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» Northern California Ford Owners     » Automotive   » General Talk   » 97 cobra gear choice

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Author Topic: 97 cobra gear choice
Built88LX
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Just picked up a 1997 cobra that's basically stock besides cold air intake and slp loudmouth catback exhaust wanted to upgrade gears what would be the best choice I'm on the fence between 4.10 or 4.30s it's gonna be a daily driver with some drag racing want to be able to get off the line quickly but still be drive able on the freeway for commuting
Posts: 2390 | From: $acramento | Registered: Mar 2011  |  :
losbadgts
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My buddy had 430 and it was just fine.

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Why pretent someone u are not, everyone else could see it.

Posts: 3625 | From: redwood city | Registered: Apr 2004  |  :
FOXX5.0
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I had 410 on my cobra Same mods as you and they were OK gas milage didn't change at all.
I would go 430 and some sticky tires
But either would be a nice upgrade over stock

[ 2016-04-16, 07:33 PM: Message edited by: FOXX5.0 ]

Posts: 1554 | From: (~__~) | Registered: Apr 2009  |  :
J's DDLY SNK
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With out a doubt 430s! Makes the car that more enjoyable to drive.
Posts: 649 | From: San Jose | Registered: Oct 2002  |  :
Built88LX
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quote:
Originally posted by FOXX5.0:
I had 410 on my cobra Same mods as you and they were OK gas milage didn't change at all.
I would go 430 and some sticky tires
But either would be a nice upgrade over stock

I have brand new 315/35/17 Nitto Extreme NT555 tires on rear honestly I was leaning more toward the 4.30's but didn't want to run the risk of having a non-existent 1st gear or driving 6k rpms on freeway at cruising speeds
Posts: 2390 | From: $acramento | Registered: Mar 2011  |  :
SIC9250
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430s are perfect have them in my daily driven 03 Mach and had them in my 96 cobra for 3 years wouldn't go with any of gear ratio for a 32v,1st gear is still very usable and the freeway the cars at about 2300-2500rpm/70mph

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Coyote_Mach1

Posts: 6959 | From: in the drivers seat. | Registered: Feb 2008  |  :
Wht86drop
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I have 430s in my 97 Cobra. I fucking hate it! I'm at about 3200rpm on the freeway at 70mph and first gear is too short for me. To be honest those are my only two complaints. 430s racing wise is a good way to go though

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Posts: 1669 | From: East Palo Alto, Fiji Islands | Registered: Jun 2012  |  :
Wht86drop
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Dp

[ 2016-04-17, 10:21 AM: Message edited by: Wht86drop ]

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Posts: 1669 | From: East Palo Alto, Fiji Islands | Registered: Jun 2012  |  :
SIC9250
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quote:
Originally posted by Wht86drop:
I have 430s in my 97 Cobra. I fucking hate it! I'm at about 3200rpm on the freeway at 70mph and first gear is too short for me. To be honest those are my only two complaints. 430s racing wise is a good way to go though

T45 gearing does suck compared to the 03/04 3650s

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Coyote_Mach1

Posts: 6959 | From: in the drivers seat. | Registered: Feb 2008  |  :
Wht86drop
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I've heard that before. I think once I break the T45, I'll go that route

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Posts: 1669 | From: East Palo Alto, Fiji Islands | Registered: Jun 2012  |  :
Built88LX
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quote:
Originally posted by Wht86drop:
I have 430s in my 97 Cobra. I fucking hate it! I'm at about 3200rpm on the freeway at 70mph and first gear is too short for me. To be honest those are my only two complaints. 430s racing wise is a good way to go though

So you think the better option would be 4.10s considering it's a daily driver and I'm on the freeway pretty much every day at some point
Posts: 2390 | From: $acramento | Registered: Mar 2011  |  :
NonOpSlow2V
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4:10 in my daily driver (96 Cobra) and she ran perfect. Great gear. I also has 3:73 which weren't bad either.

