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

Gears Help

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Old Mar 24, 2006 | 10:45 AM
  #1  
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Default Gears Help

Hello,

I am looking into getting some new gears for my 1993 automatic. I am not sure what the stock rear end and gears are. I was also wondering if I do upgrade the rear end...what one I should go with.
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Old Mar 24, 2006 | 11:03 AM
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I'd go with a 9" Ford carrying a 4.56 ring and pinion.

You'd never have to give it another thought.


Okay, seriously, what will you be doing with the car? The intended purpose will dictate which gears you choose. If you are asking which rear end to go with, and you want to upgrade, you really have one option: D44.
Do you really NEED a 44? You'll have to give us more information on yourself and the car before anyone can give you a useful answer.

Do you realize that a used D44 w/ new gears will run several thousand dollars?

Larry
code5coupe
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Old Mar 24, 2006 | 11:04 AM
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What you should go with depends on a lot of things. Most namely, what is in there now. You can start by jacking up the rear of the car and turning the rear wheels. Once you know the ratio, you have to decide what you want from, and can live with, in terms of an "improvement".

RACE ON!!!
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Old Mar 24, 2006 | 11:08 AM
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Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
What you should go with depends on a lot of things. Most namely, what is in there now. You can start by jacking up the rear of the car and turning the rear wheels. Once you know the ratio, you have to decide what you want from, and can live with, in terms of an "improvement".

RACE ON!!!
CFI-EFI, been meaning to ask you. Can you state the steps again for rotating the rear wheels. ex. (one turn tells you what? one and a half turns tells you what?) ect.
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Old Mar 24, 2006 | 11:52 AM
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You want to know the steps in turning the rear wheels? I don't know how to break that down. 1.) Stop car. 2.) Jack up car. How many steps do you need for jacking up the car? Maybe I don't understand the question.

RACE ON!!!
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Old Mar 24, 2006 | 12:11 PM
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93 automatic likely has 2.59s, though other ratios are possible. You must look at the RPO codes and see what youve got.

3.54 or 3.73 is the usual upgrade, with the deciding factor being how much time you spend on the highway. If its a car that you race alot, then you need to look for the D44 with these gears, as your D36 will not last forever (and never with slicks).
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Old Mar 24, 2006 | 12:17 PM
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Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
You want to know the steps in turning the rear wheels? I don't know how to break that down. 1.) Stop car. 2.) Jack up car. How many steps do you need for jacking up the car? Maybe I don't understand the question.

RACE ON!!!
No,No,No silly CFI. Mabe if I explained my question at a slower pace. Once you park the car, get the jack and jack the rear end up so that the wheels are off the ground, block the front wheels and put the car in neutral, how do you determine what gear ratio the rear end is? I know some have told me to just simply look at it and it should be stamped on, but of course like you said before [the rear end gears can and do get replaced]. Sorry, not trying to steal the thread just thought this might help if CFI-EFI can cooperate.
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Old Mar 24, 2006 | 12:20 PM
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Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
You want to know the steps in turning the rear wheels? I don't know how to break that down. 1.) Stop car. 2.) Jack up car. How many steps do you need for jacking up the car? Maybe I don't understand the question.

RACE ON!!!
I think he's referring to the steps involved in verifying the rear gear ratio. If that is the case, you would need to rotate your rear tire exactly 360 degrees. While doing so, count exactly how many times your driveshaft rotates 360 degrees.

For example, tire goes around once, driveshaft goes around 1,105 degrees - you would likely have 3.07s.
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Old Mar 24, 2006 | 01:23 PM
  #9  
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Originally Posted by vader86
93 automatic likely has 2.59s, though other ratios are possible. You must look at the RPO codes and see what youve got.

3.54 or 3.73 is the usual upgrade, with the deciding factor being how much time you spend on the highway. If its a car that you race alot, then you need to look for the D44 with these gears, as your D36 will not last forever (and never with slicks).

