Auto Racing: 1992 Eagle Talon - Gear Ratio, asphalt track, mile asphalt

Question
Dan,

I started racing last year on a 4/10 mile asphalt track.  My 92 Talon (Front Wheel Drive - Manual transmission) is quick, but I'm at the top of 2nd gear coming out of the corners and 3rd just doesn't give me the torque I need.  Is there a way to adjust the gear ratios, possibly use another transmission (someone said a Galant may work, but I have no idea how to tell) to rectify the situation?  Another driver told me I needed something around 7.2 to 1, after multiplying the gear by the final ratio.  I'm new to this, so I don't know exactly what that means, so I thought I'd ask the expert for help.  

Can you make any suggestions on how to make this car come out of the corner faster?  

Answer
Hi Dave:

It sounds like you need a  lower gear (higher number) gear ratio for your third gear.  The Mitsubischi dealer  can give you the gear ratios in the Galant gearbox, then you have to find out what the ratios are in your Eagle tranny and compare.

The numbers I'm about to give here are for example only and you won't find them in any manual.

If you find that your current tranny has a third gear ratio of 1.4 to 1, and the Galant gearbox has a third gear ratio of 1.5 to 1, then that will give you more grunt off the corner.  Check though to see the ratio comparison in second gear too, because you could lose some acceleration down the straight.  The point being that you are looking for a gearbos with  HIGHER number in third, to obtain what we call a "lower" gear.

Your final drive ratio can be calculated by multiplying the differential (or final drive)  ratio times the internal ratio of the third gear in this case.   So if the car comes with a 3.47 to 1 final drive  or "rear end" ratio, that multiplied by my imaginary 1.5 to 1 of the Galant tranny will five you a final drive ratio in third gear of 5.205 to 1 which is much too high.  But it's probably my guessing at the two gears involved.

 It's always a compromise when trying to race with street equipment.  Grocery getters like your Eagle have pretty broad steps in the gearbox, to get them started, and then into a much higher gear on the street to save fuel. It s a complicated question and I have tried to simplify it for you. Let me know if I was successful.  

Dan Liddy
Sarasota , Florida