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

Dana 36 gear question

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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 12:48 PM
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Default Dana 36 gear question

I am really considering changing out my gear ratio. Right now I have 3.07 in my Dana 36 and I was wanting to drop down to a 3.54 or 3.76. My question is if I do this how much time will I pick up in the quarter and what will my new top speed be. I'm running an 86E with the 700R4 and was wandering who of you are already running 3.54 or 3.76 and what your thoughts on them are.... Fuel milage changes and top speed changes. I love acceleration but I could care less about going over 130 because I just sold my Ducati that could do well over 180 (been there done that). I just want to be able to come out of corners on a road coarse like a batt out of welllll you get what I'm say.

Thanks for the advise up front...

Semper Fi,
Merritt
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 01:03 PM
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if your car is stock , you dont need more then a 307 in a l 98http://www.f-body.org/gears/

Last edited by clf93lt1; Dec 17, 2006 at 01:26 PM.
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 01:37 PM
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http://www.f-body.org/gears/
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 05:03 PM
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I am not sure about 1/4 mile change. I had Dana 36 with 3.07 and moved to 3.54. I really like the around town jump the lower gear gives. I have read varying reports about improvements in times. But I do like the wheel spin you get....and increased acceleration in 1st to 2nd.
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 05:41 PM
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lt1 pulls more rpms than a l98.
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 06:18 PM
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i think i've read changing your gears to the 3.79 will cut your quarter time by a 10th of a second. seems like you'd see a bigger impact though.
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Old Dec 17, 2006 | 08:13 PM
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I went from 2.59 to 3.54 on my LT1 and dropped 3/10's of a second. Seat of the pants is awesome.

Fred
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Old Dec 18, 2006 | 11:52 AM
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Originally Posted by RAGOVET
I am not sure about 1/4 mile change. I had Dana 36 with 3.07 and moved to 3.54. I really like the around town jump the lower gear gives. I have read varying reports about improvements in times. But I do like the wheel spin you get....and increased acceleration in 1st to 2nd.
How is your roll on acceleration changes up top at highway speeds and how much did it change your fuel economy. I'm debating now going all the way to 3.74 but I don't want to drop down to like 15mpg to get them. Thanks alot for the help guys. And what did you do to change the ecu to fix your speed-o correction???

Semper Fi
Merritt
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Old Dec 18, 2006 | 12:17 PM
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Default gear ratio

Hey..I have an 87 and changed to the 3.75's , now running a Dana 44 with 3.45's . So far I like the current setup better . Most of my driving is around town on 45-55 mph boulevards. The most appreciated part is the seat of pants acceleration 1-2 , but mostly 2-3 since this 700R4 likes to get out of 1st gear in a hurry. I recently made a long trip with the 3.75's and averaged 16.8 mpg at 80-85mph . Thats with 400+ cubic inches cam headers , etc . etc. , loaded with bodies and luggage. If you are still near stock and like to DRIVE the car I'd reccommend the 3.50ish ratio. The 86 can be speedo corrected with gears in the trans , the drive gear requires removal of the tailhousing and the driven gear slips onto the sending unit in the side of the same housing . With that much of a change in ratio , you'll likely need to change both . These are obsolete at GM but if you can get part #'s you can usually order them....try a performance oriented tranny shop. Have fun!
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Old Dec 18, 2006 | 12:21 PM
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i would just stick with the 3.07... i`ve plenty of cars make little, or no real improvements in track times, with lower gearing...

one of my friends went from a 3.07/D36, to a 3.54/D44 swap... he`s tried several times to get me to sell a 3.07/D44 chunk i have to him...
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Old Dec 18, 2006 | 01:04 PM
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Originally Posted by teufelhund
How is your roll on acceleration changes up top at highway speeds and how much did it change your fuel economy. I'm debating now going all the way to 3.74 but I don't want to drop down to like 15mpg to get them. Thanks alot for the help guys. And what did you do to change the ecu to fix your speed-o correction???

Semper Fi
Merritt
At highway I see a 15% increase in RPM. So in OD instead of 2000 RPM at 70mph, I am now 2300 RPM at 70 mph. My fuel on highway is still pretty good, used to get 23-24, and now get 21-22. Depends upon how you drive. I tend to suck a lot of gas. The person who did my rear gear change sent my ECM out for reprogramming. That along cost $350 smackers. But it runs great. proper shifting and even lowered the temp for my fans to come on.
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Old Dec 18, 2006 | 07:31 PM
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In the L98, you need nothing more than 3.07s. Anyone who reports results of a gear change should note their mods or that they have an LT1, because you will not get anything like the results that LT1 guys get with an L98. It hurts us more than helps, if stock.
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Old Dec 18, 2006 | 08:20 PM
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Originally Posted by vader86
In the L98, you need nothing more than 3.07s. Anyone who reports results of a gear change should note their mods or that they have an LT1, because you will not get anything like the results that LT1 guys get with an L98. It hurts us more than helps, if stock.
Sorry should have listed mods. I currently have only a custom cold air intake, dual exhaust from the manifolds back with a simple H pipe to even out the banks, magnaflow mufflers. that's all for the engine so far. I still don't see how a lower gear ration could hurt you. I understand we don't have the power up top but still you have 5 gears and in fifth gear you would have to be at 125 or so until you started to get out of your power even with 3.54gears. I'm really just concerned about raising my pull out of corners on a road coarse.

Thanks for all the help guys.
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Old Dec 19, 2006 | 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted by bill83c4
i think i've read changing your gears to the 3.79 will cut your quarter time by a 10th of a second. seems like you'd see a bigger impact though.

Whoever told you this probably had a LT1. A lightly modded L98 would definitly slow down in the 1/4 after changing to a ratio that steep.
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Old Dec 19, 2006 | 02:53 PM
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I went from 2.59 to 3.07 to 3.73 gears and I've been play with the Hot Cam and the GM847 cam along with S/R and LT1 intake conversion for the last year or so. And the 3.07 is a good all around gear with the HOT CAM.
Randy
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Old Dec 19, 2006 | 08:01 PM
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the l98 stops pulling at 4500 rpms. you will get there to quick with 3.54 gears. lt1 rpms goes to 5800
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