people been doing this?

 

found it, here is gearset #1 http://www.awrracing.com/store/produ...roducts_id=396

here is gearset 2 http://www.awrracing.com/store/produ...roducts_id=395

Ok, so its $3000, and 4th gear is still the factory 1:1. I'm a little too lazy to compare the ratio's with stock, but there is the link.

My only concern is, since its for miata and the rx7, I am thinking its for the NA tranny. What about the turbo fc tranny?

 

where the turbo automatics in japan 3.9s?

 

I'm talking about putting a shorter ratio in. While a taller one would certainly give you a higher top speed, but I don't think you'd ever reach it with the stock turbo at least. I was thinking since that was the case, not worry so much about top speed and trying getting to say 100+ faster.

 

Forgot something important...

shorter gearing - eats more gas
taller gearing - better gas mileage


-Ted