Gearing helps explain the top speed, as well. More specifically, power at RPMs is what I mean. For instance, some cars with tall gears can't reach top speed in their highest gear because the RPMs are too low and the engine doesn't have enough power to reach top speed. This was true of my old VR-4 with a 5 speed transmission. The car could only reach top speed in fourth gear. Fifth was just slightly too tall.

The other factor is aerodynamic drag. The more drag the car develops at speed, the more power it takes to overcome it. I don't know the Cd's of any of the comparison cars, but they might be better than the Z's.

Tires may actually be a factor, too, I'd think. The contact patches and rolling masses must be factors involved.

What about the unsprung weight of the tires, wheels, brakes, etc?

Then there's the issue of electronic governors...

-Just some thoughts

 

couldnt we just in theory put a new gears in the differential to accelerate faster? I think the first company to come out with new gearing for the 350Z rear end would sell a lot of it. I know that on the integra type R, LOTS of guys were putting in JDM ITR final drives and ATS final drives which was like a 4.9:1 ratio or something crazy. I know all the domestic guys are always putting new gears into their diffs and making their cars accelerate faster.

 

the thing is the Z is already geared pretty agressively from the factory. Most domestics are NOT geared agressively. A more agressive rear end on the Z would make it accelerate slightly quicker, but the reduction in fuel economy probably wouldn't make it worth it. Just add more power...

 

uhhh, i dont think a 3.53 rear end ratio is very aggressive which is supposedly what the Z has. 3.74 would be pretty good IMO and wouldnt kill your gas mileage, maybe even 4.10 or something like that

 

I'm talking about overall gearing...not just the rear end....

 

and what i was saying is getting a new rear end gear set would help make it quicker easily.

 

That's why I said in a previous post that the additional acceleration (if any, because first gear traction will really become an issue with an even higher rear end ratio) would be so minimal that it wouldn't be worth it.

The reason a new rear end ratio is so popular with the domestics is that their stock rear ends don't match the gearing of their trasmissions very well at all. Ours already matches the trans pretty damn well, so a gear on our car wouldn't be worth it.

 

I have my stock 3.27's still, optional with auto in 93 since I swapped my car to 5spd. Going to 3.73's would be a pretty decent gain, say .2 in the 1/4. I would think it would be a gain in a Z also granted you can hook up. It is actually easier to get off the line with more gear in my car though. With say 3.73's, I could slip the clutch some and get a better 60ft where as now I have to launch at a measly 1200 rpms and just nail it. I either spin or bog with the gears I have. I could possibly get sub 2.0 60ft's with more gear. I guess it's hard to say until you try it!

 

I recently went to the Gimli Manitoba track racing school... nice tight course . two evenings on discussion of physics of racing. then two full days on the track. Cars included a modified viper, Porsche carrera 4Sx51, acura Nsx and my silver 350Z.. I was obviously whipped by the Porsche and the Viper (after he learnt how to get around the corners) BUT I AM PROUD to say I flashed past the NSX on the straight and managed to stay ahead on the very tight corners!!!!

Forget about the goddamn stats and RACE

 

I recently went to the Gimli Manitoba track racing school... nice tight course . two evenings on discussion of physics of racing. then two full days on the track. Cars included a modified viper, Porsche carrera 4Sx51, acura Nsx and my silver 350Z.. I was obviously whipped by the Porsche and the Viper (after he learnt how to get around the corners) BUT I AM PROUD to say I flashed past the NSX on the straight and managed to stay ahead on the very tight corners!!!!

Forget about the goddamn stats and RACE

 

A new rear end wouldnt necessarily make it quicker. Traction becomes a issue when you change to a different rear end and top speed will also go down.

 

thank you...finally someone else who realizes that a new rear end ratio isn't always a good idea...

 

be proud of YOURSELF, and NOT the car, an NSX will KILL a Z on a road course (equal drivers of course), I wish I could say otherwise, BUT I can't

 

Yeah no kidding. You said an Escalade can beat the Z in the quarter. Time to put down the joint and join us in the real world.

 

no one has done it yet on this car, no one will know if its a good idea or not until someone does.

 

No, he's absolutely right. It isn't always the best idea. Sure it might be great for auto-x, but it does DEFINITELY lower the top speed if you increase the final drive ratio. It also makes your engine rev higher. I had the JDM final drive gear in my ITR. It was a little "quicker", but not to 60 mph unless you're powershifting because you can't get to 60 in 2nd gear anymore. That extra shift negated pretty much all of the straight line accelration benefits. Maybe if you're a great driver you'll see a couple of tenths. The Z can make it to 60 mph in 2nd, but not by much. Will it make it with a higher final drive ratio?

And it wasn't pleasant cruising down the highway at 5500-6000 rpm every day. Anyone who has had an ITR knows that your ears will bleed after a while at those revs. That won't be much of a concern in the Z though, since we have 6 gears but I thought I'd throw that one in there too. Cheers.

Dan

 

What is so magical about 60mph?

As far as rear gears are concerned.....on a 350Z they are already geared aggressively from the factory and probably wouldn't help much......but on a car like a 6 spd ls1 where first gear goes to 52 mph gears can help BIG time.

The most gear available isn't always the best...

 

Absolutely nothing is magical about 60 miles per hour. Except for the fact that I was making the point that more agressive gearing will not necessarily make the car quicker 0-60 due to the fact that you have to shift twice.

That is why a higher final drive will not always be a good thing for the Z.

 

Agreed