Is 4.56 too much?

[driftpin]

I am planning on ordering the Strange's f-body 12 bolt and I was looking at either ther 4.11 or 4.56. On my Mustang I went up to strange 3.73 and was very disapointed because my rpm's were really low on the highway and I had taking some advice from a guy on a Mustang forum board saying "the 4.10 will make you rpm go thru the roof on the highway".

So what do you guys think? I will be driving the car on the highway to and from the track.

After the rear end I will be installing cam, intake, tb and new heads, rockers, lifter and valve springs. If the transmission makes it through the summer I will rebuild that in the fall. I don't know why they put such a crappy drivetrain in these cars. A 4L80 and 12 bolt would have been a great combo.

Another question, is there a way I can tell from my VIN if I have a 3 or 4 channel? Has anyone had issues shutting ABS off? I hate ABS, still can't get in the habit of not pumping the brakes. Can't teach an old dog new trick I guess.

PS I have an A4

[01ws6er]

I am planning on ordering the Strange's f-body 12 bolt and I was looking at either ther 4.11 or 4.56. On my Mustang I went up to strange 3.73 and was very disapointed because my rpm's were really low on the highway and I had taking some advice from a guy on a Mustang forum board saying "the 4.10 will make you rpm go thru the roof on the highway".

So what do you guys think? I will be driving the car on the highway to and from the track.

After the rear end I will be installing cam, intake, tb and new heads, rockers, lifter and valve springs. If the transmission makes it through the summer I will rebuild that in the fall. I don't know why they put such a crappy drivetrain in these cars. A 4L80 and 12 bolt would have been a great combo.

Another question, is there a way I can tell from my VIN if I have a 3 or 4 channel? Has anyone had issues shutting ABS off? I hate ABS, still can't get in the habit of not pumping the brakes. Can't teach an old dog new trick I guess.

PS I have an A4


Do you have a stall converter? Should drop a pretty decent amount of time off your et's right there. No gear expert here but those are some pretty tall gears even for an m6...

[driftpin]

Do you have a stall converter? Should drop a pretty decent amount of time off your et's right there. No gear expert here but those are some pretty tall gears even for an m6...Haven't done a converter yet. I planned on doing it when I pulled the tranny and did the rebuild.

[ls1camino]

In my opinion, those are too tall for a street car...4.10 are the limit for me.

[driftpin]

In my opinion, those are too tall for a street car...4.10 are the limit for me.
What are your RPM's on the highway at 75mph with your 4.10? if you don't mind me asking?

[driftpin]

I was also hoping to hear from some automatic owners.

[oldmanZ28]

I'm running A4,2800 stall,and 4.56s' in the 10 bolt since fall of 2007,never regretted it and would not consider going back to something like 4.10s' or 3.73s(I had 3.23s' OEM).
1st and 2nd are wild.

[Firebirdjones]

I'm running A4,2800 stall,and 4.56s' in the 10 bolt since fall of 2007,never regretted it and would not consider going back to something like 4.10s' or 3.73s(I had 3.23s' OEM).
1st and 2nd are wild.

Now this is a true gear head :D

[oldmanZ28]

with A4 & 4.56s',21.5 mpg at freeway legal limits.It was 24.5 with the OEM 3.23s' at freeway legal limits.
City-way too much fun w4.56s' to drive conservatively.

[Firebirdjones]

Yep, I never understood how the younger generation got away from the true fun a big set of gears can provide. Nowadays with all these overdrives a 4.56 would feel pretty comfy.
Shucks we used to run 4.56's in my daily driver with only a muncie in front of it and never thought twice. Still have a couple cars like that today even. (one with 4.88's)

[oldmanZ28]

It's a daily driver except when it snows here in ohio.
Torque,Torque,Torque! Torque accelerates,horsepower maintains.
I'm 'old school' from the 60s' when torque and gears ruled the streets.I've worked on rearends back then so they are not something to avoid working on.Back in the late 60s',you could get factory 4.56s/4.88s in your car order in camaros,novas,and chevelles.They were great 'light to light' streetfighters.So why not build a rearend for optimal 'light to light' streetfighting.I have 3 extra rearends(take-outs from f-bod),many gearsets(from swap meets and Summit 'discount returned items,2.41,2.73.3.23,3.42,3.73,4.10,4.56),various carriers(auburns,torsens,and eatons).
When I decided to take out the OEM 3.23 rearend(passenger side carrier bearing was growling),I figured why not build a rear with the $25 used richmond 4.56 gearset I picked up at a swap meet.That rearend was put in in sept. of 07 and I haven't regretted it since.1st and 2nd(with Nitto 315s on the street)are incredible.I've taken 3 trips to florida from cleveland,ohio with the 4.56s' and the computor has handled the mpg better than originally anticipated.24.5 mpg with the 3.23s,now 21.5 mpg with the 4.56s.No complaint here.Freeway rpm would be considered high,but I don't.It's designed to work in a range.Coming back from florida a few weeks ago,we hooked in with a fast traveling group on I-95/I-26/I-77 in South Carolina that put us in cruise control at 4000 rpm for a couple hours.The engine now has an incredible mechanical advantage over the car and it operates at a condition of not being under a load.

