I'm taking a pole on a question...

I've got a 92gt. I've got a TrickFlow intake kit, Mac headers,FlowMaster exhause, Motorsport Racing pulleys. Mac cold air induction,

70mm Mac Throttlebody & Mass Air.

I want to change my gear ratio.

I need something that'll haul ass when need be, and something thats good on road trips. because I live in sandiego and make frequent trips to Tucson Az.6hrs away....

so?   355's or 373's???

and consider the weight ratio between the GT & the LX of 92

The 3.73's are out. They'll get a little worse gas millege, a little more engine/exuast noise at highway speeds, and most of all a lot more engine wear and tear as much as you'll be driving.  The 3.55's are a great choice, especially if you decide to add heads later on.  I accually went w/ 3.27's in my stock engine '87 and ran a best of 13.94.@99.6mph on Goodyears.  The best I ever ran w/ 3.55's w/ same combo was 13.87@99.8.  They feel faster because they rev faster.  3.73's are to much for street tires to handle from stop lights.

As far as for road trips, I couldnt agree w/ you more. The 3.55's are a great choice. But I have to disagree w/ the light to light comment regarding street tires. I've got a 4.10 Richmond on my 99 GT with Nitto 555 Extreme's, and I'm usually coming to a stop at the next light by the time most people are just hitting 3rd gear!  

3.55s are the perfect "all-around" gear.  If all you do is drive light to light and 1/4miles get 3.73s or greater......

If you have stock 2.73s in there now, a jump to 3.55s will be like night and day, plus won't kill your gas mileage or wear too badly.

THANK YOU!!  

You may be out-running every body you've raced so far, but do you have more horse power? Are you a better driver? These reasons may be why you're accually getting to the next light first.  With slicks the 4.10's will improve your 60ft time, thus improving your 1/4 mile time, but in some cases your mph will drop, which means you're not accually running faster, just quicker.  I always found myself waisting too much time trying to get cars w/ step gears to hook up on the street.

I have driven a 89 gt w/ 3.73s in it.  At lights you just have to leave out in 2nd w/ the factory T-5.  But w/ any gear swap you make to a larger gear ratio, you will lose gas mileage.  A person's best bet is to either get a second vehicle for those long trips or face losing their gas milage.  I know I am going just lose my gas milage when I swap to 3.73s from 2.73.  But it is something I am willing to put up w/ for the performance gains out of it.

Thanks for the info.  I'm a little confused, you said "w/ 3.73s in it.  At lights you just have to leave out in 2nd w/ the factory T-5."  I guess I'm a little thick (in the head).  Could you please explain what you meant?

thanks

t.c.

I believe he's referring to the factory T-5 having a 3.35:1 first gear ratio.  Putting 3.73s in the rear end makes 1st gear so "low", it could be considered "granny-low" ........... thus you use the gear up so quickly that it is unnecessary to even take off in 1st. 

2nd gear which has also been "lowered" (due to the 3.73 rear gears) is now at an optimal range to use it with potential as the starting off gear.

This is why Ford Racing makes their HD T-5 tranny with a 2.95 first gear ratio.  They figure on most Stang street cars getting a jump from it's factory 2.73s to at least 3.55-zuh ......................

Thanks.  That's kind of what I figured he meant.  It really makes me lean towards the 3.55's.    

go w/ the 3.55's

My two cents worth; go with the 3.55 gear,you'll be happy in the

long run. Plus with gas prices,save all you can to enjoy the car.

happy travels