I have a 5 speed Xb and was wondering if they make different gears for our trasmission yet since we have such low gear ratio.

 

the final drive in the echo is taller. that's the only suggestion i have..

 

I assume the lower gear ratio is because the xB is heavier than the Echo / xA but uses the same exact engine. So, if you put a taller final drive in there, you drop your RPMs in 5th but you also lose torque, meaning you'd have to downshift to do anything.

It's easy to say 'it should have a 6 speed!' but it's only a 108 horse engine for a 2400 pound square box on wheels. The echo is a 2000 pound car, not that much lighter, but it is also much more aerodynamic and doesn't have to shove all that air out of the way.

 

is it worth it to change out the gears to provide more torque. would that equal more Hp-to-torque ratio. is this wrong-headed thinking or truly only useful in race applications?

 

^^ doesn't make sense. Horsepower is torque in motion, so gear ratios won't change how much TORQUE your engine makes.

 

i guess what i meant was is there any way to up the way the torque is utilized and still keep the same hp. so that in essence you have more active ft-lbs. of torque or is this what your saying,that it still doesn't make sense. I'd say its very possible im not making sense, but do you get where im going?

 

i do understand, but a gearing change will only do one thing.. raise or lower your RPM's at a specific speed, and the effects of that raise or lowering of RPM will affect your torque. the ENGINE makes torque, all the tranny does is transmit it.

if you want a lot of off-the-line torque, run 205-50-15 tires. but you'll be SCREAMING at 60MPH actual speed.

 

so, overall all the gears do is utilize hp transmitted to relieve stress on the engine and facilitate forward propulsion more efficiently? the 205-50-15's? can I put those on the STOCK rims? and "you'll be screaming at 60MPH"? please clarify.

 

your engine will be turning over 3% faster in any gear, to maintain the original speed. it's not a good idea. 205 is too wide for stock steel wheels, but i bet someone could squeeze em on. i run 205's on my 15X7 race wheels for autoX but it's not a big deal cuz it's all low speed stuff anyway.

 

i was honestly thinking of staying with 15 after market wheels and am wondering what the best size to go with? i want something a little taller, but also a little wider. any idees

 

echo is the only option currently available.

 

well you could go 195 50 , or 205 45

 

I keep seeing "Echo is the only option" but I'm wondering if that means everyone with the manual trannies is so focused on the gearing in the manuals they forget the auto has a different ratio differential, or if that means that for some reason the diff's from the auto and manual are not interchangable...

manual ratio: 4.31:1
auto ratio: 4.15:1

(That's one reason the manual transmission xBs out accelerate the auto transmission xBs. That's also part of why the auto trannie xBs turn 1000 less RPM cruising the freeway...)

(See also: https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=39360 )

 

I think going from 185/60/15 to a 195/70/15 would change the ratio without a lot of expess.

 

i kind of came the a good point with all this mumbo jumbo stuff

instead of swaping out gear ratios just swap trannys and get that tranny built to your likings or some thing like that

just an idea really

 

thanks for the info

 

uhh no, both of those tire choices are SHORTER than stock height.

 

I'm running 195 60 15

 

i just suggested for meatier tires i wasnt posting for the sake of a taller size sorry if i didnt make that clear

 

no worries. i just dont' want people who can't do math to think that those tire choices will give them more height ;)