hey guys i just have a question and would like some input... i was talking with a buddy of mine and he mentioned that longer gear ratios were better for turbo cars... is this true? he told me that you would be in the powerband longer instead of having to constantly shift and fall out of the powerband... what do you guys think? would it make a big difference? in my opinion the shorter gears would allow you to accelerate faster but youre spend more time shifting and with a long geared transmission youre acceleration isnt the best but youll spend more time in each gear... idk input would help alot... thanks
-Josh

 

What engine/tranny do you have?

I have a prelude - with m2a4 transaxle, and honestly, I like the gearing. Most people don't. Final gear is kinda gay, but overall i'm lovin it.

 

i have a d16y8 with a t3/t4 and a dx transmission... i autox and every now and then will take a trip to the dragstrip but i also drive an hour to and from work everday so ive been debating going with an si
-Josh

 

its going to depend ALOT on your driving style

but we are almost done with our 92 4 door with a boosted y7 and a dx tranny it should be good for what we like but the car would be faster with a si tranny but than again you auto x so i think the longer gearing would work better for you


but what do i know lol

 

i have a 98 spec USDM ITR tranny in my boosted b16 hatch, i parsonally think if i make any more power, it is going to be to short. i have heard that the usdm hydro gsr tranny's have the best gearing for turbo.

 

GSR are okay but i perfer my Custom Tranny .. (B16 1st & 2nd , GSR 3rd & 4th , and LS fifth with a quaife...) you can easlliy trap 140mph + with this set up

 

I like your setup ValleySydeer. What are the advantages of this? I just have a stock gsr hyrdo tranny right now. I may look into this though.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dEaF_HATCH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...the shorter gears would allow you to accelerate faster...</TD></TR></TABLE>

you said it in your own post. shorter gears let you accelerate faster.

 

yeah the acceleration in 2nd gear vs 2nd gear would be faster but im saying like 0-110 mph or so
-Josh

 

Shorter gearing will always make your car accelerate faster wether your boosting, NA, supercharges, or nitrous. Focus on getting traction other ways like an LSD, staged boost controller, suspension, tires, etc... before resorting to a long geared tranny that will make your car slower.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dEaF_HATCH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yeah the acceleration in 2nd gear vs 2nd gear would be faster but im saying like 0-110 mph or so
-Josh</TD></TR></TABLE>

Think of your bicycle. Do you accelerate quicker when you start off in a really steep, really long gear, or do you accelerate quicker in the shorter gears? The whole longer gears = staying in your powerband longer is a load of ****, gears multiply torque and numerically higher (as in "shorter") gears give you greater torque multiplication and faster acceleration.

 

I always thought that longer gears are better for turbo setups because it gives the turbo more time to spool. But I am not really sure.

 

thats kinda what im talking about^^... long gears would give the turbo time to spool and make peak power for a longer amount of time... i guess im kinda just talking about big turbos... i can see where short gears would work great for a t25(ttoosmall ) but something like my t3/t4 would like longer gears better
-Josh

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crimson_Tide &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">thats kinda what im talking about^^... long gears would give the turbo time to spool and make peak power for a longer amount of time... i guess im kinda just talking about big turbos... i can see where short gears would work great for a t25(ttoosmall ) but something like my t3/t4 would like longer gears better
-Josh</TD></TR></TABLE>

If anything a T25 would like longer gears because it's going to die out sooner in the RPM range and you won't be able to make power or rev the motor as high. Shorter gearing means you put more actual torque to the ground, it gives you a greater mechanical advantage and you accelerate quicker given better traction. This has been covered tons of times on here, and there is absolutely nothing to debate.