[driftpin]

It's a daily driver except when it snows here in ohio.
Torque,Torque,Torque! Torque accelerates,horsepower maintains.
I'm 'old school' from the 60s' when torque and gears ruled the streets.I've worked on rearends back then so they are not something to avoid working on.Back in the late 60s',you could get factory 4.56s/4.88s in your car order in camaros,novas,and chevelles.They were great 'light to light' streetfighters.So why not build a rearend for optimal 'light to light' streetfighting.I have 3 extra rearends(take-outs from f-bod),many gearsets(from swap meets and Summit 'discount returned items,2.41,2.73.3.23,3.42,3.73,4.10,4.56),various carriers(auburns,torsens,and eatons).
When I decided to take out the OEM 3.23 rearend(passenger side carrier bearing was growling),I figured why not build a rear with the $25 used richmond 4.56 gearset I picked up at a swap meet.That rearend was put in in sept. of 07 and I haven't regretted it since.1st and 2nd(with Nitto 315s on the street)are incredible.I've taken 3 trips to florida from cleveland,ohio with the 4.56s' and the computor has handled the mpg better than originally anticipated.24.5 mpg with the 3.23s,now 21.5 mpg with the 4.56s.No complaint here.Freeway rpm would be considered high,but I don't.It's designed to work in a range.Coming back from florida a few weeks ago,we hooked in with a fast traveling group on I-95/I-26/I-77 in South Carolina that put us in cruise control at 4000 rpm for a couple hours.The engine now has an incredible mechanical advantage over the car and it operates at a condition of not being under a load.
Thanks for the great info. The truth is the steeper the gear, the less the engine has to work to get it rolling. Torque is why I bought an LS1 bird. After the rear end goes in and the roads dry up (getting 14" of snow tonight :mad:) I'll be throwing the M/T's on and hitting the track. I just hope the reaction shell in the weakling tranny can hold up through the summer. She will get the bulletproof treatment when she comes out and a new converter.

[maxwax]

The main thing to considre is what RPM range does your cam work in.
A3:42 gear in an a-4 car is perfect with a stock cam.

I am running a vindicator cam,and my RPM range is from 2500 to 7000 so the 4:10 has a very useful power range.
I have 4:10 gears a Yank ss3600 converter 26.5" tall tires, and love the 2,2oo rpm at 70mph.

In my opinion for the A-4 cars first gear would be useless with anything lower than a 4:10. in a stock car.
If you plan on running it in the 1/4 mile a 4:56 is defiantly out.

[Ed Blown Vert]

I would do a converter first. Don't forget, the lower the gear. The weaker they are.

But if you are using it as a daily driver, 3.73's
All race, then 4.10's would be good.

[Kaotic_ws6]

i would say go with the 4.10s.. thats what im about to get...:D

[UTVols98]

But if you are using it as a daily driver, 3.73's
All race, then 4.10's would be good.

+1 on that. I'm and A4 with a 3500 stall and I'm running 4.10's now but had 3.73's before. I liked the 3.73's much better for street and highway driving.

[driftpin]

+1 on that. I'm and A4 with a 3500 stall and I'm running 4.10's now but had 3.73's before. I liked the 3.73's much better for street and highway driving.

What is it about the 4.10's you don't like with street manners?

[allbaugh_04]

Couldn't be happier with my 2.73s

[Kaotic_ws6]

