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3.9 or 4.3 Torsen for a DD

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Old 07-24-2009, 06:46 PM
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Default 3.9 or 4.3 Torsen for a DD

What would you guys prefer for a turbo DD w/ an occasional track day? 3.9 or a 4.3?

This may be paired w/ a 6 speed in the future.
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Old 07-24-2009, 10:53 PM
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OK, is a 4.3 even worth getting for a turbo miata? How worthless will 1st gear be? Does it make that much of a difference?
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Old 07-24-2009, 11:01 PM
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3.9 is the way to go
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Old 07-24-2009, 11:20 PM
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Originally Posted by urbansoot
3.9 is the way to go
+1.
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Old 07-26-2009, 12:07 AM
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Can someone comment on how useless 1st (w/ 4.3) would be versus a 4.1? Is it really noticeable?
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Old 07-26-2009, 12:23 AM
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3.9 for sure. I have 3.6 with a 6-speed and it is great, but hard to get now apparently.
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Old 07-26-2009, 01:41 AM
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For a DD, 3.9. For a track car, 4.3 or 4.1 depending on your power level.
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Old 07-26-2009, 11:24 AM
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Originally Posted by kenzo42
Can someone comment on how useless 1st (w/ 4.3) would be versus a 4.1? Is it really noticeable?
It's relatively subtle. First gear will spin the wheels on my car after 4,000 the same now on the 4.1 as it did with the stock 4.3.
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Old 07-26-2009, 12:03 PM
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Power level makes the biggest difference.

4.3 gears with a 5 speed it a fun setup for n/a. It's what I run and I have 120whp. I have driven a 220whp s/c 99 miata with the 4.3 gears. The gearing is short and tends to put you in between gears in some corners.

The 5 speed with a 3.90/6 speed with 3.63 tends to be the most popular setups as far as gearing and usable power. Gary @ trackdog uses a REM treated 5 speed with 3.90 gears in his 290whp red 99.

Here is a video of the 220whp supercharged 99 miata I was talking about. I'm behind in my 120whp black '94 with hustler's 200# *** riding along. Notive where the tach needle is after shifts and how he has to do some coasting in certain turns because of the gearing.

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Old 07-28-2009, 09:35 PM
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If I drove all the way to TX to drive around in a clusterfuck freight train like that I'd be pissed off.
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Old 07-28-2009, 10:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Savington
If I drove all the way to TX to drive around in a clusterfuck freight train like that I'd be pissed off.
This thread just sealed the deal for me on manifolds. I'm going for blood in that event.


On gearing, it depends on power. If you're not tracking it, 3.90.
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Old 07-29-2009, 05:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Savington
If I drove all the way to TX to drive around in a clusterfuck freight train like that I'd be pissed off.
Hallett is in Oklahoma. It's awesome! Don't hate!

You would have no problems passing people with all the horsepower that your turd is about to unleash.

That is the advance session. The session for men.....ok, some men. It ends up being wheel to wheel for some of us. You didn't see video of the day before where we had 6 hours of open track time for $75.
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Old 08-06-2009, 07:21 PM
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I ran a 5-speed with 3.90s on the street and open track. Street manners were great. Track manners was a bit of a compromise, but not much for me since I am a little inexperienced. More power would have made the 3.90s better for track use IMO. Now the car carry's a 6-speed. On the street, 1st is useless, and I frequently skip gears. I haven't tracked the car with the current drivetrain setup, but I want the 3.63s.
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