C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Major discussion...Diff gears

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Old Feb 4, 2005 | 06:34 PM
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Default Major discussion...Diff gears

There has been some excellent information posted recently about rear gear ratios. Would 4.10 gears be too steep ( too high a ratio ) for the 4 speed automatic in a 1994 LT 1 ? Most people favor the 4.10s with 6 speeds..but would 3.73s be better for the auto? How much faster in 0-60mph would the 4.10s be over the 3.73s? The car will be used for highway driving and 0-60mph sprints. I think this topic is really important because we can gain some real street performance without digging into the motor.
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Old Feb 4, 2005 | 06:38 PM
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In my "opinion" 4.10 is too much gear. Others may disagree.
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Old Feb 4, 2005 | 06:44 PM
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The 4.10s shouldn't be too low (numerical high) a ratio for a 6 speed. With substantially lower than stock gears, 6th gear becomes usable. You may want to spend a little time figuring different rpm levels, in different gears, at speeds that matter to you to get a feel for the best ratio for your needs. With no other information, I'd go 4.10.

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Old Feb 4, 2005 | 07:28 PM
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My opinion is 410 is too steep for daily driver, especially highway. 3.54 or 3.73 is better choice for autos.
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Old Feb 4, 2005 | 07:42 PM
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Originally Posted by BAM92
My opinion is 410 is too steep for daily driver, especially highway. 3.54 or 3.73 is better choice for autos.
Late model automatics had an option of 3.07 gears. With the .7 overdrive ratio of the automatic, the final drive ratio in OD (3.07 x .7 = 2.15) is 2.15:1. The 4.10 gears in a 6 speed have a final drive ratio (4.10 x .5 = 2.05) of 2.05:1. Pretty darn close. But still a tick higher than the automatic. In MY humble opinion, 3.54 or 3.73 is a better choice for an automatic behind a high winding LT engine.

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Last edited by CFI-EFI; Feb 4, 2005 at 07:44 PM.
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Old Feb 4, 2005 | 08:40 PM
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[QUOTE=CFI-EFI]Late model automatics had an option of 3.07 gears. With the .7 overdrive ratio of the automatic, the final drive ratio in OD (3.07 x .7 = 2.15) is 2.15:1. The 4.10 gears in a 6 speed have a final drive ratio (4.10 x .5 = 2.05) of 2.05:1. Pretty darn close. But still a tick higher than the automaticQUOTE]




To expand on this, a 6-speed with 4.10's goes 73mph at 2000rpm, if you go 73 in an auto with 4.10's it will crank 2800 rpm at 73mph, getting pretty high if you do a lot of highway driving.....

At the strip both a 6-speed in 4th & auto in 3rd are 1:1, so in a sense they are equal in terms of going thru the traps..

Bottom line, gear selection is more than a quess, it is a function of engine characteristics, rpm capability, performance goals, etc......

I think 4.10's are too much if you do a lot of highway driving.....ok if want great 0-60 and little highway use......higher stall torque converter might better meet you objectives....

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Old Feb 4, 2005 | 09:38 PM
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Originally Posted by LT4BUD
To expand on this, a 6-speed with 4.10's goes 73mph at 2000rpm,
I have a 3.07 diff with an auto. That is right in line with the 2000 rpms I observe at 70 mph. At 85, my usual cruising speed, I tach at 2500 rpms. That is VERY close to what one will observe with 4.10's in a 6 speed car. Is that too many rpms for one that does a lot of highway driving? THAT is a personal decision. *I* don't think so, and neither did the General, when he built my car. I'm just trying to help people visualize and "get a grip" on the situation. Happy gear selecting, all.

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Old Feb 4, 2005 | 09:43 PM
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Just to clarify, My answer was regarding 4.10 in an auto.
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Old Feb 5, 2005 | 05:12 AM
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This is a loaded question, as there are too many variables. If you have no traction problems, then yes, it will help. If you have traction problems, then going to the lower gears is only going to aggrevate the problem, and this can be even worse with which stall & type of torque converter you are using. So you see it is a lot harder to make the right decision, because of the variables. From past experience, torque converters make a bigger difference than a rear gear change in ET's, anyday.
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Old Feb 5, 2005 | 01:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Pete K
Just to clarify, My answer was regarding 4.10 in an auto.
Of course you were. That is what the guy asked about. I don't know how I got off on a 6 speed tangent. And now that my head is out of... I agree that 4.10s are awfully (too) low for an auto. I stand by my 6 speed statements, but they sure don't apply to the question. Sorry.

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