rear end gear ratios
 

i intend to put new gears in my stock 10 bolt just so its a lil more get up and go. right now the stock 2.73 are in there. im aiming for 3.42s, but my dad for w/e is dead set on 3.73. i have a th350 trans, and a 3k stall converter with a 383. which would be better for driving almost daily depending on weather?

the gears are only to hold over until i get a 9 inch

3.42's.

From the factory late second gen (Camaros, at least) came that way- 3.42s with an auto, 3.73's with a manual.

Why are you going with a 9"? You can beef up that 8.5" 10 bolt to hold a lot of power.

Or try to swing an OD trans, like a 200-4r. 342 with the TH350 is good compromise, a 373 & TH2004R would be better, I believe anyway.

Billy, does he have carrier issues with the one he has and the gears he wants? I'm not up on that.

BTW, nice car!

He should not. In an 8.5" corporate 10 bolt a 2.73+ is a 3 series, and anything less is a 2 series. There is no 4 series like in a 12 bolt.

If it was me I would go 3:42s. With the torque of the 383 in a daily driver you don't need the 3:73s unless you want lower ETs over street manners.

well the trans is brand new, so im not about to switch it out anytime soon. my dad said he is getting me the gears for my bday, but he wants to go with 373s, and i want 342s, ill just have to talk it into him.

and wildbilly, what can i do to beef up that 8.5in 10 bolt? i plan on getting a moser rear end cover thing. what else?

1.) Weld axle tubes (the right way, I might add- welding steel to cast iron requires preheating)
2.) Get 9" housing ends put on (not c-clip eliminators)
3.) 33 spline axles
4.) Eaton Posi
5.) Gear set of your choice

since it already has a posi in it, should i leave it, or get the eaton?

If you choose to upgrade your axles you will need a new carrier. Your stock unit is 28 spline.

i had a th350 3-speed auto in front of 3.73's in my old vette. at 75 mph i was at 3400rpm. hurts the gas $$ cause hardcore. thus, i would reccommend the 3.42's, though i dont know if it would make a worthwhile difference. bottom line is the final drive in the th350 is too short for big ratio rears to be a good DD setup.

I always say 3.73 for Auto and 4.10 for maunual.

Im all up with this guy

I'd say that's a good starting point, but there are many other factors to consider when picking gears.

You have to know what the intended usage of the car is, what kind of RPM the motor will spin too, and what the owner/driver is comfortable with.

- Justin