Is 4.56 too much?

**driftpin** · 02-28-2009, 06:23 PM

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** · 02-28-2009, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by 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

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** · 02-28-2009, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by 01ws6er

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** · 02-28-2009, 07:37 PM

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

**driftpin** · 03-01-2009, 06:29 AM

Originally Posted by ls1camino

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** · 03-01-2009, 06:33 AM

I was also hoping to hear from some automatic owners.

**oldmanZ28** · 03-01-2009, 08:07 AM

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** · 03-01-2009, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by 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.

Now this is a true gear head

**oldmanZ28** · 03-01-2009, 08:14 AM

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** · 03-01-2009, 08:18 AM

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** · 03-01-2009, 02:17 PM

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** · 03-01-2009, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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

) 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** · 03-01-2009, 04:46 PM

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*** · 03-01-2009, 04:52 PM

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** · 03-01-2009, 07:15 PM

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

**UTVols98** · 03-03-2009, 12:21 AM

Originally Posted by Ed Blown Vert

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** · 03-03-2009, 04:55 AM

Originally Posted by UTVols98

+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** · 03-03-2009, 08:04 AM

Couldn't be happier with my 2.73s

**Kaotic_ws6** · 03-03-2009, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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