04S/CStallion said:
Just gonna add some input on what is the point of a 6 speed. I can't beleive that is even a question!!!!!!!!. I know a lot of mustang guys don't wanna hear this but my 2000 Z28 had stock 3:42 gears and ran 11.9 in the 1/4 with only exhaust and 100 shot, with my car doing 75 on the interstate in 6th it ran 1200 rpm and got 31 mpg. Thats the point of a sixth gear!!.
OK, I'm going to be a real pain in the a$$ once again and present some more facts instead of just using heresay or a vague memory.
First, to answer the question about the T56 in the Mustang Cobra vs. F-Body, the OD ratios are different.
2003 - Cobra: 1st: 2.66, 2nd: 1.78, 3rd: 1.30, 4th: 1.00, 5th: .80, 6th: .63
2000 Z28 SS: 1st: 2.66, 2nd: 1.78, 3rd: 1.30, 4th: 1.00, 5th: .74, 6th: .50
Now comes my pain in the rear point. Your quoted RPM's to do not make sense.
With the stock Z28 P275/40ZR-17 tires @ 75 mph your RPMs would be:
5th: ~ 2450 RPM*
6th: ~ 1650 RPM*
1650 is 50% higher RPM than the 1100 RPM you gave in another post - a HUGE difference.
* I am using the ~ for approximate because I don't have the energy to research the actual rolling circumference for the Z28 tires, so I just used calculated circumference less a typical correction for rolling circumference. In any case the RPMs I gave should be within 50 RPM of actual.
Now one last point. You may be saying WOW! that .50 OD ratio is really tall. I bet it makes a huge difference. Well it does not make any difference compared to a T-3650 5 speed. Here is why:
On the GM T-56, the difference in ratios from 1st to 6th is 5.32:1
On the Ford T-3650 the difference in ratios from 1st to 5th is 5.45:1
In other words, the T-3650 still has a wider ratio spread from 1st - 5th than the GM T56 does from 1st to 6th.