[T_Raven]

I wouldn't exactly say it's lazy to have a typical 5 speed gear set with an extra over drive, or that it's a band-aid fix to run a deeper rear gear. What you're looking for sounds like a 5 speed with an extra 1st gear. That's kinda the same thing as a 5 speed with an extra OD lol. Tire size, axle gears, and transmission gears all effect RPM in a certain gear and that's really what matters.

For example. If you have 4.10s in a 4th gen F body, which I do and a lot of 4th gen guys do, your final ratio in each gear would look like this:



2.66, 1.78, 1.3, 1.0, .74, .5 (T56)

10.9, 7.2, 5.33, 4.1, 3.03, 2.02 (with 4.10 rear)

So with the V161, if you wanted the same ratio in 6th gear, you'd need a 2.5:1 rear. If you wanted the same ratio in 1st, you'd need a 2.93:1 rear. Those 2 transmissions have really deep 1st gears. Gear sets are weaker when the gear size differences are bigger. That's one reason transmissions with deep 1st gears are rated for less hp/tq.


3.72, 2.25, 1.54, 1.21, 1.0, .82 (V161)

9.38, 5.63, 3.85, 3.03, 2.5, 2.02 (2.5 rear)

10.9, 6.6, 5.4, 3.55, 2.93, 2.4 (2.93 rear)

That trans has a bigger drop from 1st to 2nd and the rest of the gears are closer than a t56. 1st gear in both of the Getrags is way deep. You'd never use it without having super tall gears like what I have laid out.

I guess it all just depends on what gear spread you want, what RPM range you plan to use the car in, and what final ratios you want in 1st or 6th.