zr1clone

I'm having a real hard time to deciding on a new gear ratio. I was wanting some help in my decision making process. What better place to ask?!!
I found a new 3.73 carrier "pumpkin" for sale but won't know the price till Monday. Just so happens that the guy I bought my targa top from owns a Corvette shop. He is building a 794HP motor for a guy and that guy is putting in a Dana 44 for the new HP. The owner of the Vette bought the gears for a build on his original motor and decided to just go "new" instead. He will sell them at a "great" price; new, in-the-box.
Sorry getting a little off-topic. My questions are:
Are 3.73s really too much for the stock L98?
Is 3.54 "middle" ground?
Will 3.07s give me the SOTP that I am looking for?
I currently have 2.59s and the only upgrade is 2.5 duals and dynomax mufflers. I am not looking to go 150mph. I do want to accelerate like a bat outta hell! I am thinking that $500 is the limit for any upgrades right now. My Corvette shop guy told me that 2.59 gears to a 3.73 will feel like I added 100hp. What do you all think? Thanks for reading all this. -Kevin

96 lt-4

I think the 3.07 gear would be plenty.A little higher stall torque converter would help as well.
The 3.54 will work but would be better suited to an engine that breathes better and sees more than 4800 rpm.
The 3.73 is overkill for a stock L98 IMO but hey what do I know.I drive an LT4.

pologreen1

if you search through my posts about gears you can see the positive posts out way the negative who have had the 3.75 gear ratio! the guys who have 3,75 and a stall have good things to say for bang for the buck on gears and stall in a c4! I bought an sr that is why the 3,75's but mosthave stock tpi and like the power feeling! If I buy this z1-1 I will have gears and complete rear end rebuild kit for sale! good luck ! make your choice based on your personality and temperment not just opinion of others because we are all different!

engle1147

3.73

zr1clone

rodj

You have to live with it so use the calculators I posted in your other posts to see what rpm you will be doing @ the speed you commonly operate at.

That little stoplight to stoplight blast is fun but sitting on 5K cruising down the freeway is not.

FWIW ,3.07 gives completely different SOTP v 2.59

greenpigs

3.73 x .7 = 2.61 that shouldn't be to hard to live with.

TA

3.07s and a 2500 stall TC

Kool88vette

I switched to 3.07 and a 2400 Vigilante tc. It's perfect for a dd.

383vett

When my car was on the street, I had run 3.31, 3.54 and 3.73 rear end ratios. At 70 mph in od with a 3.73, the car only tachs something like 2300 rpm. Great acceleration. Great bang for the buck. Keep the same converter and have fun.

redrose

3.07/2.59 = 1.185% increase in torque "where the rubber meets the road"...or, SOTP effect: 8 cylinders and 2.59 gear x 1.185 = 9 1/2 cylinders under hood "feeling" with 3.07 gear...traction (rubber meets road) will be an issue, esp in wet or slippery environs.

AND c4 oem top speed is drag limited, not rpm limited, stock engine likely will gain top end MPH with a bit "deeper" gear

fuel consumption during labratory testing (sim to EPA test protocol) "may" suffer a tiny.

cv67

1st feels good with the 3.07 but if I were to have another TPI car Id definitely go 3.54, 3.45 whatever.

rick lambert

I like the 3:07s in my stock 87 auto. Great acceleration yet nice on the freeway.

rickneworleansla

Go with the 3.07 and a Vigilante 2800-3200 stall converter with an external trans cooler.

Jim McCombe

I have 3.07's in my 87 and love them.
Good all around combination for city and highway use without sacrificing economy. Even with the issues that I was having with my previous engine, it would still get 27-29 mpg on the road and run high 13's in the 1/4 mile at about 101 mph while spinning the tires.
If economy isn't a factor and you don't mind a few RPMs more, then go with a lower gear.
Just decide what your priorities are then decide.
As my old friend and neighbor and former Fuel Altered and Funny Car driver Dale Emery would tell me
RPM translates to "Ruins Perfect Motors"

He should know, built a lot of engines in his day and was crew chief for Raymond Beadles Blue Max Funny cars as well as the pilot for Rich Guasco's famed "Pure Hell" Fuel Altered roadster.

redrose

nfn

Jim McCombe

Thanks for the heads up...
I went in and made the correction.

lltrevino

my vote is a 3.45

JimiHendrix

Yup, I found out the hard way when I programmed out the rev limit. Broke a valve spring......

Jimbo 89

My 89 came with 3.07 gears and it has great SOTP power with stock motor. Just to give you an idea, at 70 mph = 2000rpm. It feels faster than my 93 6 speed LT1 was with 3.45 gears. Jimbo 89