2.59 gears... thoughts?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Director of Bands
St. Jude Donor '08
2.59 gears... thoughts?
I have the lowly 2.59 rear in my 93. I was out for a drive today and although the car does not necessarily blow me away from a stand still, I noticed that it has this surge of healthy power from about 2500rpm + and it just keeps pulling! With the 2.59 rear, you can hit some pretty high speeds in second gear and the eagerness of the car to get to those speeds makes for an entertaining drive.
Anyone else kind of like the 2.59 gears in their Corvette?
Anyone else kind of like the 2.59 gears in their Corvette?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,496
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From: San Dimas Ca.
I have a 95 with said gears and they are great. It's my first auto, my last three were 6 speeds an 02 a 96 and a 92. Probably just old age but I really like the auto and the performance is just fine.
Rick
Rick
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From: SANTA CRUZ CA
Le Mans Master
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From: WV
If you mostly cruise around and don't race your car , the 2:59s are fine, plus the gas mileage is great..But I think the 3:07s are a better performance gear , and should have been the default gears for the C4 automatics, plus you only lose a few MPG...
..WW
..WW
Last edited by WW7; May 25, 2015 at 05:29 AM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Director of Bands
St. Jude Donor '08
I think I'll just enjoy it the way I have it
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Ashland Alabama
Firm believer if you like mpg and cruise the interstate much then leave the 2.59's in there.
As I mentioned the 3.73's I have are awesome from a dead stop but cruising or high speed the motors working to much for my liking and the mpg sucks. My 86 4+3 had 3.07's and got a bunch better gas mileage than my 87 gets with the 3.73's and cruising was much more pleasant. With an automatic the 2.59's should rock.
As I mentioned the 3.73's I have are awesome from a dead stop but cruising or high speed the motors working to much for my liking and the mpg sucks. My 86 4+3 had 3.07's and got a bunch better gas mileage than my 87 gets with the 3.73's and cruising was much more pleasant. With an automatic the 2.59's should rock.
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From: Maryville Tn
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Yep, same here. But there is also a wonderful surge of power that comes on above 2500 rpms that, with the 2.59 rear end, catapults the car to ridiculous speeds with a satisfying whoosh. I had been lamenting my 2.59 rear for a bit and was contemplating changing it out for something - anything different. Then I took a drive and was reminded just how the car behaves the way it is - and it was fun.
I think I'll just enjoy it the way I have it
I think I'll just enjoy it the way I have it
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
My old '92 'vert with the A4 had the optional "Performance" 2.73 gears and I thought that was a very good ratio even though the 2.59 and 2.73 were the only choices in that body style with the A4. The car could cruise at 80 and still deliver 27-30 MPG on flat land.
I also remember that acceleration in the mid-RPM ranges (2500 to about 4000 RPM) was very good. I think that was because it's in the middle of the torque band of the LT1.
I also remember that acceleration in the mid-RPM ranges (2500 to about 4000 RPM) was very good. I think that was because it's in the middle of the torque band of the LT1.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: South Dakota
I had the 2.59 gears in my '88 A4.
For what I used it for it was great. My use was as a daily driver with a 100 mile per day highway commute to work. I got about 30 mpg with it. It was still more acceleration than most cars, although it was not that strong for a sports car. Overall it was a great setup for my use, it was a fun car to drive and the mileage meant I could drive it instead of something really boring.
If you are wanting more acceleration from a stop, then the higher ratio gears will help a lot, but loose a little mpg's.
It just depends on what you want to do with the car and what compromises you are willing to make.
For what I used it for it was great. My use was as a daily driver with a 100 mile per day highway commute to work. I got about 30 mpg with it. It was still more acceleration than most cars, although it was not that strong for a sports car. Overall it was a great setup for my use, it was a fun car to drive and the mileage meant I could drive it instead of something really boring.
If you are wanting more acceleration from a stop, then the higher ratio gears will help a lot, but loose a little mpg's.
It just depends on what you want to do with the car and what compromises you are willing to make.
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...WW
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Lecanto Florida
Mine came with 2.59/L98 Z52. Smokes the tires off the line, cruise all day at at any speed. Drops down to around 12.5 at 55 in overdrive. Of the few times I had it on the track during the Power Tours, it's pretty consistent in the low 14's. Not sure of the gas mileage as I never test it but it does everything I ask of it and sounds great with the eliminators. Love it.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2007
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I have the lowly 2.59 rear in my 93. I was out for a drive today and although the car does not necessarily blow me away from a stand still, I noticed that it has this surge of healthy power from about 2500rpm + and it just keeps pulling! With the 2.59 rear, you can hit some pretty high speeds in second gear and the eagerness of the car to get to those speeds makes for an entertaining drive.
Anyone else kind of like the 2.59 gears in their Corvette?
Anyone else kind of like the 2.59 gears in their Corvette?
NOPE, horrible boring gear and should have never been installed in a "sports car" IMO especially considering the going prices at the time. I understand there are options but too many cars have this crap gear and it costs a fortune to change. That feeling you get would be multiplied if you have a lower gear.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 698
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From: Huntington WV
Just recently switched to 3.07 from 2.59 in my 94 vert. Love em! Snappier off the line, squawks the tires on the 1-2 shift (no tranny mods) and still cruises just fine. I swapped the entire center section so I'm keeping my old 2.59s but just as a spare set of the hard to find Dana 36 spider gears.
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2015
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switch gears
Have a 85 with the 4+3. Switched from the 3.07 to a 3.23 gear. Love it. Still good for hwy crusing, with great acceleration in city form. Only had 80k on the original unit but the new posi unit is definitely better. I would highly recommend the switch.