4.10 Gear Upgrade - Best Mod to Date
03-12-2011, 10:45 AM
#1
Pro
Thread Starter
4.10 Gear Upgrade - Best Mod to Date
I made a road trip from San Antonio to Colorado Springs to swap rear diffs with SpinMonster. First, I want to thank Jay for the superb hospitality. Not only is he a very knowledgeable and capable mechanic, he is just an incredible guy. We had two days of great Christian fellowship , working on the vette, listening to great tunes, eating good grub, all the while within the backdrop of the snow-capped Rockies . It just doesn’t get much better than that!
I must say that going from 3.42:1 to 4.10:1 gearing is the BEST upgrade that I have done for the car to date. I was a bit worried that 1st gear would be useless with the Z51 transmission, but that isn’t a problem at all. I will say without hesitation, the car is faster. The top speed may not be as high, but going 140+ on public streets isn’t something I do. My time is spent within the 0-100 range with stop light pulls or spirited on ramp pulls.
I can now use 6th gear and can roll on and off the throttle without having to shift to 5th in traffic. I don’t run at the track, so I cant comment on trap speeds and times, but I have no doubt the car is faster in the ¼ mile now. Another benefit is traction. My car is hooking better with the 4.10’s. It will still spin the tire but it does regain traction and takes off like a rocket. It is SOOOOO much more fun to drive. It has put my cam in the sweet spot, which eliminated the drone I was getting with my Corsa Xtremes in 6th gear. I can actually hear the radio now
I lost approximately 1 mpg on the 870 mile trip home. I averaged just under 25 mpg running 70-80 on the trip. My rpms were 2300 at 80. My mpg is off mainly due to the crap tune that is on my car. Jay said my tune is way off, but he couldn’t really do much of a retune because I am at 701 feet elevation in San Antonio, while he is in the heavens in Colorado Springs. My car is setup for 93 while 91 is the highest octane available in his area. I guess he is going to have to come to San Antonio to meet the wife and kids to tune my car. To be honest, I am still pleased with the mileage. A large-cam LS2 V8 corvette with 4.10:1 gearing that gets nearly identical mileage as my 4 cylinder 1998 Honda minivan on the highway. What is there not to love? However, SpinMonster says I should be around 27+ with a better tune.
If you are on the fence about gears, DO IT. This is the way the car should have come from the factory. The biggest plus of the upgrade is that I can drive my 2005 without worrying about seeing a chunk of diff in the road.
Chris
I must say that going from 3.42:1 to 4.10:1 gearing is the BEST upgrade that I have done for the car to date. I was a bit worried that 1st gear would be useless with the Z51 transmission, but that isn’t a problem at all. I will say without hesitation, the car is faster. The top speed may not be as high, but going 140+ on public streets isn’t something I do. My time is spent within the 0-100 range with stop light pulls or spirited on ramp pulls.
I can now use 6th gear and can roll on and off the throttle without having to shift to 5th in traffic. I don’t run at the track, so I cant comment on trap speeds and times, but I have no doubt the car is faster in the ¼ mile now. Another benefit is traction. My car is hooking better with the 4.10’s. It will still spin the tire but it does regain traction and takes off like a rocket. It is SOOOOO much more fun to drive. It has put my cam in the sweet spot, which eliminated the drone I was getting with my Corsa Xtremes in 6th gear. I can actually hear the radio now
I lost approximately 1 mpg on the 870 mile trip home. I averaged just under 25 mpg running 70-80 on the trip. My rpms were 2300 at 80. My mpg is off mainly due to the crap tune that is on my car. Jay said my tune is way off, but he couldn’t really do much of a retune because I am at 701 feet elevation in San Antonio, while he is in the heavens in Colorado Springs. My car is setup for 93 while 91 is the highest octane available in his area. I guess he is going to have to come to San Antonio to meet the wife and kids to tune my car. To be honest, I am still pleased with the mileage. A large-cam LS2 V8 corvette with 4.10:1 gearing that gets nearly identical mileage as my 4 cylinder 1998 Honda minivan on the highway. What is there not to love? However, SpinMonster says I should be around 27+ with a better tune.
If you are on the fence about gears, DO IT. This is the way the car should have come from the factory. The biggest plus of the upgrade is that I can drive my 2005 without worrying about seeing a chunk of diff in the road.
Chris
Last edited by csnow; 03-12-2011 at 11:06 AM.
03-12-2011, 01:01 PM
#3
Safety Car
I couldnt agree more...as Spin always says..."Dont fear the gear!!" ...and his place in Colo Springs is amazing, Ill bet you had lots of great BBQ...I miss that big lug.....
