4.11's are too much for a L98. 3.73's are a better choice...
L98 and 4:11's ??
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 949
Likes: 0
From: smithtown ny
L98 and 4:11's ??
i did ask this question before but alot of people that replyed had 92 and up vettes.i think 1 person with a l98 has posted. i have alot of bolt on's stock heads and cam. 6spd with 3:45 gears. for around town no track is this worth it?? will it be a big diffrence?? i do plan on getting the superram and manifold but for now i want to do gears. will 4:11's use up my rpm range i don't mind shifting more or faster.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 1
From: Weymouth Dorset
I have a 1990 L98 6sp and changed my gears from 3.33 to 3.75 it has made a huge difference to mine, IMHO I think 4.11 will be too low , and someone will correct me if I am wrong ......dont you have to modify the casing to fit 4.11 ???? good luck 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,018
Likes: 563
From: Conroe Texas
hey 6speed, i used to run 4.09 gears in my 89, had headers, small cam, compression, head work and a few other little tricks. in the quarter i ran 12.teens at 107-108, but the 09's were too steep, i would run out of gear on the top end. i was pulling 6g, but my engine was losing power up there. i eventually put in 3.92 which dropped my rpm's down to about 5600, but still losing steam up there. i'm now looking to put in an lt1, so the 3.92 gears should be perfect. if you built an engine that built hp up to 6k, then the 4.11 might be good, but if your hp tops out around 5k-5500, you might look at 3.73. just my opinion, might help.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,097
Likes: 1,724
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
3.73 would be as high as I go with a L98, and thats only because it makes 6th more useful.
4.10 would be too much even with the Superram.
4.10 would be too much even with the Superram.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 1
From: Weymouth Dorset
Originally Posted by 6spd
so 3:45's to 3:73's is still a big diffrence??
dont forget an L98 dont pull much above 4500 / 5000 ( not without a lot of work ) I think you will be more than pleased with 3.75 . good luck
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 1
From: Weymouth Dorset
I bought mine from Merle at EM he has been very helpfull with everything I have bought even down to the shipping to the UK where I live .
as for the bearings that depends how many miles your car has done, I didnt change mine ......having said that my car had only done 22k when I changed them , but I did change the seals while I was in there , it would be a PITA to have to take it out again just to change the seals
good luck
as for the bearings that depends how many miles your car has done, I didnt change mine ......having said that my car had only done 22k when I changed them , but I did change the seals while I was in there , it would be a PITA to have to take it out again just to change the seals
good luck
Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 718
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From: W.V.C. Utah
When you start gearing your car traction becomes an issue 4:11's would make 1st gear useless and by the time you hook you have to shift. My bro has a 01 WS-6 T/A and he went from 3.42's to 3:73's and he has major wheelhop issues.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,261
Likes: 4
From: Middle River MD
Its true you don't need a lot of gear in an L98. But if you aren't interested in 1/4 times, then it should be one heck of stoplight brawler. I say give 3.73's a try, but hooking will be an issue.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,018
Likes: 563
From: Conroe Texas
Originally Posted by HeeHaw89
Its true you don't need a lot of gear in an L98. But if you aren't interested in 1/4 times, then it should be one heck of stoplight brawler. I say give 3.73's a try, but hooking will be an issue.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 21,510
Likes: 0
From: On a Wisconsin Death Trip
Originally Posted by TIMSPEED
Depending on price, I wouldn't bother. It may FEEL faster, but when you put it on the track, it MIGHT be .1-.2 faster. Which, for $500, isn't a good deal...
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 395
Likes: 0
From: Wescosville Pa
I put 4.11's in my L98 (stock heads and cam) for the same reason.
Tell you what, around town, they can't be beat. Tracion is an issue in 1st, but it's not useless.
I am currently siamesing my base to gain some upper RPM horsepower too...
-Dave
Tell you what, around town, they can't be beat. Tracion is an issue in 1st, but it's not useless.
I am currently siamesing my base to gain some upper RPM horsepower too...
-Dave
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,014
Likes: 18
From: Raleigh, NC
I'm going 4.09 in my 1991 six-speed. I go to the track quite a bit though, and launch the car on slicks. The lower gears should really help me get out of the hole.
If you want the car to "feel" faster, 4.09's are what I would recommend.
As far as actually racing, the 4.09 gears are going to bring you through the RPM range much faster than 3.73's. The L98, especially in stock form, doesn't make great power above 4,000 RPM's. The 4.09 gears are going to sling the car to that "dead spot" in the RPM band a lot sooner than a higher gear.
It's all a trade off man. It all depends on what you want to do with the car.
If you want the car to "feel" faster, 4.09's are what I would recommend.
As far as actually racing, the 4.09 gears are going to bring you through the RPM range much faster than 3.73's. The L98, especially in stock form, doesn't make great power above 4,000 RPM's. The 4.09 gears are going to sling the car to that "dead spot" in the RPM band a lot sooner than a higher gear.
It's all a trade off man. It all depends on what you want to do with the car.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 4
From: Hinckley Ohio
Originally Posted by 6spd
will 4:11's use up my rpm range .
With 4.10's 5000rpm will get you about 91mph, 5500rpm will get you about 100mph, and 6000rpm will be about 109mph in 4th gear, assuming about stock size tires....
So where are you going thru the traps now???? speed, gear, rpm??
Do you have dyno curve for your car??
Anyhow my guess is that unless you have upped the rpm range on your L98, you are going to run out of rpms with 4.10's, as noted above...
Oh, around town at the stop light, it will be a hoot with 4.10s, but be ready to shift.....biggest gain is 1st gear, 4.10/3.45 is about equal to 1.18,so it is like increasing your engine torque by 18%
Last edited by LT4BUD; Feb 18, 2005 at 02:48 PM.