Rear gear recommendations?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: Duluth GA
Rear gear recommendations?
I recently rebuilt my L36 and I am wondering what the ideal gears for a 427 engine with 400-450 Hp and 500 Fpt torque. The 3.08's are not bad and
I can still get off fairly well from a dead stop, but have not timed anything yet.
Dyoning the car this weekend. :D I'm wondering how long the original gears will last. The engine seems pretty strong.
P.S. I only drive the car on the weekends with good weather. Not a daily driver.
I can still get off fairly well from a dead stop, but have not timed anything yet.
Dyoning the car this weekend. :D I'm wondering how long the original gears will last. The engine seems pretty strong.
P.S. I only drive the car on the weekends with good weather. Not a daily driver.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,892
Likes: 13
From: Pettis Performance 565 with two stages of Nitrous Supply nitrous 1.082, 4.61 at 155, 7.17 at 192
Re: Rear gear recommendations? (Pat 69BigBlock)
For a weekend driver I would go with 3.73's to 4.11's, unless you do a lot of highway driving. I love how those gears pull. It is hard to say how long your 3.08,s will last I just broke seven teeth off my 3.08 ring gear, I have a ROD so the mathematical gear ratio was 4.22. I now have 3.70,s. Saying that the gears are usually pretty reliable, other things often break first, stub axles, half shafts, etc.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,365
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From: Lake Villa IL
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Re: Rear gear recommendations? (Pat 69BigBlock)
The obvious response to this question centers around your tolerance for noise. If you don't do a lot of freeway driving, go higher. I've heard a lot of good about 3.55's, as they seem to be a nice middle road gear. I have 3.08's myself, and they are a little too steep for my taste. Then again, on the freeway, the car is on the verge of being annoying. So I don't know about going any shorter.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,833
Likes: 15
From: Southeast La
Re: Rear gear recommendations? (Pat 69BigBlock)
Pat,
I definitely would not go lower (numerically higher) than a 3.73. You will be hating life with 4.11's....esp on the hwy.
3.42's, IMHO have always been a good compromise gear, low enough to get the car out of the hole, but high enough to get out on the hwy and cruise and still enjoy it. :cheers:
I definitely would not go lower (numerically higher) than a 3.73. You will be hating life with 4.11's....esp on the hwy.
3.42's, IMHO have always been a good compromise gear, low enough to get the car out of the hole, but high enough to get out on the hwy and cruise and still enjoy it. :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Rear gear recommendations? (Pat 69BigBlock)
I suppose it depends on your ratio of freeway to city driving...
I stayed with my 3.36 rear and went with 700r4 trany as cheapest O/drive to do at the time...o/drive stick shift trannies were 3 grand or more, still are....
I would do the same with your engine...
and add DPFI, computer fuel injection too, for economy, but for a weekend driver, maybe that's no sense...
GENE
I stayed with my 3.36 rear and went with 700r4 trany as cheapest O/drive to do at the time...o/drive stick shift trannies were 3 grand or more, still are....
I would do the same with your engine...
and add DPFI, computer fuel injection too, for economy, but for a weekend driver, maybe that's no sense...
GENE
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 5,635
Likes: 4
From: Orlando Floriduh
Re: Rear gear recommendations? (Pat 69BigBlock)
I have 3.55's in mine. If you have an M-20 wide ratio 3.55. give good in town throttle reponse and at 70mph you'll be turning 3k if you have the stock diameter tires. :jester
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,645
Likes: 11
From: Schaumburg IL
Re: Rear gear recommendations? (Pat 69BigBlock)
Joeveto's comment is right. I and running a 454" with the T400 and 3.55:1's. They are fine, still get decent RPM's on the highway and pull well. I talked to numerous vette houses and mechanics and they all basically said the same, with an automatic don't go over 3.55:1, use the 3.70:1 or greater with manual.
