New gears?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 12
From: Fisher, IL
New gears?
I have a completly stock 96 LT1 vette. It is a auto with 107,000miles. I was thinking about a intake but what i hear is that the stock one is just as good. What would be the best gear ratio for my auto? Or should i just do a catback exhaust? I am very cheap and don't want to spend a lot of money unless it is going to impove it dramaticly. Really all i want is if to sound meaner for now. Should i just drill a hole in the exhaust or it that super bad. I can always try that then if i don't like it buy a aftermarket exhaust. But from what i hear is that a new rear end is the best bang for the money. any opinions would be great.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 0
From: bakersfield cali
what gear do you have now?
If you commute alot stick with 354's. if you use the car to go to work and your work is close, and you do not have to go on the highways too much then get the 373's. This is definately the best bang for the buck. the car will feel alot faster with lower gears. You still have to spend around 500 bucks for this if you do the work yourself.
don't put a hole in your exhaust, that's really getto.
If you want to go cheap, loud, and mean, get those muffler eliminators from mid america. Just choose the tips you like and take them to your hearest muff shop. They shouldn't charge you more than 50 bucks to put them on. You'll be speding less than 200 bucks installed.
When I was commuting back and forth every weekend from s.f. to bakersfield,ca, around 450 miles roundtrip, I had my 3.54's. and I really liked them on the highway. Now that I live in bakers, I work 10 miles from my job and wish I had the 3.73's.
If you commute alot stick with 354's. if you use the car to go to work and your work is close, and you do not have to go on the highways too much then get the 373's. This is definately the best bang for the buck. the car will feel alot faster with lower gears. You still have to spend around 500 bucks for this if you do the work yourself.
don't put a hole in your exhaust, that's really getto.
If you want to go cheap, loud, and mean, get those muffler eliminators from mid america. Just choose the tips you like and take them to your hearest muff shop. They shouldn't charge you more than 50 bucks to put them on. You'll be speding less than 200 bucks installed.
When I was commuting back and forth every weekend from s.f. to bakersfield,ca, around 450 miles roundtrip, I had my 3.54's. and I really liked them on the highway. Now that I live in bakers, I work 10 miles from my job and wish I had the 3.73's.
Last edited by 86VX1; Dec 14, 2005 at 07:24 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,154
Likes: 1,731
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
The mod that would change the feel of the car most is the gears. 3.54 or 3.73, but dont pick 3.73 if you drive on the hwy alot. A torque converter would be the next step, with a stall around 2400-2600rpm.
If youre cheap put straight pipes on, dont cut holes in the exhaust.
If youre cheap put straight pipes on, dont cut holes in the exhaust.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 12
From: Fisher, IL
so now that the ghetto hole is out. I looked at the 3.73 gears online. I won't be driving this much on the highway as far as i know. But someone said if i did my own work then i would spend about $500 but what i saw was that the new rear ends were $1200+ Do i only need the new ratio ring and pin set? or do i need a whole new rear end? And if i only need the ring then how hard of a install are we looking at. I don't do a lot of work on my cars but if it is just opening it up and putting the new piece in then should i do it? isn't there fluid in the rear end that i would have to get ride of. If i did pay someone how much would that cost. And what 3.73 gears do you recomend?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 12
From: Fisher, IL
Also i better keep it as street legal as possible. So no muffler eliminators. Does anyone have a favorite muffler that sounds great for cheaper then say Borla or Corsa? And do i really need the hole catback system or can i just get the mufflers and have them replace my origional mufflers?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
Likes: 12
From: Fisher, IL
One last thing I have a auto which i think has the 2.59 or something like that. I think the 6-speeds came with the 3.54. So should i still get the 3.73 since i am not on the highway much?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,154
Likes: 1,731
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Setting up a rear end is a job for professionals and very experienced people only, you do not want to do this job yourself. Probably will end up being in the $700 ballpark.
You will need a ring & pinion, must be made for the 2-series D36. 6-speeds in your year come with 3.45.
Yes you will need new fluid and 2 bottles of slip additive.
Straight pipes are street legal, as long as you dont delete cats nor mess with the O2 sensors, you will have no problem.
You will need a ring & pinion, must be made for the 2-series D36. 6-speeds in your year come with 3.45.
Yes you will need new fluid and 2 bottles of slip additive.
Straight pipes are street legal, as long as you dont delete cats nor mess with the O2 sensors, you will have no problem.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 513
Likes: 0
From: Go Dawgs!
Rindandpinion.com sells the kit
gears around $350
opt. rebuild kit ~$100
plus labor- ~8hrs so id say $300-$500 in labor
basically the shorter you go with gear ratio helps you up to a point and then you lose performance because your always spinning. ASK people with stock autos what their experiences are.
gears around $350
opt. rebuild kit ~$100
plus labor- ~8hrs so id say $300-$500 in labor
basically the shorter you go with gear ratio helps you up to a point and then you lose performance because your always spinning. ASK people with stock autos what their experiences are.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 32,782
Likes: 11
From: Former NCM Drag Racing coordinator, National director Corvette Challenge Spring Hill, Tennessee: Whiting, New Jersey
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
For a stock motor the stock exhaust is fine, I dove my car everyday for years 100 miles round trip with 3.73 and a 2600 Vigilante and found it to be a great combination.
Gears are your best bang for your buck.
Gears are your best bang for your buck.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,641
Likes: 13
From: Slidell Louisiana
Originally Posted by mackeyred96
For a stock motor the stock exhaust is fine, I dove my car everyday for years 100 miles round trip with 3.73 and a 2600 Vigilante and found it to be a great combination.
Gears are your best bang for your buck.
Gears are your best bang for your buck.
I did a D44 swap and I love my 3.45s. I took a small MPG hit on the Highway but got an increase in MPG in town.
Mike
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 2
From: Albuquerque NM
Originally Posted by mackeyred96
For a stock motor the stock exhaust is fine, I dove my car everyday for years 100 miles round trip with 3.73 and a 2600 Vigilante and found it to be a great combination.
Gears are your best bang for your buck.
Gears are your best bang for your buck.