I just got off the phone with Apex motorsports and they want $500 for the gears and install, is this a good price or should I keep looking around?

 

What kind of gears (brand) Shop prices are between 250-300 for install only. Read the the " official gear thread sticky "

 

i would say shoot for $400 for gears and installed. but 500 isnt real bad i guess. i got my frpp 4:10s for $150 shipped new (from a person who didnt need them) and install was $150. so I was only set back about $325 for gears,install,oil.

 

If you are going frpp, then 500 for the whole shebang isn't too bad. It depends if you can get the hookup on the install.

 

Had mine done at CJ pony parts in Pa.

ford racing 4.10's $189.95
ring & pinion mounting kit $89.95
99-04 speed recalibration box $99.95
friction modifier for diff. $3.95
8.8" axle bearing/seal kit $22.95
synthetic gear oil $25.90

labor for everything listed above $250.00
Total labor and parts $724

I needed the axle bearing/seal kit cause my car has 60k on it, Didnt need clutch packs though

 

What is a ring and pinion mounting kit?

 

I can get them done for $150 plus the cost of gears

 

Im assuming shims/seals/gaskets?

 

So $500 is a fair price for gears/install?

 

FWIW... I live in the Bay Area too and Apex does all the work I don't want to do. They're big pimps and Dave (the guy that does the gears) is a bona fide bad ***** fuqha on gears (he's also my neighbor). Around here you'll be lucky to find a place to touch it under 500 including gears and I wouldn't let anyone but Dave and Apex Motorsports do my work. Especially if you know them as well as I do. They're busy but a great bunch of guys and they know more about Mustangs and Muscle cars in general than anyone I've ever come across.

You want my advice... slap down the 500 bones and feel great about your gear install.

 

Yeah 500 is not a bad price. I had a guy who works at Ford do it at his house for 150. I got my gears and install kit for 189. I paid way too much for my lube but I havn't cut any corners yet. Don't forget the front seal, it's not in the kit. It should be. Stay with frpp gears. Richmond gears are good but they are very noisy. I say, if they can't hear it then it's too late, I'm already a gear ahead. Make sure you know what you want when it comes to your gear size. Bigger is not always better. Gears don't make horsepower. But they are by far one of the biggest bangs for the buck.

 

That's a great point. Gear selection should be done based on where your power comes in. If you use a turbo that has a long spool time, then steeper gears help get you into boost quicker. If you have a 10000RPM nascar motor, you'll want really steep gears since all your power is at high rpm. If you have a typical 4.6L mustang, 3.73 or 3.90 is more than sufficient. For heavier cars like verts and all automatics, 4.10 is about as far as most will want to go.

 

Another point... Gears are about 189, the correct install kit and lube is 125 around here, toss in labor of 150 and you have just about 500 bones. Call up apex and tell chris I said Big Pimpin'