gears

[viper1]

past owner took stock gears out, the 3.07 and replaced them with the 3.73, he also gave me the 3.07 gears, should i put back in the stock gears or leave the 3.73???

[mjorgensen]

Like Jon B. says; "The year matters" If it is a Gen3/4 cI love the responsiveness of the 3.73, but they take your full attention LOL.

Gen2 I think the 3.55 was the go to gear.

[viper1]

I just got it and its winter here so its garaged at the moment but just a little nervous about it as its been 10 years since I last drove stick...its a 1996 blue white stripes

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

Gen 1 at only 415 HP OE loves to have a 3:73......
Gen 2 at 450HP enjoys a 3:55 or a 3:73....

Do you have the speedo conversion box installed? Speedo accurate?

If you restore the 3:07 you accelerate 20% slower! And braking gets worse too. You will feel like you are towing a Prius behind you.

Some info: http://www.viperpartsrack.com/gears-differential-dana-quaife

[JonSav]

conversion box is installed... This was my car and you sold me the kit

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

I just got it and its winter here so its garaged at the moment but just a little nervous about it as its been 10 years since I last drove stick...its a 1996 blue white stripes

Congrats on a great, collectible Viper!

The #1 thing to be nervous about (or evev frightened of) is -IF- you have old, hard tires, that lull you into false security because they have "great tread remaining." Famous Last Words. Old, Hard, deep tread has no traction. Driving on Hockey Pucks.

The TQ in that V10 is very forgiving of manual-trans launching mistakes. You can likely launch from idle, no throttle! Smoothe gear-changes and especially downshifts are important.....and TRACTION is what saves you if you get it wrong.

So, use short-shift techniques while learning. ie, shift at 3000 RPM or even less.....when you get good and smoothe, go to 4000 RPM a few trips. Then 5000 RPM.

DO CHECK THE DATE CODES on your tires.....those small hand-sized contact patches are all that keeps you on the pavement....

[viper1]

thx guys, how it going jon, all good?

[ultradriver10000]

just drive it, leave the gears

[Fatboy 18]

BOOK YOURSELF SOME STICK REFRESHER LESSONS. You will be glad you did, Better safe than sorry.

[JonSav]

old thread guys