Change In Gearing

[HONDADDICT]

I Have Read That Some Owners Are Changing The Final Drive Ratio To 4.56 Or 4.44, Etc. This, Of Course, Is Done To Improve Low End Power, But At The Expense Of Higher Rev's In Fifth/sixth Gear. I'm Sure The Car Is Quicker 0-60 And 1/4 Mile, But Is It Worth The Trade Off Up Top? Any Idea As To How Many Rpm's You Would Be Adding In The Taller Gears? Anyone Know Of Any Mod Like This.

[gomarlins3]

I have the 4.77's. I like them a lot. I looked at it this way, when am I EVER going to go for the top end speed? Ummmm, never. When am I going to want to get into VTEC quickly? MUCH more often. As for cruising speed/ RPM's, I am at about 4500 RPM's at 65 miles per hour, maybe a little higher. I never really pay much attention. If you want to see what the changing of rear gears will do to your RPM's and top speed in each gear, look here:
Turn Zero Technical Resources :: Gear Calculator

[HONDADDICT]

Thanks For The Info Gomarlin. I Assume The Vtech Point Changes As Well. What's Your Guess As To When The Changeover To Vtec Occurs.
I Know This Is Difficult To Determine, But How Much Faster Does Your Car Feel To You. Thanks Again. You've Been Very Helpful.

[gomarlins3]

The changing of gears has no effect on the VTEC engagement point. The gears go into the read diff.

I have not done any tests to see the changes in time it takes to get to 60 before and after the gears, sorry.

[spa01s2k]

Originally Posted by gomarlins3

IAs for cruising speed/ RPM's, I am at about 4500 RPM's at 65 miles per hour, maybe a little higher.

WOW. I'm at about 3800 RPM at 70 miles per hour with stock gearing.

[HONDADDICT]

Spa01

I Guess I'm Pretty Close To That Same Rpm In 6th Gear As Well. Given Gomarlins 4500 Rpm's At The Same Speed, I Would Agree "wow". It Doesn't Seem To Be Worth It, But I Do Know Of Several S2k Tuners Who Have Done The Very Same Thing And Are Pleased W Their Improved Performance. Wouldn't You Think Honda Would Have Used Different Gearing If It Improved Performance To Any Measureable Degree. Just Food For Thought.

[s2000isu]

nope because people want a car that can still be driven at highway speeds without screaming

[spa01s2k]

Originally Posted by s2000isu

nope because people want a car that can still be driven at highway speeds without screaming

I use my S2000 for a lot of road trips, I don't want to be cruising at 80 miles per hour at 5000+RPM all day (not to mention the worse gas mileage). Granted the "extra performance" would be fun for spirited runs in the hills, but its not worth it to me. The S2000 has great performance with or without higher gears.

[HONDADDICT]

Originally Posted by s2000isu

nope because people want a car that can still be driven at highway speeds without screaming

s2000isu
you misunderstand what i was trying to say. stock gearing is 4.1 and if you
raise that number with a diff gear set that is higher, then the result would be higher rpm's at the same speed. i also agree & don't want to be screaming at 70 miles per hour on the freeway at 4500+rpm's. although this is not my favorite type of driving, occasionally i have to drive on the freeways.

[s2000isu]

Im not exactly sure what I misunderstood? "Wouldn't You Think Honda Would Have Used Different Gearing If It Improved Performance To Any Measureable Degree" and I said no because people wouldnt want a car that screams at highway speeds. It is a car meant for driving around not strictly for race.

[gomarlins3]

Originally Posted by spa01s2k

I use my S2000 for a lot of road trips, I don't want to be cruising at 80 miles per hour at 5000+RPM all day (not to mention the worse gas mileage).

My gas milage hasn't changed on bit on the highway.

[s2000isu]

well you dont get rpm's for free so more gas is being used it just might not be that noticeable.

[spa01s2k]

Originally Posted by gomarlins3

My gas milage hasn't changed on bit on the highway.

Hmmm.... Thats weird. I'll have to agree with s2000isu, must not be that noticeable change in gas mileage. Revs aren't free, it would be like cruising in 5th instead of 6th for road trips. Just doesn't seem that would make equal gas mileage.

[gomarlins3]

Before gears I was getting between 24 and 26 miles per gallon. After gears I still get between 24 and 26 MPG.

[Java Junky]

Yeah, I'm guessin' that mother Honda had 'er boys doin' their homework on this aspect of the car's driveability too. While some of us may think it worth the change to the gearin' to provide a little more low-end grunt (that we all admit is lacking) to hamstring the car like that while it sits on the showroom floor wouldn't help sell it for most buyers.
Read the posts. Truth be told, probably a full half of the ones regardin' "top speed" are kids that may have computers but no licenses yet, but there would be a definite chink in li'l Stewie's armor if, durin' magazine road tests, n' with it's engine screamin', the high 120s r' low 130s would be the best Stewie could muster.
Over the years n' on different cars, I noticed that, after gear changes, when on the highway I'd settle in more to what the engine sounded like, rather than a specific speed. If I hadda go quicker I'd bring 'er up, but for the most part, I guess I travelled a bit more slowly out'a consideration for the engine.
Be well.
Java

[gomarlins3]

UPDATE: I did some driving today and paid more attention to my RPM's at certain speeds.

65 miles per hour= 4200 RPM's
70 miles per hour= 4500 RPM's

[HONDADDICT]

i guess i am agreeing with you. i am not advocating changing the gearing, nor do i think honda should have either. the stock gearing, at least for me, is fine.