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1979 C3 rear gear

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Old Apr 17, 2020 | 02:22 PM
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Default 1979 C3 rear gear

Hello,

I am currently in the process of swapping a 1999 LS1/ 4L60E trans in to my 1979 C3. I sent my PCM out to get tuned and one of the questions is my “rear gear”. How could I tell my rear gear?

Thank you
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Old Apr 17, 2020 | 02:39 PM
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om: 3.36:1 ratio
oh: 3.55:1 ratio
oj: 3.70:1 ratio
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Old Apr 17, 2020 | 03:08 PM
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Originally Posted by interpon
om: 3.36:1 ratio
oh: 3.55:1 ratio
oj: 3.70:1 ratio

Thank you. Where could I find this code on my car
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Old Apr 17, 2020 | 03:48 PM
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Not for sure..stamped on differential somewhere?
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Old Apr 17, 2020 | 07:11 PM
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Since there is a chance your rear differential could have been rebuilt with different gears, the most definitive way to check is this:

Raise the rear of the car on jackstands. Have a helper place a mark or piece of tape on the driveshaft. Turn the rear wheel while your assistant counts the driveshaft revolutions. In my 79, this was 3.5 turns, so 3.55:1 gears. In my 80, it was just over 3 turns, so 3.07 gears.
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Old Apr 17, 2020 | 09:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Bikespace
Since there is a chance your rear differential could have been rebuilt with different gears, the most definitive way to check is this:

Raise the rear of the car on jackstands. Have a helper place a mark or piece of tape on the driveshaft. Turn the rear wheel while your assistant counts the driveshaft revolutions. In my 79, this was 3.5 turns, so 3.55:1 gears. In my 80, it was just over 3 turns, so 3.07 gears.
Do I just turn the wheel once as I count the revolutions?

Thanks
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Old Apr 17, 2020 | 09:46 PM
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Originally Posted by C3LT1
Do I just turn the wheel once as I count the revolutions?

Thanks
Yes. One complete turn of the rear wheel, and count the driveshaft rotations.
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Old Apr 18, 2020 | 02:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Bikespace
Yes. One complete turn of the rear wheel, and count the driveshaft rotations.

I got 2.75:1 please YouTube video I posted. Do you also get the same?

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Old Apr 18, 2020 | 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by C3LT1
I got 2.75:1 please YouTube video I posted. Do you also get the same?

https://youtu.be/zDejq8R_UBk
That's what I counted, too.

One possibility is that you have a 2.72:1 gear (or 2.87:1), though those ratios only ever came in the aluminum Dana differential, and only in 81 and 82, but a PO could have swapped them out.

These cars have positractiton differentials, so I didn't think to ask before, but which way was your other rear wheel turning at the time? Mine turn together, but if your other wheel is bound or sticking, it may have changed your readings.

Last edited by Bikespace; Apr 18, 2020 at 07:31 PM.
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Old Apr 18, 2020 | 07:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Bikespace
That's what I counted, too.

One possibility is that you have a 2.72:1 gear (or 2.87:1), though those ratios only ever came in the aluminum Dana differential, and only in 81 and 82, but a PO could have swapped them out.

These cars have positractiton differentials, so I didn't think to ask before, but which way was your other rear wheel turning at the time? Mine turn together, but if your other wheel is bound or sticking, it may have changed your readings.
the other wheel was turning together at same time.
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Old Apr 18, 2020 | 07:59 PM
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Here's the rear diff from my 79' 4-speed ("OM"). Code is stamped on the bottom.


Last edited by Duke94; Apr 18, 2020 at 08:00 PM.
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Old Apr 18, 2020 | 08:31 PM
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Man. 2.75 with 0696 overdrive is now a 1.91. 2.75 with a 3.05 low gear gives you a .83 first gear ratio. Do you by any chance have a huge engine.
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Old Apr 18, 2020 | 08:37 PM
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Originally Posted by C3LT1
the other wheel was turning together at same time.
As it should. So 2.72 gears, I s'pose (possibly 2.87). At least that's my best guess.

Do you recall what RPMs you had at a certain speed on the highway? 60 MPH would have been just a hair over 2000 RPM.
https://spicerparts.com/calculators/...rpm-calculator
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Old Apr 18, 2020 | 08:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Bikespace
As it should. So 2.72 gears, I s'pose (possibly 2.87). At least that's my best guess.

Do you recall what RPMs you had at a certain speed on the highway? 60 MPH would have been just a hair over 2000 RPM.
https://spicerparts.com/calculators/...rpm-calculator
I don’t remember the speed. But I appreciate your help. I will go with 2.72.

Thank you
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Old Apr 18, 2020 | 08:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Little Mouse
Man. 2.75 with 0696 overdrive is now a 1.91. 2.75 with a 3.05 low gear gives you a .83 first gear ratio. Do you by any chance have a huge engine.

I have 1994 LT1.
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Old Apr 18, 2020 | 10:53 PM
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Originally Posted by C3LT1
I have 1994 LT1.
huum. Did you feel like with a 2.75 or close to it that you were turning to high rpm on the freeway.
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