Need Info on Rear Diff
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Need Info on Rear Diff
I have a 72 that I bought about 6 years ago. It has been a good weekend driver for me. The motor is a mildly modified 350. Intake, headers, ignition, cam ext.. with 4 speed manual. I was unhappy with the low end power off the line so I started to investigate the gears. Turns out Im running with what I think is 3.08 gears. After counting the drive shaft rotations. I dont think they complement the power curve of my cam very well thats for sure.
My question is I want to upgrade to a 3.70 gear. Will my original posi carrier accept a aftermarket ring and pinion. (Richmond)?? I assume its a 3 series case and jegs / summit have richmond gears for that rear end. Am I ok to purchase these or do I need to do more? This is my first step. Who know what the shop will find once they open it up.....
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks,
Joe
My question is I want to upgrade to a 3.70 gear. Will my original posi carrier accept a aftermarket ring and pinion. (Richmond)?? I assume its a 3 series case and jegs / summit have richmond gears for that rear end. Am I ok to purchase these or do I need to do more? This is my first step. Who know what the shop will find once they open it up.....
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks,
Joe
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
Tom's 3.73 gears are back ordered until 2009, so your out of luck there. I just rebuilt my diff with the 373's from Tom's and they were designed to fit on the stock posi case...I'm not too sure about Richmond gears though.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,930
Likes: 15
From: Calgary Alberta
I know a guy who has been rebuilding vettes for 30 years now - he uses richmond gears all the time, and has never had a problem with them making noise. They will make noise if they aren't properly setup - this takes a lot of skill to do correctly.
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From what Ive read on the the posts a lot of guys like toms. Who knows at the pace Im going 2009 may be ok... Im starting at the rear and working my way to the front. So I have the time to do it right. I can break the bushings appart with my hands. Some I can pull right off the bolts. So its a total rebuild. Thanks for the help on the carrier. Any other good sources / brands I should look at for the gears.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,847
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Joe,
I don’t know what cam you are running but you will make so much difference with the 3:70 gear swap in your car. To me, the 3.70 gear is the optimum ratio for the first three generations of Corvettes.
The 3.70 will respond nicely to just about any high performance camshaft! I have a comp cam cl12-250-3 in my 72 with dart iron eagle heads and other goodies and the car is just not as responsive as I like. Next week we plan to try the 3.70 and if I don’t like it, I’m moving on to the 4.11.
I install and never have any problems out of the Richmond gears! As long as they are set up correctly you won’t either.
Willcox Inc
I don’t know what cam you are running but you will make so much difference with the 3:70 gear swap in your car. To me, the 3.70 gear is the optimum ratio for the first three generations of Corvettes.
The 3.70 will respond nicely to just about any high performance camshaft! I have a comp cam cl12-250-3 in my 72 with dart iron eagle heads and other goodies and the car is just not as responsive as I like. Next week we plan to try the 3.70 and if I don’t like it, I’m moving on to the 4.11.
I install and never have any problems out of the Richmond gears! As long as they are set up correctly you won’t either.
Willcox Inc
