Difference between 3.45 vs 2.59 gears..
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 6,341
Likes: 1
From: Shelton CT
Difference between 3.45 vs 2.59 gears..
Well, we finished swapping my Dana44 with 3.45 gears into my '92 automatic which had 2.59s, and..............
..............
..............
DAYMNNN.......
Par throttle and throttle response is waaay better, she spins the rears from a stand stop and loses traction under 25mph with the ASR off, and loses traction going into 2nd gear at about 35mph..
Car itself is a LOT faster than it was with the 2.59's.. TGook it up to 120mph in a heartbeat.
A defenately RECOMMENDED upgrade for people who want better performance..
..............
..............
DAYMNNN.......
Par throttle and throttle response is waaay better, she spins the rears from a stand stop and loses traction under 25mph with the ASR off, and loses traction going into 2nd gear at about 35mph..
Car itself is a LOT faster than it was with the 2.59's.. TGook it up to 120mph in a heartbeat.
A defenately RECOMMENDED upgrade for people who want better performance..
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by aboatguy
The beancounter that decided to saddle the LT1 with 2.59s did GM a huge disservice.Mike
With the 2.59's it would accelerate quickley, you just didn't know it until you looked at the speedo, but with the 3.45's, you knew you were accelerating which brings up another interesting point.
My automatic with the 2.59's turned in the same 60' times as my six speed with the 3.45's. In the end, the six speed was quicker and faster(2 tenths and 5 mph), but with the 3.45's, the auto matched the mph of the six speed and bettered the ET by 5 tenths over the six speed.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,706
Likes: 485
From: Everett WA
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by aboatguy
The beancounter that decided to saddle the LT1 with 2.59s did GM a huge disservice.Mike
Most of us bean counters are pretty wild guys
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 7,033
Likes: 12
Originally Posted by Mr Mojo
My automatic with the 2.59's turned in the same 60' times as my six speed with the 3.45's. In the end, the six speed was quicker and faster(2 tenths and 5 mph), but with the 3.45's, the auto matched the mph of the six speed and bettered the ET by 5 tenths over the six speed.
Are you saying you gained .7 seconds by going from 2.59 to 3.45 in the auto?
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: Commerce GA
I gained a whooping 7mph going from a 2.59 to a 3.73 which is a little more gear. My ET when down though due to traction issues now. I have to run at the track with at least ET streets to even get any traction.
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by hippy
Are you saying you gained .7 seconds by going from 2.59 to 3.45 in the auto?
Best with the 2.59 was 13.37, best with 3.45 was 12.50, so it's .87
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,704
Likes: 459
From: Mass Mass
This might be interesting to some.
Sorry for the big pictures, but you need to be able to read them
The car is an 1988, ZZ4 crate engine, TPIS runners and manifold, Paxton blower about 7psi, stock manifolds and cat, magniflows out back.
Car is identical except for the change from the 2.59 to the 3.54.
The 2.59 run was in August 2004, gears changed over the winter, 3.54 runs done June 2005 year, so weather conditions close.
Only have data up to 140 for the 2.59.
2.59 axle 0 to 140 mph
2.59 axle quarter mile
3.54 axle 0 to 140 mph
3.54 axle quarter mile
So don't sell the 2.59's to short, unless your just doing quarter mile runs
Sorry for the big pictures, but you need to be able to read them
The car is an 1988, ZZ4 crate engine, TPIS runners and manifold, Paxton blower about 7psi, stock manifolds and cat, magniflows out back.
Car is identical except for the change from the 2.59 to the 3.54.
The 2.59 run was in August 2004, gears changed over the winter, 3.54 runs done June 2005 year, so weather conditions close.
Only have data up to 140 for the 2.59.
2.59 axle 0 to 140 mph
2.59 axle quarter mile
3.54 axle 0 to 140 mph
3.54 axle quarter mile
So don't sell the 2.59's to short, unless your just doing quarter mile runs
Drifting
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 1,261
Likes: 6
From: Middletown New Jersey
Originally Posted by Mr Mojo
Yes and no.
