Question about shortened gears!

[Veetec]

Okay, I´ve got a bet with another german Honda owner: He said that if he would make one or two gears of his Civic shorter (3rd and 4th gear) it would accelerate faster and I think that´s logical and true. But he also said that you won´t lose topspeed with shortened gears and I´m pretty sure that you WILL lose topspeed! Who is right?? Please, I need some good help and maybe even a good and short explaination!
Thanx in advance!

PS: I´ve already posted this question in the Prelude and technical forum so don´t answer it twice!

[95hbMatt]

you'll actually increase your top speed if it's a DX and put in shorter gears like the ex or si.......here's a list i got from a guy....if you ever wanted to do like a hybrid tranny....

DX
1st----3.250---0000/6800---34.8mph
2nd---1.761---3685/6800---64.3mph
3rd----1.172---4526/6800---96.9mph
4th----0.909---5274/6800---124.5mph
5th----0.702---5251/6800---161.3mph
Final Drive---4.058
Si/EX/ZC
1st----3.250---0000/7200---35.2mph
2nd---1.900---4209/7200---60.2mph
3rd----1.250---4739/7200---91.6mph
4th----0.909---5236/7200---125.9mph
Choose your 5th
5th----0.702---5560/7200---163.0mph (EX coupe and EX sedan)
5th----0.750---5941/7200---152.6mph (SI HB and Del Sol SI)
5th----0.771---6107/7200---148.4mph (ZC)
Final Drive---4.250 (for the EX/SI, not sure what the ZC is)
Hybrid #1 using stock gears (CX 3rd for 4th)
1st----3.250---0000/7200---35.2mph
2nd---1.900---4209/7200---60.2mph
3rd----1.250---4739/7200---91.6mph
4th----1.066---6140/7200---107.3mph
5th----0.771---5207/7200---148.4mph
Hybrid #2 using ZC 3rd and 4th gears
1st----3.250---0000/7200---35.2mph
2nd---1.900---4209/7200---60.2mph
3rd----1.346---5101/7200---85.0mph
4th----1.033---5526/7200---110.7mph
5th----0.750---5228/7200---152.5mph

[Veetec]

Originally posted by 95hbMatt
you'll actually increase your top speed if it's a DX and put in shorter gears like the ex or si.......here's a list i got from a guy....if you ever wanted to do like a hybrid tranny....

DX
1st----3.250---0000/6800---34.8mph
2nd---1.761---3685/6800---64.3mph
3rd----1.172---4526/6800---96.9mph
4th----0.909---5274/6800---124.5mph
5th----0.702---5251/6800---161.3mph
Final Drive---4.058
Si/EX/ZC
1st----3.250---0000/7200---35.2mph
2nd---1.900---4209/7200---60.2mph
3rd----1.250---4739/7200---91.6mph
4th----0.909---5236/7200---125.9mph
Choose your 5th
5th----0.702---5560/7200---163.0mph (EX coupe and EX sedan)
5th----0.750---5941/7200---152.6mph (SI HB and Del Sol SI)
5th----0.771---6107/7200---148.4mph (ZC)
Final Drive---4.250 (for the EX/SI, not sure what the ZC is)
Hybrid #1 using stock gears (CX 3rd for 4th)
1st----3.250---0000/7200---35.2mph
2nd---1.900---4209/7200---60.2mph
3rd----1.250---4739/7200---91.6mph
4th----1.066---6140/7200---107.3mph
5th----0.771---5207/7200---148.4mph
Hybrid #2 using ZC 3rd and 4th gears
1st----3.250---0000/7200---35.2mph
2nd---1.900---4209/7200---60.2mph
3rd----1.346---5101/7200---85.0mph
4th----1.033---5526/7200---110.7mph
5th----0.750---5228/7200---152.5mph

But then why is nearly nobody in this hole forum who has actually done it? There has to be a big drawback with this. Otherwise everybody would do that at first.

[95hbMatt]

well most people dont' want to go through the trouble of swapping gears so they just buy a tranny with shorter gears already.....

[AccordCE8]

Originally posted by Veetec
But then why is nearly nobody in this hole forum who has actually done it? There has to be a big drawback with this. Otherwise everybody would do that at first.

Swapping gears isn't that easy I think, that's the whole problem.
I don't get all those gears anyway... why do they make the fifth gear that my engine is running at 4000 rpm at abaut 135-140... they may make it an overdrive gear for me... more fuel economic, more silent.
(and make the first 4 gears fast gears )

[Veetec]

Okay, thanx a lot! I had a kind of a bet about it with a guy from a german forum. I had a little fight with another guy from this forum because I wrote that a fuel pressure regulator won´t help much on a stock or nearly stock engine and that the DC-Sports DAC intake isn´t good because it´s sucking in the hot engine air. He wrote that he could feel the BIG difference of the few hp the fuel pressure regulator gave him on his CRX (the older one with 124hp??) which may take of about 0,1 or 0,2 (or even lesser) seconds of his 0-100km/h times...and then it could be well possible that he´s running a too rich gas mixture (or how do I say that?).
I don´t know...he just pissed me off with his ignorance.:finger:

[AccordCE8]

I've filled my tank with euro 98 today. I wanted to try if it makes any difference. It is said that it gives more power 2, but I don't believe it... so I'm trying it now.

[Vitinho]

Originally posted by AccordCE8
I've filled my tank with euro 98 today. I wanted to try if it makes any difference. It is said that it gives more power 2, but I don't believe it... so I'm trying it now.

The biggest diference in my case is that the engine revs faster, and maybe some more poneys . In Portugal and after a few try's I end up using Shell. I dont know what they use on that but its the only one that keeps a steady idle while cold and when you kick it it, it have a fast response.

[AccordCE8]

I didn't feel any difference. I searched about some info on the internet, all I could find was that the car should get more fuel economic with 98.
I didn't notice that 2. Althought my car isn't fuel economic at all, I'm happy when driving 1:10...grrrr