Gears for my Ls1 A4...are they worth it? - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

Ls1dreamin02 · 02-24-2011, 11:32 PM

So I have been looking for something that will truly change my cars performance without breaking the bank. I want to swap my stock 2.73s to 3.42s. My rear has always whined a lot so I was planning on having it looked at anyways, so I figure why not throw a set of gears in. I don't want a stall at this point because I still daily drive my car and I don't race enough to need one. I am also holding off on headers until I can afford some Kooks or ARH's. My question is will 3.42 gears give me that extra punch I am looking for with my current mods?(in sig)

Nick

NJ Torque · 02-25-2011, 05:49 AM

They will give a new feel to the car... I would say do a stall as well... These cars drive great with a converter and thats where you really feel it...

BonzoHansen · 02-25-2011, 07:39 AM

Converter & gears would really be nice. Save your nickles and buy a good rear.

sweetbmxrider · 02-25-2011, 08:18 AM

If you spend the 7 plus on a good converter and couple it with gears, the car will drive relatively close to stock around town and really wake up when you go WOT.

KirkEvil · 02-25-2011, 09:24 AM

Gears will make your car FEEL faster, but really wont do that much to actually make it faster. A good lock up converter makes a big difference, and it will act the same as your stock converter on the highway. If a converter is out of your budget, or just not what you want right now, consider going with 3.73 ratio gears.

If your car is a DD, and highway RPM/Mileage is a concern, check out this link to calculate your cruising rpm with different gears/tires:

http://www.f-body.org/gears/

Ex....w/ 26" tire....
3.23 ratio = 2050 rpm @ 70 mph
3.42 ratio = 2200 rpm @ 70 mph
3.73 ratio = 2400 rpm @ 70 mph

The_Bishop · 02-25-2011, 10:00 AM

Something I'd like to point out:

GET A GOOD CONVERTER!

Cheap converters are just that; cheap. And when they fail they'll take out your transmission too. My '98 has been more or less sitting waiting for me to either (a) pay someone or (b) find the time to install the Yank SS 3600 + flexplate I have wating to go in. The car currently has a TCI (Total Crap Industries) 3500 converter in it that has a failing lockup clutch in it. I'm not driving it because I can't afford to rebuild the trans when the clutch completely fails and wipes it.

jts98z28 · 02-25-2011, 01:05 PM

i went from 2.73's to 3.73's and think it was perfect still got 18 mpg city driving like a grandma too

Ls1dreamin02 · 02-25-2011, 02:00 PM

thanks guys, A converter is not what I'm really looking for right now but down the road when I have full bolt ons and a cam I will install a nice converter. I'm just looking for a mod that will hold me over until I can afford a new daily driver so I can go all out with the Ls1.

Tru2Chevy · 02-26-2011, 10:13 PM

A cheaper option would be to find someone selling a stock 3.42 geared 10 bolt, but going that route you don't know the history of the rear.

I think you would love the feeling that a jump from 2.73s to 3.42s will get you, and even though you don't race much, all other factors aside the gear swap will get you a few tenths easy.

- Justin

coolmanvette75 · 02-26-2011, 10:19 PM

imo i would do 3.73 over 3.42

maroman88 · 02-26-2011, 10:24 PM

i did just this in my 98 trans am... i had 2:73's and went to 3:42's due to it being a DD. make sure u buy the correct gears tho... take out's from a stock 3:42 car wont work, not the right series IIRC. i bought a set of richmonds from summitracing and had them installed. i never did make it back to the track before selling the car but it deff felt quicker and would spin hittin 2nd with 11.5" wide rear wheels!

02-27-2011, 12:14 AM

with an LS1 u can probably run 4.10s. i went 11.26 @ 120 with a 5500 stall thats LOOSE AS HELL and 4.30 gears in my 12 bolt. all street ability goes out the window with that though. im going to 3.73s with mine so that i can hit it with a 200 shot and ill be spinning 6700-6900ish. oh and im getting a new converter as well (nitrous likes tight converters)

Ls1dreamin02 · 02-27-2011, 12:04 PM

Thanks again guys. I'm going with some 3.42s to keep it nice and daily drivable. I haven't run my car yet but I will be at Island as much as possible this summer. Any recommendations for shops in the Somerset County, Union County, Northern NJ that are good for the install and also where can I have my speedo re calibrated?

Tru2Chevy · 02-27-2011, 03:41 PM

SSP should be able to take care of you.

- Justin

02-27-2011, 04:33 PM

btw, paying to install 3.42s will cost more than buying a 10bolt with 3.42s in it. youll have your 2.73 as a spare for when you break your rear too

WildBillyT · 03-02-2011, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerzLT1

btw, paying to install 3.42s will cost more than buying a 10bolt with 3.42s in it. youll have your 2.73 as a spare for when you break your rear too

This is very true.

Ls1dreamin02 · 03-02-2011, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerzLT1

btw, paying to install 3.42s will cost more than buying a 10bolt with 3.42s in it. youll have your 2.73 as a spare for when you break your rear too

What would be the average price of the install and how much for the complete used rear? The problem is, buying a used 3.42 rear is hit or miss...Most likely I will have no idea how many miles it has on it or if it works well. It could work nice and smooth or it could whine and scrape and be garbage.

Tru2Chevy · 03-02-2011, 10:15 PM

You are looking at $175-200 for new gears and usually around $300 for a full install with new bearings.

- Justin