Don't really understand gear ratios. Could someone throw me a little explanation? Everyone wants to get higher rations, 4.10:1, but why do Corvettes have a low ratio (something like 2.7:1)?
Is the ratio the number of times the fly-wheel (or crank-shaft, don't know my parts well) moves in comparison to the back wheels?

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2000 Silver Lightning
#2798 of 4966
Born on date: May 9, 2000
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The ratio number is ration of number of times the pinion gear (the one the the driveshaft attaches to)will rotate for every revolution of the ring gear (the one that the axles attach to). So if you have a 3.55 rear end ratio, that means that the pinion gear will turn 3.55 revs every time the ring gear goes around once. As a general rule, the higher the number, the quicker the vehicle will accelerate off the line, but you lose top end mph. The lower the number, the more top end speed the vehcile can reach, but acceleration suffers. Corvettes have low ratios, that's one reason they can do 170mph. Put a set of 4.10s in a Vette, and the top speed will drop to about 150, but it will get off the line quicker. The higher the number, the quicker the motor will rev. That is why it's not a good choice to run 4.10s in these trucks, because peak torque is down low in the rpm band, and steeper gears rev you out of it too fast. Put 4.10s in a Lightning with a converter and 26" tires, and watch the truck get slower . Some here have already had that problem, and switched back to 3.55s or 3.73s. But guys with stock converters seem to not lose much ET; it all depends on your combination. Hope this helps.

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Sort of, it is the turning ratio of differential input shaft to output shaft(s). If you replace your wheels with smaller ones, you will get a higher ratio and more force at the road to accelerate the vehicle.

For greater acceleration you need a numerically higher ratio. The ratio you want also depends on the torque of the engine, the weight of the vehicle, the number of gears in your gearbox and the purpose of the vehicle.

 

Interesting. Thanks for your help.