3.27 or 3.55's...???

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i've got the 3.73s, they suck in city traffic, you have to take turns in 3rd unless you want to be really loud, while you're shifting into 3rd everyone around you will be in 2nd and have more power. the longer 1st gear that 3.55 (or even better 3.27) offer will also give you more time to evaluate if the guy next to you wants to race, if so you can stay in first, if not shift. it sucks shifting to 2nd then finding out the guy next to you is racing. that said, of course the higher(numerically) gears will be faster and if there is no traffic in your area, go big, otherwise 3.27s are great.

i copied this from my response to a similar question from another forum because it is even more applicable here.
 
I like my 3.73s I drive mostly in town,unless I take a trip to summit.I took it on a 3 hr trip once,very annoying,I have two chamber flows.The drone got to me after a little while.If your gonna spend the money I'd go 3.73.
 
355's on a t-5 are like 373's to 390's on tremec 3550's first of all. I have both 327's and 355's, and i chose the 355 ring and pinion, and it's perfect for me. i do a lot more highway than city and i've gotten up to 23mpg.
 
I'm just asking, because I'm going to be driving back and forth from school next year, and it's about an hour and a half give or take 15 minutes depending on the traffic. And if someone is next to me, edging me on...I'd like to have some gear left to get on him, but still have good to acceptable gas mileage when I dont get on the gas.

But from reading what everyone has posted, and since I'm going to be doing a TKO-500 or TKO-600 swap, I think I'm just going to go with 3.55s.
 
I think people are under the impression that theres a big difference between 3.55's and 3.73's but there isnt. You are talkin about 200 rpms thats it. Its only when you make a big jump for example from stock 2.73's up to 3.73's where people freak out about crazy highway rpm and excessive shifting. I have 3.73's and a 5spd and i cruise between 70 and 75 on the highway at about 2500 rpm and still pull over 22mpg all the time....and have gotten as high as 25mpg on my 6 HOUR ride to college. Honestly the best part about having short gears is you never have to downshift on the highway. 3.55's are probably your best bet for all around performance. you'll be cruisin at like 2250 at 75 which is perfect IMO. good luck man
 
ninety15.0 said:
I think people are under the impression that theres a big difference between 3.55's and 3.73's but there isnt. You are talkin about 200 rpms thats it. Its only when you make a big jump for example from stock 2.73's up to 3.73's where people freak out about crazy highway rpm and excessive shifting. I have 3.73's and a 5spd and i cruise between 70 and 75 on the highway at about 2500 rpm and still pull over 22mpg all the time....and have gotten as high as 25mpg on my 6 HOUR ride to college. Honestly the best part about having short gears is you never have to downshift on the highway. 3.55's are probably your best bet for all around performance. you'll be cruisin at like 2250 at 75 which is perfect IMO. good luck man

youre right the rpms at speed arent the real problem, it is the number of shifts in town, as well as the problems i've stated before. i dont like lugging around a corner in 3rd, but 2nd puts me in the loud 2000 rpm range. i wish i had it to do over again, i'd get 3.27 or 3.55.
 
cmb91LX said:
obviously you are looking for 430s or even 456s, do a search Einstein...
:OT: obviously, quite obviously he's not. he has already stated that it will be driven on the street regularly. not to mention 4.56 would put you in 5th in the 1/4 which is never good