03-12-2011, 01:31 PM
#4
Pro
Thread Starter
Yeah, my 73" TV looked like a 9" black and white compared to his 16 foot screen. Made me hate him.....lol
We did have a really good time. I wish I could have stayed longer but mama was only willing to give me a two day kitchen pass from home. He invited the whole family up in the spring.
We did have a really good time. I wish I could have stayed longer but mama was only willing to give me a two day kitchen pass from home. He invited the whole family up in the spring.
03-12-2011, 02:08 PM
#6
Pro
Thread Starter
Either direction he goes, he wont keep the 3.42s. He drove mine prior to the swap to ensure mine wasnt whinning and he was just shaking his head on what a dog the 3.42's are. Now that I have 4.10's; I would NEVER go back to stock gearing either!
Last edited by csnow; 03-12-2011 at 02:13 PM.
03-12-2011, 03:09 PM
#7
Tech Contributor
Yeah, my 73" TV looked like a 9" black and white compared to his 16 foot screen. Made me hate him.....lol
We did have a really good time. I wish I could have stayed longer but mama was only willing to give me a two day kitchen pass from home. He invited the whole family up in the spring.
We did have a really good time. I wish I could have stayed longer but mama was only willing to give me a two day kitchen pass from home. He invited the whole family up in the spring.
I made a road trip from San Antonio to Colorado Springs to swap rear diffs with SpinMonster. First, I want to thank Jay for the superb hospitality. Not only is he a very knowledgeable and capable mechanic, he is just an incredible guy. We had two days of great Christian fellowship , working on the vette, listening to great tunes, eating good grub, all the while within the backdrop of the snow-capped Rockies . It just doesn’t get much better than that!
As to the narrative above, I have to say that I have made so many friends from the corvette thing. It was a perfect day in the 60's with 70's music on his sirrius radio while we wrenched and talked about life with the back drop of Pike's Peak. Your heart takes a picture.
03-14-2011, 06:18 PM
#9
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St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'12-'13-'14
AMEN! You have been SAVED!
I made a road trip from San Antonio to Colorado Springs to swap rear diffs with SpinMonster. First, I want to thank Jay for the superb hospitality. Not only is he a very knowledgeable and capable mechanic, he is just an incredible guy. We had two days of great Christian fellowship , working on the vette, listening to great tunes, eating good grub, all the while within the backdrop of the snow-capped Rockies . It just doesn’t get much better than that!
I must say that going from 3.42:1 to 4.10:1 gearing is the BEST upgrade that I have done for the car to date. I was a bit worried that 1st gear would be useless with the Z51 transmission, but that isn’t a problem at all. I will say without hesitation, the car is faster. The top speed may not be as high, but going 140+ on public streets isn’t something I do. My time is spent within the 0-100 range with stop light pulls or spirited on ramp pulls.
I can now use 6th gear and can roll on and off the throttle without having to shift to 5th in traffic. I don’t run at the track, so I cant comment on trap speeds and times, but I have no doubt the car is faster in the ¼ mile now. Another benefit is traction. My car is hooking better with the 4.10’s. It will still spin the tire but it does regain traction and takes off like a rocket. It is SOOOOO much more fun to drive. It has put my cam in the sweet spot, which eliminated the drone I was getting with my Corsa Xtremes in 6th gear. I can actually hear the radio now
I lost approximately 1 mpg on the 870 mile trip home. I averaged just under 25 mpg running 70-80 on the trip. My rpms were 2300 at 80. My mpg is off mainly due to the crap tune that is on my car. Jay said my tune is way off, but he couldn’t really do much of a retune because I am at 701 feet elevation in San Antonio, while he is in the heavens in Colorado Springs. My car is setup for 93 while 91 is the highest octane available in his area. I guess he is going to have to come to San Antonio to meet the wife and kids to tune my car. To be honest, I am still pleased with the mileage. A large-cam LS2 V8 corvette with 4.10:1 gearing that gets nearly identical mileage as my 4 cylinder 1998 Honda minivan on the highway. What is there not to love? However, SpinMonster says I should be around 27+ with a better tune.
If you are on the fence about gears, DO IT. This is the way the car should have come from the factory. The biggest plus of the upgrade is that I can drive my 2005 without worrying about seeing a chunk of diff in the road.
Chris
I must say that going from 3.42:1 to 4.10:1 gearing is the BEST upgrade that I have done for the car to date. I was a bit worried that 1st gear would be useless with the Z51 transmission, but that isn’t a problem at all. I will say without hesitation, the car is faster. The top speed may not be as high, but going 140+ on public streets isn’t something I do. My time is spent within the 0-100 range with stop light pulls or spirited on ramp pulls.
