3.55's or 3.73's

[Genxer]

I test drove a GT manual w/3.55 and it lacked the grunt of my GTPP w/3.73. So much more fun IMO. 1st gear is very short, so you have that. On the street I tend to shift: 1st.2nd............4th.5th much of the time (when I want to hit it hard but keep the speed down). On a good stretch like an on-ramp I row all the gears and rev 'er out.

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[Hack]

Any gear taller than 3.73 sucks IMO and makes the car seem too gutless. I would go with 4.10 or greater if I had the option.

And yes, I realize the GT350 gearing is different. I've owned a few GTs in the past, including a 2011 with the 3.73s and a 2015 M6 with the 3.31s. The 3.73 car was awesome to drive.

I wish my GT350 had steeper gears - at least for street driving. The GT350 needs a lot more gear than 3.73 in my opinion.

 

[Grintch]

The GT with 3.31 gears has shorter effective gearing than the GT350, or a 1969 or 70 Drag Pack BOSS 302 (with a 4.30 final drive). It has essentially the same effective gearing as a 2012-2014 BOSS.

Maybe more importantly, the 3.73 puts you dangerously close to requiring an extra shift to go 0-60 or in the quarter mile with the stock tires, and most replacement tires will be shorter (meaning you will have to do an extra shift).

 

[wildcatgoal]

On a road course, at least the ones I've been to, I find that I arrive at the braking zone often right at the bleeding edge of my allowable RPM range, which is already past when the car has reached its peak produced power (I think...). A 3.55 would solve that. But I wouldn't be changing gears anymore. I wish I could afford to do a back to back.

 

[hossman]

I decided to go with 3.31 or 3.55 and leaning towards 3.31 again. I do appreciate being able to wind gears out and not shift so early, plus better all around driveability and not looking to be a stoplight slayer. Thanks for the input gents!

To be ordered...

17 Mustang GT Premium Grabber Blue 6spd manual
- 401A Package
- Black Accent Package
- Navigation
- Reverse Sensing System

Future Mods.....

- 18% tint all around
- Roush Axle Back Exhaust
- Raxiom Interior Interior LED Stage 2 Kit
- Raxiom LED Reverse Light

 

[c-rizzle]

I decided to go with 3.31 or 3.55 and leaning towards 3.31 again. I do appreciate being able to wind gears out and not shift so early, plus better all around driveability and not looking to be a stoplight slayer. Thanks for the input gents!

To be ordered...

17 Mustang GT Premium Grabber Blue 6spd manual
- 401A Package
- Black Accent Package
- Navigation
- Reverse Sensing System

Suggestions:
The painted black roof, I think would go well with the rest of the black accent package. And it just makes the car look more expensive, like it has an all glass roof or something.
And 3.55 gears

I just got my 2017 GT Premium (400a), PP, nav, recaros 6 months ago.

But if I was doing it over, I'd go with:
401A
PP (yes, even though I wish I could do 3.55 gears)
black roof
nav.
reverse sensing

ie: I'd drop the Recaros, step up to 401a (from 400a) and add black roof & reverse sensing.

 

[KiLLeR2001]

Any gear taller than 3.73 sucks IMO and makes the car seem too gutless. I would go with 4.10 or greater if I had the option.

And yes, I realize the GT350 gearing is different. I've owned a few GTs in the past, including a 2011 with the 3.73s and a 2015 M6 with the 3.31s. The 3.73 car was awesome to drive.

I wish my GT350 had steeper gears - at least for street driving. The GT350 needs a lot more gear than 3.73 in my opinion.

3.73 is great, I think a 3.9 would be perfect for the GT350.

 

[newkidnik]

Any gear taller than 3.73 sucks IMO and makes the car seem too gutless. I would go with 4.10 or greater if I had the option.

And yes, I realize the GT350 gearing is different. I've owned a few GTs in the past, including a 2011 with the 3.73s and a 2015 M6 with the 3.31s. The 3.73 car was awesome to drive.

I wish my GT350 had steeper gears - at least for street driving. The GT350 needs a lot more gear than 3.73 in my opinion.

Yes, they do feel livelier with 3.73s, but are they really quicker in a straight line? Not from what I've seen. It depends on what you want from the car.

 

[NOLA_Stang]

This is a very interesting conversation. My last mustang had 4.10's and a procharger, I thought that was a little excessive. But I finally got a chance to test drive a '17 PP the other day and I thought the 3.73's were very mild, and dare I say pleasant. It really is all personal preference.

 

[Coyote Red]

As someone earlier related, if na, 3.73:1 is fine but if you plan on power adders aka turbo go with 3.55:1 as the 3.73's will be too much I have read. I have the 3.55's and really like them.

 

[Angry50]

As someone earlier related, if na, 3.73:1 is fine but if you plan on power adders aka turbo go with 3.55:1 as the 3.73's will be too much I have read. I have the 3.55's and really like them.

i have 3.55 with the roush tvs. without drag radials you have to be easy on 1st and 2nd even when i had nt555r on still would spin some.

 

[x_man586]

Love my 3.55's.

Ditto.

 

[Hack]

Yes, they do feel livelier with 3.73s, but are they really quicker in a straight line? Not from what I've seen. It depends on what you want from the car.

I agree with that. One thing you have to do is put better tires on the car. Once you get more gear it becomes too easy to spin the tires. So what you really want is the combination of steeper gears and wider, stickier rear tires. And I understand that how fast the car is will depend on how quickly you can shift, etc. I never race in a straight line for absolute time. I just enjoy the g force from acceleration. Steeper gears in combination with sticky tires will give you that.

 

[wireeater]

Yes, they do feel livelier with 3.73s, but are they really quicker in a straight line? Not from what I've seen. It depends on what you want from the car.

Well actually, kind of. If you go take a peek at the 1/4 leader board. All the top M6 are 3.73 in the stock & bolt-on categories, with some 3.55s as well. But once you get to the power adders you see for the M6 the 3.31 gears are the best option.

 

[c-rizzle]

OP, is asking about for a daily driver / all around performance. He did not ask what gear is best to drag race 1/4 mile.

... I'm ordering a Oxford White 17 GT Premium 6spd manual and will be a daily driver and I am leaning towards the 3.55's but don't want to rule out 3.73's if they are the best choice. Sorry for the confusion!

Go with your gut.... 3.55 - end thread

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