3.46:1 ya or na

[Mike B.]

Another vote for the 3.46. Very nice ratio for a dual purpose street/track car.

[BeirBrennerE30]

Well, not everybody has a 6 speed. :D

In the 6speed the first 5 gears are the same as you would find in the e36 5 speed box. The overdrive 6th is only a tacked on overdrive gear over the first 5(the e46 6speed is essentially a mkIV supra box so it is much stronger than the standard 5speed but the gears are the same ratio as the e36 5speed). I only use 6th gear for higher speed highway cruising(80+mph). All while still haveing a top speed of 180+ish(never really tried it). A lot of poeple are concered with top speed when they pick gear ratios but seriously how often do you go over 160? Can an e30 even be aerodynamically stable at that speed given that it's a brick? IMHO pick a ratio that maxes out your cars performance with a reasonable top speed. I mean you are swapping engines for more power and better acceleration right... why skimp on the gearing especially when that is what determines for the most part how fast the car will accelerate for a given power output.

not to mention thats its fun being able to hit the gas in 1-3 gears and pop the car out sideways

[FredK]

IMHO pick a ratio that maxes out your cars performance with a reasonable top speed.

Yeah I forgot the gear ratios are identical 1-5 on the G420 and the ZF320.

I like the idea of maxing out the performance, but really, on the flip side of it all, I'd like to avoid running around 4400 rpm while cruising at 80. With an overdriven 6th, you're probably turning around 3600 rpm.

[ericzz]

I have the 325 in and enjoy it . I also nopw have in my shop a nice 346 I can swap them in under an hour so like someone said give it a shot ! I may do so this weekend . I am at 3k at 60 now .I am unclear if my tach is 100% but I think it is close .

[1990m3]

Just for the record I turn about 3700-3800 at 80mph. I guess I'm used to 4-cylinder cars, but I didn't think the revs were that bad really

[So Live]

Weird. The gear boxes dont have different ratios depending on what cars they came out of do they? Mines outta a 99 328 (e46). I just ask cause im spinning 3k at 60 with a 3.73

[Mike B.]

I have the 325 in and enjoy it . I also nopw have in my shop a nice 346 I can swap them in under an hour so like someone said give it a shot ! I may do so this weekend . I am at 3k at 60 now .I am unclear if my tach is 100% but I think it is close .

IIRC, you are running E30M3 wiring in your vert. If that is the case your tach isn't reading right even if you used a 6-cyl coding plug in your cluster. You need to get a tach adapter to get things to read spot on.

[ericzz]

IIRC, you are running E30M3 wiring in your vert. If that is the case your tach isn't reading right even if you used a 6-cyl coding plug in your cluster. You need to get a tach adapter to get things to read spot on.

I have a coding plug and a tach face from a 325i so I think I am dam close but I have to check it to be sure .

[Mike B.]

Oh, I thought you were running an M3 cluster.

[Funkmasta]

I have a 3.46 in my E30 and it FREAKING RIPS. I am running a Getrag 280...

[ericzz]

Oh, I thought you were running an M3 cluster.

I am running an m3 cluster but I swapped coding plugs and the tach face only left the tach assembly and just unscrewed the 325i 7k redline tach face in place . Do you think it is close ?

[BeirBrennerE30]

Yeah I forgot the gear ratios are identical 1-5 on the G420 and the ZF320.

I like the idea of maxing out the performance, but really, on the flip side of it all, I'd like to avoid running around 4400 rpm while cruising at 80. With an overdriven 6th, you're probably turning around 3600 rpm.

at 80mph in 6th gear(overdrive) with a 3.91 rear end i am at 3200ish rpm... i dont remember what the number is in 5th but ill check next time im in the car

[Mike B.]

I am running an m3 cluster but I swapped coding plugs and the tach face only left the tach assembly and just unscrewed the 325i 7k redline tach face in place . Do you think it is close ?

No, I don't think you tach is accurate. See this thread - http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...t=Tach+Adapter

[ericzz]

No, I don't think you tach is accurate. See this thread - http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...t=Tach+Adapter

Read this quote , this is what I have done
Small problem...

Since the car comes with a 8k tach and 4 cyl coding plug, it isn't going to read right (but you already know this).

So you need a 6 cyl coding plug, but problem is, bmw never made a 6 cyl coding plug for a 8k tach. If you put the 7k 6 cyl coding plug (325i) in it, at redline, which is 8k, the engine will really be at ~7k. You can switch the gauge face back to a 7k tach (thats no fun though) and it will be spot on.

My guess is that it is possible to retain the 8k redline, but would probably cost a pretty penny or two. If someelse knows more, chime in!

[matt]

Another vote for the 3.46. Very nice ratio for a dual purpose street/track car.

I agree. I have a 3.25 and I would like a little lower gear in a lot of situations. Places where 3rd is too low and 2nd is too high, like turns 5 and 7 at road atlanta, and slower autox courses where you won't top out a 60mph second gear.