IS - 3rd Gen (2014-present) Discussion about the 2014+ model IS models

IS350 gears

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Old Apr 17, 2014 | 06:10 PM
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AZCOSIS350's Avatar
AZCOSIS350
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Default IS350 gears

I read that the final drive ratio in the IS350 rear wheel drive is 3.133. Is there a rear diff. that can change this to improve performance? I had Ford racing 3.73 gears installed in an old Mustang GT and it felt like a 30-40hp increase.
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Old Apr 18, 2014 | 07:44 AM
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Older cars needed high gear ratios in the rear end for performance because you usually only had 3 or four gears to work with. With 6 or 8 gears, you can run a numerically lower gear ratio at the rear end.

I had a '67 Camaro with 3.08 gears and a 4-speed, it was a bit pokey off the line but after that it took off and I could pull off 25 mpg on the highway if I was really good (I had the carburetor set very lean). A friend had the same car with 3.73's and the engine was spinning over 3,000 rpm at 60 mph.
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Old Apr 18, 2014 | 04:52 PM
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Thanks for the reply! Just a thought as look to move down the road a little faster.
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Old Apr 18, 2014 | 05:11 PM
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Originally Posted by redcupr
Older cars needed high gear ratios in the rear end for performance because you usually only had 3 or four gears to work with. With 6 or 8 gears, you can run a numerically lower gear ratio at the rear end.

I had a '67 Camaro with 3.08 gears and a 4-speed, it was a bit pokey off the line but after that it took off and I could pull off 25 mpg on the highway if I was really good (I had the carburetor set very lean). A friend had the same car with 3.73's and the engine was spinning over 3,000 rpm at 60 mph.
The old man here again .

In 1969, I had a NEW Dodge Super Bee, daily driver, weekend drag racer, with 4.56 gears! OUCH on gas, but WOW! on the 1/4 mile!
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