I can now use 6th gear and can roll on and off the throttle without having to shift to 5th in traffic. I don’t run at the track, so I cant comment on trap speeds and times, but I have no doubt the car is faster in the ¼ mile now. Another benefit is traction. My car is hooking better with the 4.10’s. It will still spin the tire but it does regain traction and takes off like a rocket. It is SOOOOO much more fun to drive. It has put my cam in the sweet spot, which eliminated the drone I was getting with my Corsa Xtremes in 6th gear. I can actually hear the radio now
I lost approximately 1 mpg on the 870 mile trip home. I averaged just under 25 mpg running 70-80 on the trip. My rpms were 2300 at 80. My mpg is off mainly due to the crap tune that is on my car. Jay said my tune is way off, but he couldn’t really do much of a retune because I am at 701 feet elevation in San Antonio, while he is in the heavens in Colorado Springs. My car is setup for 93 while 91 is the highest octane available in his area. I guess he is going to have to come to San Antonio to meet the wife and kids to tune my car. To be honest, I am still pleased with the mileage. A large-cam LS2 V8 corvette with 4.10:1 gearing that gets nearly identical mileage as my 4 cylinder 1998 Honda minivan on the highway. What is there not to love? However, SpinMonster says I should be around 27+ with a better tune.
If you are on the fence about gears, DO IT. This is the way the car should have come from the factory. The biggest plus of the upgrade is that I can drive my 2005 without worrying about seeing a chunk of diff in the road.
Chris
Welcome to the Church of CHUCK CoW!
PRAISE the 4.10s! Hallelujah!
Spread the good word...More will follow!
Chuck CoW
03-15-2011, 10:02 PM
#12
Tech Contributor
The reasons to get less than 4.10's:
You have a trap speed higher than 128 and cant/wont run a 28" tire for drag racing.
You do a lot of hiway driving with a severely pullied down S/C which spins the head unit so fast that you hear the BOV all the time on the hiway.
You have a trap speed higher than 128 and cant/wont run a 28" tire for drag racing.
You do a lot of hiway driving with a severely pullied down S/C which spins the head unit so fast that you hear the BOV all the time on the hiway.
03-16-2011, 12:03 AM
#13
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The biggest plus of the upgrade is that I can drive my 2005 without worrying about seeing a chunk of diff in the road.
Chris[/QUOTE]
So upgrading to 4:10's eliminates the weak link in the 05 differential?
Just want to know as I'm shopping for a MN6 C6 and the only reason to stay away from an 05 in the weak diff. I'm convinved I want 4:10's in her.
Chris[/QUOTE]
So upgrading to 4:10's eliminates the weak link in the 05 differential?
Just want to know as I'm shopping for a MN6 C6 and the only reason to stay away from an 05 in the weak diff. I'm convinved I want 4:10's in her.
03-16-2011, 02:32 AM
#14
Tech Contributor
He swapped out his weak 2005 diff for a strong, proven C5 2004 Z06 diff.
03-16-2011, 05:26 PM
#16
Pro
Thread Starter
If you have the 05, the C5 diff will match the transmission tailshaft housing without having to buy the 2006+ trans rear housinig cover. If you do the C5, you will have to have the rear craddle modified for the diff to mount. Do a search on C5 diff mount and you will find a guy named Sparo2 that sells the hardware.
The other benefit is cost. If you dont have a 2006 core, add $750 to cost of the differential. So now, you have $1900 for a Stage II dif, $400 for a trans housing, and $750 for the core plus labor and shipping. With a C5 diff, the cores are cheap and plentiful.
I would venture to say overall the 2006+ is better because GM doesnt go backwards with engineering but for the 2005 owners, this is a much cheaper alternative than spending 3.5k to put a 2006+ diff in the car. There are some NASTY C5's putting down some serious power, so I went the cheaper route with the C5 diff.
The other benefit is cost. If you dont have a 2006 core, add $750 to cost of the differential. So now, you have $1900 for a Stage II dif, $400 for a trans housing, and $750 for the core plus labor and shipping. With a C5 diff, the cores are cheap and plentiful.
I would venture to say overall the 2006+ is better because GM doesnt go backwards with engineering but for the 2005 owners, this is a much cheaper alternative than spending 3.5k to put a 2006+ diff in the car. There are some NASTY C5's putting down some serious power, so I went the cheaper route with the C5 diff.