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Posts: 2139 | From: San Francisco | Registered: Oct 2005  |  :
Mach916
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in my mach I had 430s.. sucked ass. killed roll racing and annoying to drive. switched back to 373s much better gear, easier to drive and way more topend. if you are really stuck on short gears 410s max.
Posts: 1247 | From: Sacramento | Registered: Mar 2008  |  :
slow4v
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4.56 ftw
Posts: 914 | Registered: Aug 2009  |  :
Wht86drop
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Yea 410s max is what I would go but to be honest 373s and never look back. In my opinion 373s is a perfect all around gear. But if you don't plan on putting a blower in it maybe 410s will work for you for what you're looking for. With my Cobra as is with 430s, Ford motorsport shorties, imrc deletes, steeda underdrive pullies, O/R-X, jlt short ram intake and a Bama tune I was a consistent 13.5 at sac with semi good slicks. I was pretty happy with it at the track but freeway sucks

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Posts: 1669 | From: East Palo Alto, Fiji Islands | Registered: Jun 2012  |  :
95gtdrop
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I went from 373s to 410s in my 97bruh. Best thing I ever did!!

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2004 SVT Cobra Vert

Posts: 1221 | From: sacramento | Registered: Mar 2007  |  :
Frank.JD.Perez
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Little bit different but I had 373 in my first gt and recently put in 410 in my new gt. 1st is kinda non existent for daily driving but I haven't used them for autocross yet. I'd like to go back to 373 since it's still a daily driver. I'm at about 80mph with 3k rpm, however I can get the car up to about 100mph with about 4200rpm. In a cobra I feel it will drive differently than the 2v which is a no brainer since the cobra is a 4v. For a daily driver I would go lower. Maybe a 390? But whatever floats you boat buddy. Your car and your set up

[ 2016-04-20, 11:54 PM: Message edited by: Frank.JD.Perez ]

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Posts: 603 | From: Hayward/Pleasanton | Registered: Dec 2012  |  :
SidewayzCobra
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4.10's all day!
Posts: 27 | From: pacifica | Registered: Jan 2016  |  :
Built88LX
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Thanks for the advice everyone I'm gonna go with 4.10 gears

[ 2016-04-21, 09:50 PM: Message edited by: Built88LX ]

Posts: 2390 | From: $acramento | Registered: Mar 2011  |  :
Fostang
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I daily drive on 4.30s but I have an auto and 28.5" tires.

So maybe 3.90s would be a good compromise with 26" ones

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Posts: 3012 | From: Stockton/Danville | Registered: Nov 2003  |  :
SydeWaySix
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I had 4:30s on my 98 cobra and used to track it (road race). I actually thought they performed very well despite what a lot of others told me. With the weight of the car, the 430s really helped get me up to speed after slow/tight turns.

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Posts: 9882 | From: Bay Area | Registered: Dec 2002  |  :
04cobra408
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quote:
Originally posted by J's DDLY SNK:
With out a doubt 430s! Makes the car that more enjoyable to drive.

he lives!!!!!! whats up man! I was just going to say all my boys with the 96-98's like you swear by the 430's!

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Willie Guzman
RIP lil brother
11-23-12

Juan Moya
"The King Cobra"
11/16/81 - 8/20/05

Posts: 1945 | From: san jose ca | Registered: Jan 2004  |  :
J's DDLY SNK
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quote:
Originally posted by 04cobra408:
quote:
Originally posted by J's DDLY SNK:
With out a doubt 430s! Makes the car that more enjoyable to drive.

he lives!!!!!! whats up man! I was just going to say all my boys with the 96-98's like you swear by the 430's!
What's up E! Yeah trying when I have a chance, house and the kids keeping me busy! Actually going to put the Cobra up for sale soon. Got other plans!

[ 2016-04-22, 03:06 PM: Message edited by: J's DDLY SNK ]

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Rest In Peace
Juan Moya "The King Cobra"
11/16/81 - 8/20/05
We Will Never Forget You

Posts: 649 | From: San Jose | Registered: Oct 2002  |  :
Fostang
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F it.

This thread made me envious of gears on my truck so I just took out the 3.55s that came from the factory and got some 4.88s and my bud made some changes to the posi to tighten that right up. [burnout]

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Posts: 3012 | From: Stockton/Danville | Registered: Nov 2003  |  :
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4.10s for a daily driver in a 96-98 Cobra, 4.30s for a weekend warrior dig car.

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Built 2v
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Posts: 4678 | From: North Hayward, Cali | Registered: Sep 2010  |  :


 
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