It's a daily driver except when it snows here in ohio.
Torque,Torque,Torque! Torque accelerates,horsepower maintains.
I'm 'old school' from the 60s' when torque and gears ruled the streets.I've worked on rearends back then so they are not something to avoid working on.Back in the late 60s',you could get factory 4.56s/4.88s in your car order in camaros,novas,and chevelles.They were great 'light to light' streetfighters.So why not build a rearend for optimal 'light to light' streetfighting.I have 3 extra rearends(take-outs from f-bod),many gearsets(from swap meets and Summit 'discount returned items,2.41,2.73.3.23,3.42,3.73,4.10,4.56),various carriers(auburns,torsens,and eatons).
When I decided to take out the OEM 3.23 rearend(passenger side carrier bearing was growling),I figured why not build a rear with the $25 used richmond 4.56 gearset I picked up at a swap meet.That rearend was put in in sept. of 07 and I haven't regretted it since.1st and 2nd(with Nitto 315s on the street)are incredible.I've taken 3 trips to florida from cleveland,ohio with the 4.56s' and the computor has handled the mpg better than originally anticipated.24.5 mpg with the 3.23s,now 21.5 mpg with the 4.56s.No complaint here.Freeway rpm would be considered high,but I don't.It's designed to work in a range.Coming back from florida a few weeks ago,we hooked in with a fast traveling group on I-95/I-26/I-77 in South Carolina that put us in cruise control at 4000 rpm for a couple hours.The engine now has an incredible mechanical advantage over the car and it operates at a condition of not being under a load.

you have anymore 4.10s that are new or in really good condition?

[Firebirdjones]

Couldn't be happier with my 2.73s

Quit it,,,,This is about real men that run real gears :D

[Firebirdjones]

If you plan on running it in the 1/4 mile a 4:56 is defiantly out.

Huh??? If the car is equipped with even just a camshaft that requires 6500 rpm shift points the 4.56's would be a beautiful setup.
Easily livable on the street in my opinion as well.

I do agree though however the 4L60E is not the best trans for dragstrip action. Not that it's weak, but the gear spread sucks. A 3.06 first gear is horrible and not necessary. In order to get enough rear gear in the car for best dragstrip performance it makes first gear rediculous and looking for second before the car moves 20 feet. Then the rpm drop is horrendous. It's fun on the street but not the best trans for dragstrip action.
A 400 or 350 turbo would be better suited.

[allbaugh_04]

Yea i am sure those trans' are great for the strip. However, my stall really helps me out with the shift extension.

My goal is now to have the fastest ls1 with 2.73s

[Ed Blown Vert]

I am pretty sure with 4.56's you will shift into OD at the end of the 1/4

[Firebirdjones]

I am pretty sure with 4.56's you will shift into OD at the end of the 1/4

The only reason that would happen is if you have surpassed your shift points,,,since 3rd is 1:1 and for example you have a motor shifting at 6500-6700 or so,,,that 4th gear shift shouldn't happen unless you are running some wheenie 24 inch tall tires or something :D

[Firebirdjones]

Here I did some math for you. This is based on some of my own experience with a few of my cars that run a real gear.

With a 4.56 gear,,and running a typical 28 inch tall tire and a motor that can spin to 6500 rpm in the traps you can cross at 119 mph with 1:1 trans gear.

You could stretch that to 6700 rpm and still hit 122 mph with no overdrive.

Now if you want to run a small 26 inch tall tire which is how all 4th gens are equipped, you can hit 113 mph at 6500 rpm or stretch that to 116 mph at 6700 rpms,,,,thats a pretty typical mph for a strong bolt on LS1 motor that shouldn't have any problem spinning that kind of rpm. This is also providing you have enough HP to push the car in question to that kind of mph.

I ran 4.56's all the time at the strip and on the street with a high strung gen 1 small block in a Nova, and now currently in my nomad,,,and honestly could even use a little more gear since I cross the traps in the 6400 rpm range.

[Ed Blown Vert]

All I remember is crossing the line @ 121 with my 3.23's

[Firebirdjones]

All I remember is crossing the line @ 121 with my 3.23's

Sorry, I'm talking about NA motors. Since you are running a blower with nitrous on top of that it changes everything.

Typically you don't want alot of gear when running a power adder like that since the low end grunt is in spades.

I'm talking about a typical high strung small block that wants to spin and lacks bottom end.

[Ed Blown Vert]

Sounds like we are on the same page.

[allbaugh_04]

So what is my threshold with 2.73s..whats my max mph???

LOL

[Firebirdjones]

So what is my threshold with 2.73s..whats my max mph???

LOL

Depends on the HP you make. It would really take alot of grunt to maximize that gear.

[driftpin]

If you had the engine, 200 mph. Going through the traps, around 150ish. It would take a whole lot of engine.

[Firebirdjones]

To give you an idea,,,top fuel generally runs a 3.00 gear or so and hit 300+ mph in the traps. Thats with 4-6,000 HP though in a relatively light car :D

In all honesty though if you really want to make the most of that 2.73 gear I would drop in the new 454 cubed LSx motor and then throw a 200 shot on top of it.

You can still find 2.73 gears for a 12 bolt,,,,lol.

[allbaugh_04]

If the rear ever breaks i will see if i can go with 3.42s in a 12-bolt.