What makes it cornfuzing is the numbers mean opposite. We are talking gear reduction.

This was all setup like a hundred years ago. It was done with much smaller engines. Say you have a small I6 engine 200 CID, and you want to go down the road 55 mph. The engine is in a small car, 3 spd manual tranny and a 3.00 rear end. The car will run 55, no problem.

Take the same engine tranny and rear end and put it in a truck, with it's flatter front and it would slow down going up a hill that the car had not trouble handling. Ok now throw 500 pounds of weight in the bed, same route and the truck could loose 30 mph before it got to the top.

Now only change the rear end to like a 4.10, the engine will have to turn faster (they make more power the faster they are turning) but will pull the hill with the load much easier.

Then they started making the engines larger. I think it was somewhere in the 50s that the first V8 was installed in a truck. Bigger engine will deliver more power to the rear wheels. So my FE 352 and 3.00 will pull a 5,000 lb trailer that a smaller I6 would have to have the 4.10 to do the same job.

Hell Now I am confused.


John

 

Thanks John, i think i might understand a little. lol appreciate it.

 

The higher numerically the number is, the lower the ratio: 4.10-1

The lower numerically the number is, the higher the ratio: 2.75-1

 

10-4 Roger right on, Bill.



John

 

why is it that everyone want the lower gear ratio then?

 

Everyone does?

Where? No see um.

It's usually the opposite.

With today's gas prices approaching 4 bucks a gallon, ppl are looking for TALLER gears to increase gas mileage.
Taller = lower numerically = higher gear ratio.

A truck with (taller) 3.54's will get better gas mileage at highway speeds than one with 4.10's.

 

ok, i would tell them to buy a car then. i want torque and power.

 

That is the catch when discussing rear end ratio's. Lower= higher, and visa versa.

NUMERICAL higher numbers is for power, NUMERICALLY lower means highway cruising.

Thus 4.10(high numerical) is for power, 3.00(lower numerical) means highway.

"Lower gearing" is what is meant by "higher" numerical ratio. Confusing as heck huh?
When someone has "more gear" it means he has a "deep" or HIGH numerical gear ratio.

 

back to the thread about the limited slip... just get a locker... a powertrack lockright installs easy for any at home mechanic in a few hours or less.... only 300$
anyways just my 2 cents