Originally Posted by 1stGenCRXer
The car I'm currently working with has over 400 HP, and the LS gears are too short for traction. If we could go with taller ratios, we would, just to use all the power available. With shorter gearing, you do get moving quicker, until boost comes in... So in that respect, a mild turbo setup would benefit from shorter gears, but the higher you go in power, the more smoke you'll make unless you make that torque work a bit harder with taller gears.
I wonder whose car that could be....
I've had both setups on my boosted LS. In the beginning when I was low boost small power the VTEC tranny was killer for the short stop light race. The traction will always be an issue in 1st gear on a boosted FWD vehical just b/c of the sheer torque, 2nd and 3rd should be your real forward movement gears in a street race.(with in sane/legal speeds). VTEC trannies are well suited to this, the gears are close and and based on performance. The downside however is that with the low LS redline a VTEC tranny an an LS will top out in 5th at about 110~115 depending on tire size and tranny. Also the highway cruise RPM of a VTEC tranny is quite a bit higher in the RPMs than an LS...say goodbye to gas milage and hello the headaches.
When I finally toasted the stock clutch, it gave me an excuse to drop a new heavy duty clutch with an LS tranny. I can honestly say that I wouldn't have a VTEC tranny again if you paid me. The longer gearing helps with wheelspin(not by much on my setup tho), and not having to use 5th in a 1/4 mile run is nice. I've also increased the LS redline to 8000, so theoretically my car would top 5th out around 160~ish. Guess i'm a highway loser, right?
However to the orignial poster this is all based off my LS engine. VTEC engines rev higher from the factory and are geared in way that makes the best use of the power band of that engine...Much as Drift said. I wouldn't swap a VTEC tranny off a VTEC engine in favor or an LS unless I had some SERIOUS hp. I'm talking enough power that you're nearly topping the transmission out in the 1/4 mile, only then would swapping to an LS be a viable option.