Final Drive Question
#1
Final Drive Question
So, the road race car, has an F23 transmission in it with the 3.84 Final Drive. Would it be worth swapping the gears from an XFE (Final Drive 3.63) Into it to try and help the car at the track? Looking to try and get more MPH out of her. Top Speed is only really an issue at Fontana and Willow Springs, but would like to run faster at Buttonwillow to.
Or am I looking at this totally backwards?
Or am I looking at this totally backwards?
#5
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
to me if your only using 4 gears id be going the other way with the ratio, id be trying to put an f35 in with a 4.05 or 4.45. ideally on the longest straight you run on you should be just hitting the limiter in high gear just before you brake.
#10
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
swapping to a numerically higher final drive will help the car out of the corners and allow you to use 5th gear. another option would be swapping 5th gear so its not as steep. iirc the saturn vue with 2.2l used the f23 and a shorter final drive ratio, however im not sure what it is. i think all f23s use the same 1-5th gear ratios, so a factory 5th gear swap isnt an option, would have to be something custom.
another option is to make more power. im not familiar with your engine setup (i know its n/a) however you might consider doing some things to move the power curve up. imo, stiffer valve springs are a must, if the engine is stock id bet those springs are bagged by this point. ive seen as much as 30 whp gains on a mild ls engines just by changing valve springs. consider a balance shaft delete, even some different cams. if you can raise the max rpm you can push the car a little farther in 4th gear, and if you can make more power higher up you may be able to pull the 5th gear thats in it.
#11
Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
i did some looking on the f23 gear ratios, looks like you actually have some choices.
final drive
cavalier/sunfire/grand am/alero- 3.94
cobalt/g5/pursuit/ion- 3.84
cobalt xfe- 3.63
05-08 hhr- 4.17
09-11 hhr- 3.95
04-07 saturn vue- 4.41
all the 1-4 ratios are the same (3.58, 2.02, 1.35, .98). there are in fact 2 5th gear ratios, all but the saturn vue run a .69 5th gear, the saturn vue uses a .81 5th gear.
its possible all your troubles could be fixed by putting the .81 5th gear in. .69 is a hell of a steep ratio to pull, it doesnt surprise me that it just wont pull in 5th.
for a race car, id be sticking that .81 5th into it no matter what you do. i cant see ever needing a .69 5th gear, and the 4th to 5th jump will be a lot less. i would however spend a bunch of time with a gear ratio calculator. figure out your target top speed and select a final drive ratio based on that.
final drive
cavalier/sunfire/grand am/alero- 3.94
cobalt/g5/pursuit/ion- 3.84
cobalt xfe- 3.63
05-08 hhr- 4.17
09-11 hhr- 3.95
04-07 saturn vue- 4.41
all the 1-4 ratios are the same (3.58, 2.02, 1.35, .98). there are in fact 2 5th gear ratios, all but the saturn vue run a .69 5th gear, the saturn vue uses a .81 5th gear.
its possible all your troubles could be fixed by putting the .81 5th gear in. .69 is a hell of a steep ratio to pull, it doesnt surprise me that it just wont pull in 5th.
for a race car, id be sticking that .81 5th into it no matter what you do. i cant see ever needing a .69 5th gear, and the 4th to 5th jump will be a lot less. i would however spend a bunch of time with a gear ratio calculator. figure out your target top speed and select a final drive ratio based on that.
#14
i did some looking on the f23 gear ratios, looks like you actually have some choices.
final drive
cavalier/sunfire/grand am/alero- 3.94
cobalt/g5/pursuit/ion- 3.84
cobalt xfe- 3.63
05-08 hhr- 4.17
09-11 hhr- 3.95
04-07 saturn vue- 4.41
all the 1-4 ratios are the same (3.58, 2.02, 1.35, .98). there are in fact 2 5th gear ratios, all but the saturn vue run a .69 5th gear, the saturn vue uses a .81 5th gear.
its possible all your troubles could be fixed by putting the .81 5th gear in. .69 is a hell of a steep ratio to pull, it doesnt surprise me that it just wont pull in 5th.
for a race car, id be sticking that .81 5th into it no matter what you do. i cant see ever needing a .69 5th gear, and the 4th to 5th jump will be a lot less. i would however spend a bunch of time with a gear ratio calculator. figure out your target top speed and select a final drive ratio based on that.
final drive
cavalier/sunfire/grand am/alero- 3.94
cobalt/g5/pursuit/ion- 3.84
cobalt xfe- 3.63
05-08 hhr- 4.17
09-11 hhr- 3.95
04-07 saturn vue- 4.41
all the 1-4 ratios are the same (3.58, 2.02, 1.35, .98). there are in fact 2 5th gear ratios, all but the saturn vue run a .69 5th gear, the saturn vue uses a .81 5th gear.
its possible all your troubles could be fixed by putting the .81 5th gear in. .69 is a hell of a steep ratio to pull, it doesnt surprise me that it just wont pull in 5th.
for a race car, id be sticking that .81 5th into it no matter what you do. i cant see ever needing a .69 5th gear, and the 4th to 5th jump will be a lot less. i would however spend a bunch of time with a gear ratio calculator. figure out your target top speed and select a final drive ratio based on that.
(Had to comment so I could easily find this thread later if needed)
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