I probably won't be racing it a lot. I am just looking for something quicker than the stock ones.
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Old Mar 24, 2006 | 08:10 PM
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Originally Posted by RRT vette
...how do you determine what gear ratio the rear end is?
The very essence of the gear ratio is the relationship between the number of input turns to the number of output turns. ByebyeL98 is basically correct, but you have to be sure that you are turning BOTH rear tires the same exact one turn. In a Corvette with the posi in good shape, this is a given. On a non-posi car or a Corvette with a worn out posi, one must make sure both rear wheels make that one full turn. Otherwise, the differential action will skew the results. Unlike byebyeL98's example, a degree wheel isn't needed. As the wheels are making their one revolution, simply count the number of drive shaft turns and fractions, there of. The number of turns is the ratio. It makes life easier if you know the possibilities. Three turns plus a very little more is 3.07:1. Just a tick less than three and a half is 3.45, a tick more is 3.54:1. Without knowing the possibilities, a degree wheel might be necessary. Does that work?

RACE ON!!!
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Old Mar 29, 2006 | 08:46 AM
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I have been looking into it and my cousin is more knowledgeable about cars than I am. My next question is what kind of rear end is currently in it? He told me just to change out the stock gears with some higher ones but keep the stock rear end...Does that make sense? Thanks for helping me learn guys!
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Old Mar 29, 2006 | 03:01 PM
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Your car came with the Dana 36. It takes the same parts as all C4s that came with the Dana 36. You will have to determine what gear ratio you have now, in order to make an informed decision on what you want to change it to. Unless you already have decided.

RACE ON!!!
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Old Mar 29, 2006 | 03:31 PM
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Originally Posted by natzke4
I probably won't be racing it a lot. I am just looking for something quicker than the stock ones.

If you have the stock gears you have a Dana 36 with 2.59 gears.
A straignt swap to a stock 3.45 gear will be nore than adequate for your purposes and give you a noticable improvement in the cars performance but your gas milage will suffer some.

Last edited by Jerris; Mar 29, 2006 at 03:35 PM.
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Old Mar 29, 2006 | 09:34 PM
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Actually, it's 3.54, not 3.45 gears that you want for the D36. You'll love them. But as stated earlier, find out what you have first. If stock, they're either 2.59 or 3.07.
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Old Mar 29, 2006 | 09:36 PM
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If your car has a 2.59 which im sure it does.....try lifting the compartment where the jack is, on the label on the right hand side "should" be your codes....look for a GM1...(which is 2.59)......Others for the dana 36 are....GU2 (2.73)....G44 (3.07)....GW4 (3.31)...... most all have the good for nothing 2.59's .......Even when my car was bone stock with the 2.59 gears, going to 3.54's ofcourse gave a HUGE performance advantage, and actually believe it or not gave better gas milage around town(stop and go driving)...and only lost 2 MPG on the highway........Im now running 3.73's and mileage hasn't changed any measurable amount from the 3.54's and is only 200rpms higher at highway speeds.......both 3.54's and 3.73's are perfect if you have an LT1 with an automatic(stock or even pretty heavily modified).....

Last edited by 95NOSvette; Mar 29, 2006 at 09:38 PM.
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Old Mar 30, 2006 | 02:34 PM
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Has anyone gone from 3.07 to 3.45's? Worthwhile difference? Same question for 3.07 to 3.75?

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Old Apr 1, 2006 | 07:30 AM
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Default Gear Ratio Selection

What's the best ratio for an L98 automatic (1988)? I have the stock 2:59 gears now. Not racing ...except around town...
I was thinking something aroung 3.5, but not as high as 3.7 due to the low RPM engine.

John
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Old Apr 1, 2006 | 08:38 PM
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Default gear ratio

I also have a '93 A4. I'm sure I have the 2:59 but will
go to the dealer and have them run my VIN.

I would very much like to go to the 3:54 gear.
What is the procedure here. I don't need a
Dana44 and want to do this as economically
as possible. This is my first vette and I have
no clue.
Thanks,
Craig
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