There are several of us currently in the process of fitting final gears. You will be changing form a 4.1 final driv to a higher ratio - this means that your revs will be HIGHER for a given speed in the same gear, NOT lower. My top speed will drop from a theoretical 165 to 150 mph when I fit my new diff with the new 4.625 final drive.

EDIT: I'm not aware of a 4.51 final drive for the S2000 - the common ones are 4.44 (Mazdaspeed), 4.57 (Rick's Richmond gear), 4.625 (Kia Sportage) and 4.77 (Mazdaspeed).

 

Yup, I was thinking about Ricks 4.57 gear set... so I need to go to a 3.8 or something... its not like 6th gear is long winded (but I understand the desire to get there faster!).

Quote "I'd have thought you would need to do a LOT of miles to make the increase in economy offset the cost of the new final drive and the replacement diff......!" Unquote

Replacement diff? Is there something i have missed? From reading Ricks site, its a case of replacing cogs not the differential too.

 

going for a lower ratio is not the best idea - mpg may be slightly improved on the motorway but it will emphasise the low low-end torque of the F20C.

You don't need a replacement diff - I've gone for one because it may be cheaper in the long run - I can sell off the spare diff at a later date rather than having to go to the expense (fitting kit and labour) of changing the final gear back if the buyer of my car wants the original 4.1 ratio.

 

A wise decision Craig! Dare (and may) I ask how much the replacement diff was?!

Its a difficult call, but I think just turning the final gear ratio down would help my long distance driving... and no-one really tries to nail it in 6th gear... do they?!

 

but the final gear will affect your acceleration in each gear, not just 6th! Ah! are you mistaken into believing that you are changing 6th gear rather than the final gear in the diff?

figure on

 

Granted you beef is with 6th gear here and I can understand that as its too short IMHO. I personally think they should have made the S2000 with 5 sprinting gears and a 6th gear for overdrive cruising. Granted 6th would be pretty gutless but then that doesn't matter when you are buying a car that you know you'll have to stir the box in.

But lowering the final drive isn't the answer as you'll just make the other gears more gutless and probably reduce the S2000 to hot-hatch performance in terms of acceleration. You're fuel savings won't offset how dissapointed you'll feel when punting it down your favourite road.

I personally find myself becoming increasingly interested in changing the final drive to get those gears lower! For a 6 speed box the first 3 gears stretching to around 93mph is a joke IMHO. I'd be looking to almost be done with 4th by then

Craig, what is your final costs for all of the gubbins fitted and set up?

 

I've not added it all up yet but roughly speaking:

 

Ask me next time you see me and I will do it.

I remember a Fit your PRM meet at kelvin's bbq meet, when i fitted about 4 sets for people with big hands!!

You dont need to remove anything - except pull back the plastic from the inner wheel arch