Since I am new to these cars (and japanese cars in general) I don't know any parts sites that are generally considered to have aggressive pricing. Can anyone recommend one?

I am interested in upping the gear ratio in the rear and want to price out the parts/labor. However, I also need some direction on how to reprogram the computer/speedometer to compensate for the change. I am also curious to hear how MPG was impacted by moving to a more aggressive (higher?) gear ratio.

Thanks!

 

Generally 4.56 or 4.77 works well for an AP1 while 4.44 works well for an AP2. Figure about $300 for the gear set and $300-$400 for installation. You can wire in a "yellow box" under the dash to correct the speedometer error. Modifry carries these. As for gas mileage, expect it to drop 1-2mpg. If for even a second you care about mpg, don't even bother.

 

Great, thanks for the info. I think I could tolerate the mpg loss. Any idea what a 4.44 for an ap2 would allow you to pick up in the 1/4 mile? It's not that I plan on taking it to the drag strip, but I just use that as a basis for determining how much more acceleration I would get.

 

I'm currently on the stock gear set, so I don't have firsthand experience here... However. Those with these gear sets generally think that they make you quicker at low speeds with no change at higher speeds. For instance, for autocrossing, the increased shifting of shorter gear sets can actually make you *slower* around the course, not faster.

In a straight line, though, I suspect you'd knock a few tenths off your 1/4 mile time.

 

4.3/3.9 => 4.1 seems like a pretty good compromise

I think gearing changes are somewhat overrated for most usage. Better acceleration from a stop or low-speed roll, but from any speed above ~35mph you can find yourself at a DISadvantage with lower (numerically higher) gearing due to having to be in a taller transmission gear.

Diff gearing doesn't magic you any more power/weight. If you just want a little more "oomph" in general, stay in lower gears longer/don't upshift as early.

 

Gearing any lower in the AP2 would make 1st gear almost useless. As it is, it's very close to being useless now IMO. Higher gearing sounds much more interesting to me and at minimum, would serve some purpose. Your call though. If you have any experience with this type of mod and find it useful, go for it.
I've never driven anything but stock and maybe I don't know what I'm missing.

 

Gears to me seem to be subjective. I have been researching this for over 2 years and finally installed 4.77's into my AP1. To be honest, I love it. Unlike Hcash says, I find them the oposite of "useless" I don't track the car however, its a fun toy to get me from A to B on nice days. It may not have been a night and day difference like some people said, but its a differenct car for sure. Low end and mid range punch under vtec is so much better. Not sure about any speed above 35 being worse. This thing pulls so much stronger than stock, even above 80. I don't care too much for the higher RPM's while cruising on the freeway, but it isn't terrible. There does not seem to be a ton of evidence as far as performance numbers with the gears which still boggles my mind. But from what I have gathered, it could shave 1/2 second of the 0-60 and quarter mile times. A lot of people have said their geared cars were able to keep up with a base Comptech supercharged S up until the top of third gear. I will never, ever go back to stock gearing unless I go boost. I hated this cars non existence of torque down low when trying to just cruise around town, and the gears helped a lot.

 

Not from *any* speed above 35. Just any speed where you're forced into a higher transmission gear with your 4.77s, your acceleration will be worse/slower vs. stock.

In a given gear, yes, it will pull harder. But you would achieve the same effect (slightly better, actually) as 4.77s by just leaving it in 5th gear with the stock diff! Which costs nothing and doesn't require adjusting the speedo!

Seriously, gears are kind of a one-trick pony. That trick being acceleration from zero or low speed. Above 35, you get the same effect by just staying in lower gears longer.

0-60 will be slower, as there's an additional upshift required to get there.
If you're trapping over 100mph, again an additional upshift is required vs. 4.10s.

4.77s will *definitely* be quicker than stock 4.10s to 56mph, and also quicker to 99mph. But you're going to lose on the order of 0.35seconds on the upshifts, so more than likely a tick or two *slower* vs. 4.10 to 60mph and to 101mph.

A lot of people say a lot of things!

In 1st gear, at low speeds, you have a point. Beyond that, it's easier just to delay upshifting with the stock gears.
If you keep it below 6000rpm in town, the "advantage" speed drops to 25mph, btw...

 

The only reason i'm letting you talk to me this way is because you have an FD in your sig... You have some valid points, but for ME, not you, or him, or anyone who says gears do this, and they do that, and its faster because...I don't regret it at all. I love my 4.77's. Just helping a guy try to make a decision which for me, was hard to do without ever getting a chance to drive a geared S. It made the car more fun to drive. Now I could be a typical forum punk and try to show you some youtube videos of geared S vs. stock S to try to prove you wrong, but im sure you are aware of them, and again, can't prove anything on the net...

 

Thanks for the pass, I knew the FD had to be good for something

Gears *will* pull harder in every gear. But they *won't* pull harder from every speed!

I should point out that from a stop or low-speed roll, the time-to-distance advantage will go to the geared car and will *remain* with the geared car. I.e., the non-geared car will never catch up, even though it might get to a given *speed* sooner.