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Rear end ratio ?

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Old Jun 23, 2009 | 08:38 PM
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Default Rear end ratio ?

Not having any paper work or tank sticker, how does one determine the rear end ratio.
I've been lerking around for a while and this forum is the best.
With the input from Dub I got my clutch pedal even with the brake pedal. Likewise with the help of the stickey's I got my brakes blead properly and timing set right.
Thanks for the help

Flyboy
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Old Jun 23, 2009 | 08:48 PM
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You could get the back wheels off the ground and rotate them one full turn and count how many times the drive shaft spins to figure out the ratio.
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Old Jun 23, 2009 | 09:04 PM
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I've got a spreadsheet that you can use if you want it, not sure how to send it to you unless you want to send me a message with your email. It has gear ratios for an M20, M21, M22, M22W and 2 TKO 5 speeds. You set whatever rear end ratio you want and specify tire diameter and it calculates speed and rpm in each gear.

To answer your question you can tell what rear gear you have by your tachometer and knowing how fast your going. For example, I'm pretty sure my car is a 3.08 rear and that my speedo has a gear for a 3.36. I can tell this because my car indicated 70mph in 4th @ 3000 rpm, but I'm passing and keeping up with traffic that is going faster than 70mph on the freeway. Also went past a radar traffic sign and was about 7mph off. The problem arises that you need to know your speed, which in my case would have thrown me off if I just went by the speedo. If yours reads correct here are RPM in 4th (1:1) with 27" tires at 70 mph for:

3.08 = 2684 RPM
3.36 = 2928 RPM
3.55 = 3094 RPM
3.73 = 3251 RPM
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Old Jun 23, 2009 | 09:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Frogday
You could get the back wheels off the ground and rotate them one full turn and count how many times the drive shaft spins to figure out the ratio.
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Old Jun 23, 2009 | 09:24 PM
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Here's another way www.richmondgear.com/101032.html PG.
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Old Jun 23, 2009 | 09:43 PM
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http://www.keislerauto.com/speed_analyzers.php?sa=gm_5
you can try this aswell
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Old Jun 23, 2009 | 11:43 PM
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on the bottom of the differential case there is a code stamped in it. You can then look up what ratio was installed. If you still have the original gears that is all you need.

Rear Axle Identification
Used 1972-1975
Ratio Code
3.36 AX
3.36 LR
4.11 AC
3.70 AB
3.55 AA
3.08 AW
2.73 AV

Last edited by hdpete98; Jun 23, 2009 at 11:46 PM.
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Old Jun 24, 2009 | 10:55 PM
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From: Sebring florida
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Thanks all for the good info.

HDPete98
Are the codes good for earlier years? I have a 68 vert.
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Old Jun 24, 2009 | 10:59 PM
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The codes will tell you what was originally inside the differential, but that may no longer be what is really inside.

1968 Corvette Axle Ratios

Code Ratio Application
AK 3.36 Standard (327/350)
AL 3.08 Positraction (327/350)
AM 3.36 Positraction (327/350)
AN 3.55 Positraction (327/350)
AO 3.70 Positraction (327/350)
AP 4.11 Positraction (327/350)
AS 3.70 Standard (327/350)
AT 3.08 Heavy Duty Positraction (427)
AU 3.36 Heavy Duty Positraction (427)
AV 3.08 Positraction (427)
AW 3.08 Heavy Duty Positraction (427)
AY 2.73 Heavy Duty Positraction (427 Turbo-Hydra-Matic)
AZ 3.55 Heavy Duty Positraction (427)
FA 3.70 Heavy Duty Positraction (427)
FB 4.11 Heavy Duty Positraction (427)
FC 4.56 Heavy Duty Positraction (427)

Note: 1968 C3 Differentials were manufactured at Warren and are suffixed 'W'.
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Old Jun 25, 2009 | 09:58 AM
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I agree.. the above codes may tell you what the pumpkin left the factory with, but they do not tell what is in there 40 years later... plus you may not have the original pumpkin either..
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Old Jun 25, 2009 | 11:57 AM
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I just did this.

The codes and spinning to confirm should do the trick. This pic is from the ground up looking at the housing.

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Old Jun 25, 2009 | 12:29 PM
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Originally Posted by sonny_burnett
I've got a spreadsheet that you can use if you want it, not sure how to send it to you unless you want to send me a message with your email. It has gear ratios for an M20, M21, M22, M22W and 2 TKO 5 speeds. You set whatever rear end ratio you want and specify tire diameter and it calculates speed and rpm in each gear.

To answer your question you can tell what rear gear you have by your tachometer and knowing how fast your going. For example, I'm pretty sure my car is a 3.08 rear and that my speedo has a gear for a 3.36. I can tell this because my car indicated 70mph in 4th @ 3000 rpm, but I'm passing and keeping up with traffic that is going faster than 70mph on the freeway. Also went past a radar traffic sign and was about 7mph off. The problem arises that you need to know your speed, which in my case would have thrown me off if I just went by the speedo. If yours reads correct here are RPM in 4th (1:1) with 27" tires at 70 mph for:

3.08 = 2684 RPM
3.36 = 2928 RPM
3.55 = 3094 RPM
3.73 = 3251 RPM
Interesting - I have the same scenario - ie. correct as originally supplied 3.08 rear end, 27" tyres - revs and speed confirmed by gps sat nav - yet it reads about 7 mph slow. I have checked out the correct gear in the gearbox (white if I remember) even replaced it - perhaps the answer is to replace gear with a new one for a supposed different ratio rear end.
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Old Jun 25, 2009 | 03:25 PM
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if your speedometer is reading lower than your actual speed then the speedo cable is spinning too slow, speed it up by going one size smaller on your speedometer driven gear. easy to replace, just pull it out at the speedo connection at your tranny..

vice versa if your speedometer is reading too fast...

The replacements are color coded... try national parts depot or your dealer...

www.npdlink.com

click on the camaro book and search , they are all the same..
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Old Jun 25, 2009 | 04:37 PM
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I.D. codes on the housing are nice...but you probably don't know if anyone has changed the gears sometime in the past. Count the driveshaft revs (estimate a fraction of the last rotation if necessary) for one full turn of the rear wheels.
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