[Bob Cosby]

Originally Posted by ULTRAZLS1

Cosby...I thought I had read many times that a partial fuel cut-off starts at 6850 but the rev-limiter does not come on until 7000. Pretty much every source I can find states 7000 for actual red-line.

Even this recently posted road and track article shows them taking the car to 7000 rpm in the data panel

To my understanding, it isn't a fuel cutoff that starts at 6850, but rather the computer either starts to close the throttle, or ramps back the timing. I can't say for sure, and I haven't heard what is yet from someone that I trust. Either way, power drops at that point, and then apparently fuel does cut off at 7k. Regardless, with 3.73s, you're getting into the limiter before the traps - not good for trap speed, though that will have very little effect on ET.

Originally Posted by KungFuHamster

so do you think the 3.55 will be an ideal gear for these cars? or perhaps the 3.73 will still be the best all around gear once a tune is applied and the rev limit is raised?

what do you think would be best...trying to go through the traps in 4th or making the shift into 5th?

For a bone stock car, my bet is 3.55s are the ticket. However, for anything that has the stock rev limiter raised, I'd go 3.73s.

I would not want to shift into 5th just before the line - too big a drop in rpm and thus power and momentum.

Originally Posted by rayhawk

Another thing people overlook when looking at gearing and torque multiplication is that a more aggressive rear end ratio requires shifting to the next gear earlier, giving you less time (distance) to take advantage of that additional multiplication. When comparing the Camaro to the Mustang, the Mustang starts with a gearing advantage in first gear, but when shifted at 42 mph, the SS has another 10mph to go in the higher numerical first gear. The advantage swings back to the mustang when the Camaro has to shift to second, but the same thing happens when the Mustang has to hit third significantly earlier than the Camaro.

Its not that simple. Taking your first gear example....the Mustang has the gearing advantage from 0-42, and the Camaro has it from 42-52. Which will make more difference? Also, you are equal once the Camaro is in 3rd and the Mustang is in 4th.

And please....let me be clear...I'm not trying to make my posts sound "Mustang vs Camaro" -ish. I'm just posting thoughts, some facts, and an occasional opinion. No offense intended (I do my offending on other sites.... ).

Bob