56chevynut

Hi, I have a ~'90 Dana 44 with 3.45 gears and I want to put 4.10s in it. I was told that to go with a 3.73 or lower (higher numerical) gearset you had to use a different carrier, or use a ring gear spacer. I have seen Viper gearsets for the Dana 44 HD in the 3.73 and 4.10 ratios from Mopar. Do I need a Viper carrier?

So what's the deal? Do I need a ring gear spacer for the Vette carrier to go with 3.73s or 4.10s, or does anyone make thicker gears? Do I need a different carrier?

I have a set of new 3.73 gears and an install kit, but I think I want to go lower. I also bought a D44 4.09 gearset that came with a carrier, but I was told it wouldn't work with the 4.10 Viper gears. The 4.09 pinion has a sleeve on it since the 4.09 gears apparently have a smaller diameter pinion shaft. I think the 4.09 gearset I got works with the carrier I got.

My engine puts out over 500 ft-lb at 2000 RPM and I expect it to peak at around 600 ft-lb. So I'm really hesitant to use a ring gear spacer and would prefer a pinion without the sleeve.

Thanks for any info you can give me.

95PoloVert

You have a 3-series carrier. You'll either need a 4-series carrier...OR you can call a company that sells "thick" gears.

Call Rich Perkins at DriveTrainSpecialists out of Warren, Michigan. I think I paid $210-220 for a set of 4.11's that worked in the stock 3-series carrier.

Alternatively, you can buy a 4-series carrier for about $150 and use the 4.09's, if you want. (or pick up a set of 4.10's) As you noted, the pinion shaft is smaller, so these gears would be not be quite as strong as the 4.10's or 4.11's.

sxyvet

hi guys,
sorry to but in on your thread and all but may i ask one quick question if i may please!
i also have a 3.45 rear end dana 44 diff and i want to upgrade to only 3.73 ratio only though,not 4.10 or 4.11!
now i have read which i wasnt aware of until now that you were talking about series 3 & series 4 carriers for higher gear upgrades!

can i use the same carrier to go from 3.45 standard ratio up to only 3.73 ratio please???
thanks guys
cheers
and sorry again to but in on your thread!!!
glen

Desert1957

Suggest you contact these forum members about their gear swaps to 4:10's , no mention at all of any ring gear spacers needed.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...hlight=Dana+44

Also this member "edcmat-l1" answered all my qustions.

Desert

STL94LT1

Ther is no ring gear spacer required for the Dana Viper 4.10's.

56chevynut

STL94LT1, are you saying that if I buy the 1992-2000 Viper gearset from Mopar, I can put the ring gear directly onto my existing 3-series carrier (3/8" bolts)? I've noticed several other companies making gears for Vipers...will any of them also work?

This is confusing to me. Why would anyone make a thin gear that required a spacer on ANY carrier. The guy I got the 4.09 gears and carrier from told me he had to get a 4-series carrierfor the 4.10 gears. Apparently the 4.09 gears work on the 3-series carrier. Weird.

Also, noticed that the 2001 and later Vipers used 7/16" ring gear bolts. Would it be worth it to enlarge the bolt holes in my carrier and use that gearset?

I want to build the strongest rear I can without spending a lot of money unnecessarily. I'd rather pay more for the right ring gear than to have to get a spacer for $40. What about Yukon gears?

nogoodsam

TTT

So viper 4.10s don't get into a Dana44 w/o a spacer??

95PoloVert

You need a 4-series carrier for 4.10's unless you can locate a vendor selling a "thick" version that will work with a 3-series carrier.

CentralCoaster

I think some have mentioned doing some minor clearancing on the case, not sure what ratio requires that.

While we're on the subject, you'll have to reprogram your ECM or use an electronic calibrator to correct the speedo for anything beyond 3.73s.

The 4.10s will go well with the wide spread of the ZF6.

STL94LT1

Viper 4.10's will fit in a 3 series carrier without a spacer.

No Go

From STL94LT1's post and what I've read...you can install:

4.09's
4.10's
4.11's

The 4.10 ratio is a bolt in...other than minor case clearance (larger gear)...don't know why anyone would do anything different.

CentralCoaster

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ht=viper+gears

0ski_dwn_it

I can make this REAL easy for you. I bought and ran exactly 1 burnout, and 1 launch off my 4.10 gears which WILL FIT a D44. When I did the launch it broke both my rear spindles. This was the last time out to the track last year, during the winter I decided to put a solid rear in the car and sold my rear D44. The guy that bought it wanted 3.73 gears that I had, so I took the 4.10s out of the rear and installed for him the 3.73s.

The gears were NEVER run down the strip, sure would have like to see what the car would have done with them, but it was a little more than the spindles would take.

I have these gears which are virtually BRAND new if your interested in purchasing them. They were brand new when I installed them and in perfect shape now. Been meaning to put them on the 4sale section along with other gears 3.07s and 3.45s but been too busy.

Let me know, or anyone else if your interested - via IM, don't wanna jack the thread with 20 I want posts. But figured that would make your install easy and you would not have to worry about buying or getting the right 4.10s.

PS: All sets have been cryo treated as well!

Talk to you later.