4.77 gear for 1.8 miata?

[pitbull113]

I can get a good deal on a 4.77 ring and pinion for my '94 miata and was wondering if it's too much gear. The car isn't done yet so I have no idea what rpms I'll be turning with the 4.1 so I have no info to help make this decision.I mostly run at daytona,sebring and roebling. Thanks in advance.

[RacerBowie]

Would almost certainly be too much gear for Daytona and Roebling. Don't know about Sebring.

Clarification: While you won't run out of 5th gear at Roebling, a short final drive makes you shift more, and in more awkward places there. I slowed down by over a second when I tried my 4.88 there, versus my 4.30 in my 1.6 Miata. I think a 4.1 would be GREAT at Roebling.

[pitbull113]

Would almost certainly be too much gear for Daytona and Roebling. Don't know about Sebring.

Clarification: While you won't run out of 5th gear at Roebling, a short final drive makes you shift more, and in more awkward places there. I slowed down by over a second when I tried my 4.88 there, versus my 4.30 in my 1.6 Miata. I think a 4.1 would be GREAT at Roebling.

Thanks for the info, I guess I will stick with the 4.1 for now.

[mazdagt3]

Would almost certainly be too much gear for Daytona and Roebling. Don't know about Sebring.

Clarification: While you won't run out of 5th gear at Roebling, a short final drive makes you shift more, and in more awkward places there. I slowed down by over a second when I tried my 4.88 there, versus my 4.30 in my 1.6 Miata. I think a 4.1 would be GREAT at Roebling.

agreed... the 4:77 (s2000?????) and/or 4:88 are way too much for a 1.8. my car uses a 4:30 that's good at MOST tracks.

the biggest thing you need to consider is just how much extra gear you need out of a given corner. for example my 4:30 works fine for exiting most corners. i never find myself shifting in awkward places yet some tracks i could use a BIT steeper gear but in only one corner or two. is the change worth it? to go to a 4:44 would make sense but to jump to a 4:88 is a day and night difference.

most guys who used to run rotarys make the assumption that you use as steep of a gear as possible, since you'll be revving the ever living daylights out of the motor. not in a 1.8 miata.

suggestion. try a 4:30. since last year of using the 4:10 i've noticed a big difference and since it's an oem ratio in the 99+ cars, you can get center sections all ready set up with the torsen limited slip.

check our link and we'll see what we can do for you.

[pitbull113]

agreed... the 4:77 (s2000?????) and/or 4:88 are way too much for a 1.8. my car uses a 4:30 that's good at MOST tracks.

the biggest thing you need to consider is just how much extra gear you need out of a given corner. for example my 4:30 works fine for exiting most corners. i never find myself shifting in awkward places yet some tracks i could use a BIT steeper gear but in only one corner or two. is the change worth it? to go to a 4:44 would make sense but to jump to a 4:88 is a day and night difference.

most guys who used to run rotarys make the assumption that you use as steep of a gear as possible, since you'll be revving the ever living daylights out of the motor. not in a 1.8 miata.

suggestion. try a 4:30. since last year of using the 4:10 i've noticed a big difference and since it's an oem ratio in the 99+ cars, you can get center sections all ready set up with the torsen limited slip.

check our link and we'll see what we can do for you.

Thanks 4.3 was my other choice.

[ITABoy]

agreed... the 4:77 (s2000?????) and/or 4:88 are way too much for a 1.8. my car uses a 4:30 that's good at MOST tracks.

<snip>

suggestion. try a 4:30. since last year of using the 4:10 i've noticed a big difference and since it's an oem ratio in the 99+ cars, you can get center sections all ready set up with the torsen limited slip.

I too was wondering about this approach. I think it is a good possibility, but I have one reservation. I've never race a Torsion, but I've heard it said that if one pounds a curb and loses traction on an inside rear tire, then the Torsion will break lock and not recover until the torque on that wheel drops. Any experience or opinion on that question?

[madrabbit15]

After racing a 1.8 SM for two years I can say with much certainty that a 4.1 is not optimal on any of our tracks here in the SE. You want at aleast a 4.3 on any of the tracks we race in the SE I would think. You would want to go to a 4.77 at RA as it is straight drag race out of turn 7. Maybe even the same at VIR because of Oak Tree.

I agree with Bowie that with Roeblings long sweeping corners where you have to be smooth, you probably want a taller gear, but I still think that 4.1 is a little too tall. I have raced against a similarly prepped 1.8 with a 4.3 and the difference was noticable.

[pitbull113]

Thanks for all the input guys. I guess I'm searching for a 4.3 r&p.