With the 2.59's it would accelerate quickley, you just didn't know it until you looked at the speedo, but with the 3.45's, you knew you were accelerating which brings up another interesting point.
My automatic with the 2.59's turned in the same 60' times as my six speed with the 3.45's. In the end, the six speed was quicker and faster(2 tenths and 5 mph), but with the 3.45's, the auto matched the mph of the six speed and bettered the ET by 5 tenths over the six speed.
With the 2.59's it would accelerate quickley, you just didn't know it until you looked at the speedo, but with the 3.45's, you knew you were accelerating which brings up another interesting point.
My automatic with the 2.59's turned in the same 60' times as my six speed with the 3.45's. In the end, the six speed was quicker and faster(2 tenths and 5 mph), but with the 3.45's, the auto matched the mph of the six speed and bettered the ET by 5 tenths over the six speed.
I would guess this is because 1st gear on the auto is so low.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 6,341
Likes: 1
From: Shelton CT
Took her for a long cruise today, and every on-ramp I just floored it with the asr off, left a pretty amount of smoke and a firm 1-2 shift that actually cut the tires lose.. Car is soo much fun, can't believe I haven't gotten an LT1 long time ago..
I'm going to try to go to etown next wed and get a baseline with a bone stock '92 with 3.45gears as the only mod..
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 6,341
Likes: 1
From: Shelton CT
I STOLE it for $330 when a dealership closed about 2.5years ago..
It was a BRAND NEW '95 Dana44 from GM sitting in the warehouse..
Usually these go for $2k+ new, about $1.5k used on ebay and here.
It was a BRAND NEW '95 Dana44 from GM sitting in the warehouse..
Usually these go for $2k+ new, about $1.5k used on ebay and here.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 764
Likes: 691
From: Michigan
Originally Posted by Mr Mojo
Yes and no.
With the 2.59's it would accelerate quickley, you just didn't know it until you looked at the speedo, but with the 3.45's, you knew you were accelerating which brings up another interesting point.
My automatic with the 2.59's turned in the same 60' times as my six speed with the 3.45's. In the end, the six speed was quicker and faster(2 tenths and 5 mph), but with the 3.45's, the auto matched the mph of the six speed and bettered the ET by 5 tenths over the six speed.
With the 2.59's it would accelerate quickley, you just didn't know it until you looked at the speedo, but with the 3.45's, you knew you were accelerating which brings up another interesting point.
My automatic with the 2.59's turned in the same 60' times as my six speed with the 3.45's. In the end, the six speed was quicker and faster(2 tenths and 5 mph), but with the 3.45's, the auto matched the mph of the six speed and bettered the ET by 5 tenths over the six speed.
Are you saying ( if I'm doing the math correctly) that you picked up 7 tenths? I currently running 3.07 in my 89 A4 Do you think 3.45 or 3.73 would help drop a few tenths?
Thanks for your assistance.
- Ken
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,875
Likes: 0
From: Olive Branch (Memphis suburb) MS
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by khartford
I currently running 3.07 in my 89 A4 Do you think 3.45 or 3.73 would help drop a few tenths?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 861
Likes: 1
From: Hyde Park NY
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by 2nd2SEX
That is awsome Nuke Im not so sure how long my D36 and 3.54's will last but I'll give it a try, as long as I dont drag it right??
Im not so sure how long my D36 and 3.54's will last but I'll give it a try, as long as I dont drag it right??I have decided to upgrade my 3.07 D36 to 3.54. I dont plan on dragging, just some street fun and cruising. I shied away from the 3.73 in the D36 to conserve some semblance of decent gas mileage and also to not kill the D36 too soon. LOL. How do you like the 3.54 in the D36?
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,971
Likes: 9
From: The reason time exists is so everything doesn't happen at once
Originally Posted by aboatguy
The beancounter that decided to saddle the LT1 with 2.59s did GM a huge disservice.Mike
I think it was likely someone more concerned with CAFE than cost.