Just curious...

So here's my question...
How much more horsepower/torque does it take for a car with 3.42's to out-accelerate a car with 4.10's?

Here's why I ask...
I was out with my friend last night. We were in his 06 Mustang GT and it was my first time since he got his 4.10 gears installed. I just wanted to see if there was a difference, and there was. Definately pulled harder. Anyways, we were cruising around a little after midnight when we get passed by an LS1 Z28 with an old man driving. We pull up to a red light and I ask the guy if he had anything done to the LS1, and all he said was "Yeah" and turned away. I couldn't tell what he had, it was a sleeper...he was running stock exhaust and it was so quiet. So, the light turns green and the Z28 rolls about a car ahead of us, then they both hit it at the same time. My friend spun a little, but the Z stayed up with that 1 car length and then pulled another half before we shut down.
Obviously, 4.10's have a mechanical advantage over 3.42's, which leads to my question. My friend's GT is a 5sp and I couldn't tell what the Z was, or even if it had gears also, but assuming it was a 6sp with 3.42's, how much more hp/tq would he have to produce to outrun 4.10's out of the hole? I think the Z had to have had a cam, because it was quiet and still had the stock catback, must have had other bolt-ons too.
Note: My friend's GT has a dyno-tuned ~320 RWHP on a mustang dyno...just for numbers sake.
Thanks, and sorry for the long post.

ALL ELSE BEING EQUAL, the only difference being the rear in both cars... I have no idea about the HP / torque required, but weight would play a significant role too, I would imagine. I would also think that if everything was close, it would have to do more with RPM's than HP/Tq. If the rpms, weight, hp-tq, gear ratios, etc (everything) was the same, wouldn't they both do the same thing? So maybe the other guy had it in a better RPM range or something?

Also, I used to have a Gibson exhaust on my Z71. Although it did give the exhasut a deeper, more aggressive tone, it wasn't loud at all. He may have had an exhaust system on it that just wasn't loud.

but arent mustangs lighter than our cars??

I thought so... which either makes his buddy a really shitty driver or that other guy's maro one total badass bitch!

well not to start any shit......but hell, the ls1 is god right lol.... what gt u know that can get up on one with just gears done to it.....good upgrade, but it can only do but so much....

If the Z was a 6 speed that in itself could be enough to make it quicker...steeper 1st gear and closer ratios. If it was an auto....sorry, no way your friend could hope to compete in the shifting dept.
And I believe the new GT's are heavier than the 4th gens or very close to the same weight.
I would think 50-75 more RWHP should be enough for a 3.42 rear to keep up with a 4.10...not out of the hole, but once rolling things would even up

mustang never beats camaro!!!! lmao:grinno:

Well, I assume the Z28 had a stock catback at least, because he still had the stock rear pipes and tips. He could have swapped out the muffler, but I couldn't tell. Definately a sleeper.
But anyways, my friend also has longtubes, highflow crossover pipe, side exhaust, a ram air intake, 4.10's, and obviously, the tune.
But besides the car lead before he took off, the Z only pulled maybe, another half car or so. So, I think it was a pretty even race. And yes, my friend isn't the best driver yet, but he's not bad, still learning.
And yes, yes, you can hound on him for driving a stang. I like it though, looks damn good (w/ body kit and shit...I had pics of it awhile ago).

im pretty sure the new mustangs arent light like the previous years. Its hard to say how much power between the gear differences because with the 4.10s on the street you need a good tire if you want to hook. So they can help and they can hurt.

and aside from that I can beat a new gt stang in my car so they dont have much going for them in stock form at least.