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Racescort
07-18-2002, 07:31 AM
Im trying to get an idea of what tranny you guys running the Escort GTs are using? I have a 90 GT Im using the stock trans and it seems to lack in some areas. Can you tell me what trans to use, or should I find a different final gear?

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Doug
ITB Escort
[email protected]

joeg
07-18-2002, 09:29 AM
Doug--Contact Jon Ricker as he swapped a final gear and is real happy with it (along with the Quaiffe).

jericker
07-18-2002, 07:18 PM
Originally posted by joeg:
Doug--Contact Jon Ricker as he swapped a final gear and is real happy with it (along with the Quaiffe).


Doug, I swapped initially to a 3.31 final drive with a welded diff. The top end was great because I could use 3rd gear almost all the way around the track but couldn't pull out of corners well. I have since switched to a 3.54 with a modified Quaife LSD and find it to be muuuuuucccccccchhhhhhhhh better. I can pull out of corners better and still have plenty of 4th gear left at the end of straights. I don't want to use 5th gear in our trannys because the throw is so far and the .71:1 ratio just flat sucks. The 3.73 stock final drive would be okay but might be a problem at the end of straights by running out of 4th gear. Does that give you anything to go by? later, Jon

Racescort
07-19-2002, 03:24 AM
My 90 has the 3:73 gear. How do you think this gear would do with a welded diff. I cannot aford a Quaife so this would be the choice I have to take. I am only racing at Waterford right now (except I hope to go to Mid Ohio for WOR games)and I still have plenty of 4th gear at the end of the straight. What performance improvements did you find with the welded diff. in your Escort?

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Doug
ITB Escort
[email protected]

jericker
07-19-2002, 11:09 PM
Originally posted by Racescort:
My 90 has the 3:73 gear. How do you think this gear would do with a welded diff. I cannot aford a Quaife so this would be the choice I have to take. I am only racing at Waterford right now (except I hope to go to Mid Ohio for WOR games)and I still have plenty of 4th gear at the end of the straight. What performance improvements did you find with the welded diff. in your Escort?

Doug, from what I understand Waterford is a much tighter track than anything I run on (Mid Ohio, Nelson and IRP among others)with shorter straights so I don't know for sure on the 4th gear issue. Also as you get faster with more confidence in the car and yourself, you will be taking corners faster thus straights faster. As far as the welded diff, I would do it in a heart beat over an open diff but I would begin to save your pennies for the Quaiffe because there is nothing better than that. The welded diff will give you much better corner speeds and more importantly more exit speed from those corners. You will also build very big forearm muscles while trying to turn the car with a welded diff. The only issue with the welded diff is to make sure that you watch the front bearings. I usually changed them over the winter and had no problems with them. I know that some people have been complaining about the front bearings but I have been racing this car for 5 years now and have never had a single problem with fronts. Had one rear go bad but that was my preparation fault (read as I forgot!). Good luck and hope to see you at the WOR games. Jon

Racescort
07-25-2002, 06:48 AM
Jon, Thanks for the info. I just can't seem to get enough.


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Doug
ITB Escort
[email protected]

Racescort
08-10-2002, 03:28 AM
MAN! You ain't kiddin about how hard to turn it is with the diff. welded. I put my power steering back on. It works great. Now I can't wait to try it at the track.

Give me some ideas of what to expect the car to act like under braking, accelerating, when letting of the gas at high speed and ect....

Thanks

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Doug
ITB Escort
[email protected]