Low 3 series gears for a 1st gen RX7? V8 FB content

So I got this to add to my 302 RX7 project collection.

85 GSL SE, it was converted to a 302 / T5. It still has the 302 longblock in it, and has the T5 crossmember, hydraulic clutch, and exhaust. I don't know what to do with it yet, but it may give its life to this one for a LeMons car.

In a perfect world I could get my hands on a 3.00 gearset for the gsl se rear end. What gear sets are out the that'll fit the RX7 rear end. I found rumors about a 3.30 miata gearset, but it costs more than I paid for either car and close to what I have in both of them. Also, it seems there is a 3.63 gear out there from an early 626. What are my options?

Use this as an excuse to upgrade the rear end, maybe a ford 8.8? I'm sure you can snag a set of 8.8 gears in that ratio range for damn near free.

I have a pile of 8.8s. If I go down that road (I might) I'd be very temped to put in a FC front subframe (which I also have) for the matching 5 on 4.5 bolt circle. I'm wondering if I can get where I want to be using the easier gsl se parts.

You aren't going to find a drop in with low 3 gears. Better off just swapping in an 8.8.

FB only came with 3.9 and 4.1 gearsets, some people have messed with a Korean front diff from a 4x4 which has 3.77 gears but I don;t think it is worth it.

Why do you want those gears, my GSL/GSL-SE hybrid FB RX7 rear with 3.9 LSD does fine with the long overdrive T5 with fifth at .67-1. This is yielding me around 26 mpg highway.

My 5.0 FB is making about 375 at the flywheel and the RX7 rear is doing just fine.

I seem to recall seeing that SA in a thread about roller painting.

You're mixed up on gears. The 3.63 is Australian 6-speed Miatas and the 3.3 was a diesel pickup that may or may not have ever existed.

http://www.solomiata.com/RingandPinion.html

People in the 60s drove 4.11 gears with no overdrive and big-blocks. You DO have overdrive and a weeny little small block. You'll live with 4.08s.

You are not going to find anything lower than the non-SE 3.9 with any ease or affordability. Our T-5 5.0 RX-7 would run about 130 at 5200 rpm with the 3.9 gears in the stock rear end and small 13" tires. With some 3.27 in an 8.8 we were running 143 around Daytona but it took FOREVER to get up there. A 3.73 or 3.55 would be better. The .67 is a big jump. We are now running a 3.9 rear end with some 2nd gen 15" and I like it quite a bit better.

If running Chump/Lemons I would upgrade to the 2nd gen front end or brakes anyhow. You can either throw in the whole subframe which presents some motor mounting challenges or adapt the 2nd gen brakes. We got a kit through Re-Speed who now is not a recommended vendor due to unfullfilled orders. Another company or possibly individual appears to be looking at filling the gap.

I would either run the SE stuff and compensate with some taller tires or switch it over the the 8.8 and 2nd gen brakes and put a 3.55 or 3.73 in the rear.

The 2nd-gen front suspension is a performance downgrade, IME. It's stronger but the handling is not as good. The handling can be helped with ball joint spacers to move the roll center back up, or you can install the subframe the hard way and notch the framerails an inch or so to get the subframe higher in the chassis.

We're getting in the high 130s at Texas World Speedway. In our past experience in fox body Fords with a 3.73 gear we'd top out 4th gear and not be able to pull in 5th. We went down to a 3.23 and top the car out in fourth. I've heard, but haven't confirmed that the 5th gear in a T5 isn't designed for extended high speed driving. Of course that could just be internet silliness.

I found this, 3.3 gears but don't know if it'll come to anything, or if the gearset will fit in the FB.

If it was a street car the 4.09 would be fine.