What gears are suggested

BigScott96

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Hello All,

Long time Mustang/ Cobra guy. Just got back in the game with a 96 Cobra. The PO had added 456 gears. The thing jumps and feels like a beast, But its a bit much for cruising and just driving about town. My question would be 410 or 411 will that calm it down a bit and make it more drivable? Or will I not notice a difference? Also I just looked at a thread about the speedo gears. Is that something I need to change? The speedo is right on at 60 and 80MPH Tested it last night. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.
 

me32

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Keep the 456, it really is a good grear for the 96-01 cobras. Not really worth it to step down to 430s. 410s at the very least. But i personally dont think it would be worth the money.
 

Cobra Jet

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4.30 is the perfect mannered gear for a N/A daily driven DOHC...

Since you already have 4.56's from a value standpoint, I don't think it's worth going down to 4.30's, it's still going to be "beast like" in all gears if backed against the factory T45 transmission's gear set. Heck when I had my prior 96 Cobra years ago, it was easy enough to smoke the tires flat out through 3rd gear into 4th with the 4.30's, BUT they were a great driving gear AND my MPG also improved over the factory crap gears Ford put into the DOHC...

IMO, the labor+parts R&R just wouldn't be worth it to go from a 4.56 down to 4.30.

What you may experience by going from 4.56's down to 4.10's would be boredom, as the beast-like feeling will be gone and you will feel as if the car is lugging along. The DOHC needs higher ratio gears to give it that "torque factor" off the line due to the fact it can rev out to 7500RPMs.
 
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Adower

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If you have the money just laying around go for it. Otherwise just keep as is if you're staying NA.
 

BigScott96

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Thank you everyone for the valuable advice. I will keep the 456. This is my first 4.6 motor. Had tons of 5.0's and I am not as knowledgeable on these. Thank you!!!!
 

shurur

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3.73 if or when you go FI.
otherwise as others have said above.

I got 3.73 because I planned to go procharger and got talked out of 3.9...now that I plan to stay NA, I wish that I had a bit more gear.
 

BigScott96

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3.73 if or when you go FI.
otherwise as others have said above.

I got 3.73 because I planned to go procharger and got talked out of 3.9...now that I plan to stay NA, I wish that I had a bit more gear.
Did our cars come with 373? I know the 456 is just too much. 1st is useless. What gear do you wish you put in? My car is a driver. Not daily but I like to do car cruises and drive to dinner and just out. I am running 3000 RPM at 70-75MPH in 5th! It just feels like the car is always in the power band and working. I want a gear that feels strong but they drivable.
 

shurur

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Did our cars come with 373? I know the 456 is just too much. 1st is useless. What gear do you wish you put in? My car is a driver. Not daily but I like to do car cruises and drive to dinner and just out. I am running 3000 RPM at 70-75MPH in 5th! It just feels like the car is always in the power band and working. I want a gear that feels strong but they drivable.
Hard to say and opinions very...
I say 3.90...although others have said it varies little from 3.73.

4.10 seems like the most popular, I would probably go with that should I have a do-over...and knowing that I was staying NA.
 

9397SVTs

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If you stay NA, 4.30 is the way to go. Since you already have 4.56's, just go with a taller rear tire.

If you go FI, 3.55's will work quite well.
 

railroad

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I have a KB on a 99 Cobra, 445 whp and run 3.73 gears. It is all the gear I can stand for my mixed highway, street driving.
I cannot remember the rpm at 70 mph in 5th, but I do not think I have much room for a down shift, if I get the nod.
The KB does well, running almost 10 lbs of boost.
 

shurur

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I think the main point of the OP is a desire for a first gear that is not worthless...i.e. a gear that is useful lugging around in a parking lot below the power band rpm range where she isn't ready to jump.
 

01ssnake

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Hello All,

Long time Mustang/ Cobra guy. Just got back in the game with a 96 Cobra. The PO had added 456 gears. The thing jumps and feels like a beast, But its a bit much for cruising and just driving about town. My question would be 410 or 411 will that calm it down a bit and make it more drivable? Or will I not notice a difference? Also I just looked at a thread about the speedo gears. Is that something I need to change? The speedo is right on at 60 and 80MPH Tested it last night. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

Keep 4.56. Run taller tire if you want to tame the gear up.
 

me32

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3.73 if or when you go FI.
otherwise as others have said above.

I got 3.73 because I planned to go procharger and got talked out of 3.9...now that I plan to stay NA, I wish that I had a bit more gear.
3.73 N/A just isnt enough gear for the 96-01 cobras. 410+. 96-98 need 430-456.
 

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