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.

 

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?

 

3.9 is the way to go

 

+1.

 

Can someone comment on how useless 1st (w/ 4.3) would be versus a 4.1? Is it really noticeable?

 

3.9 for sure. I have 3.6 with a 6-speed and it is great, but hard to get now apparently.

 

For a DD, 3.9. For a track car, 4.3 or 4.1 depending on your power level.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.