Whats better a wide ratio or close ratio

A friend and I were talking the other day and wondered which was better for drag racing.A wide ratio or close ratio 4 speed.And why?

A friend and I were talking the other day and wondered which was better for drag racing.A wide ratio or close ratio 4 speed.And why?

Wide.

Cos a close has too high a first gear to get a good launch - and a 4:11 rear (or bigger) makes it seem like the gearbox is even more close ratios, you could get by with only three of the gears.

Close ratio can be better for an engine that does not have lots of torque below high rpms. Keep the gear spread closer together and gear it low for the launch. Wide ratio for a torque engine. Doesn't need as low a gear and doesn't mind the spread between gears as much. That's for the track. On the street with a street ratio rear gear, a wide ratio for the high rpm engine, makes it easier to cope with (as in boss302).

Thanks guys,so if your running a big block with a wide flat torque curve the wide ratio would be better?

Just depends on the torque curve, weight of the car, tire size, rear ratio, etc.... Might help, might not.

disregarding all other variables, a close ratio g/box can help keep your motor in its RPM/TORQUE curve, this is very usefull with small cube high RPM/LOW TORQUE motors as it reduces RPM change's between shift's. a big cube motor can usualy ??? get over g/shift ratio's by having a lot of TORQUE.

I have run both in the same car and with the car geared to tach out in 4th at the end of the 1/4(4.56), i could not get a clutch to last with the close ratio and slicks.
450HP
3400#
It seems to me you need about a 12:1 start ratio to get it to survive in a 3k plus street type car.
2.78 x 4.56 = 12.67
.ron

Close ratio doesnt work worth a dam unless you race to see how fast you can go in first. I have ran a close ratio and either you bog the motor or you burn the tires off. Most superstock racers like to see between 12.5 and 14.1 ratio with the rear gear. And with 4.3 gears I had 10.1 which didnt work all that well, with a 2.78 first with the same rear gear it would be 12.1 which would be significantly better. Dont get into the rpm drop crap because the biggest deal in drag racing is getting the car out of the hole, .1 in first 60 ft is worth probably .3 at the other end!!!

Thanks guy's I always wondered about that I never had both trans. to try it out.