as you can see I run a '94 six speed, but Im thinking about changing the rear gears to something a bit quicker off the mark!

The situation is this, first off, Im not interested in how quick I can eventually go,on most of the roads around me you would be lucky to get to around 70/80 MPH for any sustained period, what I AM interested in is getting off the line as quick as possible, Im not saying I turn every set of lights into a drag strip but I would like occasionally to show a clean pair of heels to the kids in their Mitsubishi evo's and the like, 'cos they do like to try it on when they see me, mostly Im happy to let them get on with it but just occasionally...

so, with that in mind Im looking for advice on the right ratio rear gears to get me somewhere near

As Ive said Im not bothered about much over 100 MPH, Im happy to let that go in favour of quicker takeoff through the first four or five gears! let 'em know what a 19 year old car can do..

 

Many of those with manual transmission feel 4:10 is just about right, you may actually have a use for 6th gear after the change.
Oh and don't worry, you will still be able to top 100mph with no effort at all.
The factory selected gear ratios to increase fuel economy and dodge our "gas guzzler" tax. I changed the 2.59 rear in my 93 automatic car to 3.45 and feel it is just about perfect.

 

3.45 was the stock ratio in 6-speed cars. I believe 3.54 was an option. The Lt4 guys and Lt5 guys swap over to a 4.10, but they also have a few more revs to spare (over a stock lt1). Its a bit pricy to swap gears in these cars, but I would consider 3.73's, as it will be a good compromise with "room" to support future mods (i.e. still retain traction after power adders).

On a stock Lt1 the 4.10's will result in the biggest improvement in seat of the pants, but you will be rowing through the gears more frequently.

 

I have had both 4.10s and 3.73s in my LT1 Y and F Bodies. I prefer the 3.73s overall.

The 4.10s make 6th much more usable but 1st much less usable. In fact with 4.10s I would normally operate the car as a 5 speed starting in 2nd as long as I was on level ground. I think the major difference/advantage is while road racing and with the 4.10s you use 3rd and 4th 90-95% of the time. With 3.45s through 3.73s you use 2 and 3rd most of the time. The higher ratio allows you to run most tracks without using the dogleg in the transmission.

Either will work for you.

The best bet I have found to change gearing in a Corvette is to find a buddy that has the gear you want and change the whole rear end. Actually I just placed a call to my buddy that built the 93 I currently own. I know we switched rear end assemblies but I forget which car had 4.10s and which had 3.73s. I had a 94 Z07 Coupe at the time and I recall I had the 3.73s at the time and he had the 4.10s and I was doing heads and cam on the 94 and wanted to go with the 4.10s and he wanted to get a bit better mileage and use the 3.73s. So I suspect I now have the rear end assembly with the 3.73s and the 94 Z07's bushings in the 93 which I ended up buying from him after he went to the Dark Side (bought a Viper in 98).

The 94 coupe is long gone.

Perry

 

I have to say I do tend to start in 2nd anyway even with the stock gearing so it would be no big deal to continue, lots of good info to think about! Many thanks!

 

Cheers Perry, I understand what your saying mate but to be honest I'd have a problem finding another C4 in this part of England let alone swapping axle's so I'll probably have to go the long route and import whatever gears I decide on, oh well, yet another big hole in the ol' bank balance! Still, the words Vette and cheap never did go hand in hand, especially this side of the pond...

 

4.10's are the hole shot you are looking for IF you can get traction.I tired of shifting endlessly in mine and would usually go 1st-3rd-5th and you won't use 6th unless you are running 70 plus.
Be ready to shift into second quickly with the 4.10's!

 

I knew I could rely on you guys! many thanks! one last question, whats the best dealer/manufacturer? this is all new ground for me so Im trusting you guys!

 

Of course we are talking about 4.09s when we say 4.10s. The Y bodies have 4.09s the F bods have 4.10s.

Close enough amongst friends.

My buddy couldn't remember us changing out the rear gears. He thinks the 93 Roadster (now mine) still has the 4.09s he put in back when it was a blower car with stock bottom end (93-95). I am going out to check the rpm in 4th at 60 to confirm.

Perry

 

I am at 3200 rpm at 60 mph in direct (4th) using Kumho Ecsta V700s (a tire delivered with 6/32nds of tread only as it is a DOT legal competition tire) which are about 25.6 inch in diameter. Most fully treaded 275/40/17s and 315/35/17s are 25.7 inch in diameter.

Best I can tell that means I do have the 4.09s still in the car as 6400 rpm with 4.09s is 119 mph.

So I will modify my earlier statement. Since I think this car is about perfect, I need to say I prefer the 4.09s than not the 3.73s.

The 4.10s I had in my Camaro were in an A4 car and without the overdrive 6th that was a bit much for street driving. But with the ZF6, the 4.09s are just fine. I suppose so, as I didn't even realize I had them in and was thinking they were only 3.73s.

Either way, get some gears and enjoy the car!

 

Do the 4.10's and never look back!! Get Dana OEM gears if possible, mine are quieter than the stock 3.45's.

 

So, exactly what parts would I need to achieve this? is it simply a matter of changing the pinion and ring gears or do I need a different casing etc, some of the rebuilt cases Ive seen are a bit much for me pricewise at the moment!

 

I believe 41/10 = 4.10 Maybe you'd like to correct my math? I didn't know the conversation involved F - bodied anything!

 

You need the ring and pinion kit specifically for the D44-HD or as it's referred later the Super 44.

The original Corvette C4 is the D44-HD and has a 216mm ring gear. You can buy ring and pinion sets that have a 226mm ring gear for the later Viper and it's generally what is done presently. When buying the ring and pinion you need to make sure you buy a gear kit for 3/8 ring gear bolts. There's kits that have 7/16 and very late model Super 44's actually have 1/2 but they're seldom seen but I'll mention that anyway because they are out there.

You'll need an installation kit that includes 6 bearings, 3 seals, appropriate shims etc. Some include when you specify Corvette the most popular snap ring for the short axles, I'd suggest a package of snap-rings so that you can fit the short axles. I'd include just because of your location a set of clutches, pinion washers for the differential and because most if not all of the available gear kits use a crush collar vs shims for the pinion I'd make sure I bought 2 of the appropriate crush collar.

I didn't include sources but if you'd like more specific information to compare with maybe information offered by others feel free to use the e-mail feature in my profile.

The build could be done by a shop familiar with ring/pinion installs and there's many tutorials out there for the installs, there's good tutorials here on the CF for replacement of the clutch pack etc. Since it's presently only a "thought" I don't see the need for those.

 

45/11=4.09

This was all that was available in the mid 90's. We had our choice of 3.73s and the 4.09s. There was talk of 3.90s but I never could find a set to buy.

Apparently now there is a whole host of ratios available for the Dana 44. Are these truck gears?

Perry

 

The 4.09 gear sets for the C4 D44 are not true D44-HD gear sets, they have a sleeve welded on the pinion shaft to work with the HD rears.

 

You are "CORRECT" and there has "NEVER" been a 4.09 for D44-HD or a Super 44. I've had an early sleeved 3.90 that was beat on quite regularly by "recklessdrvr" while he was "breaking in" a new engine combination. He later bought it and sold it here on the forum maybe 18 months ago or so.
The sleeved D44's were only 26 spline pinions also. I don't know that being a "youngster" is relevant to the discussion.

 

Found what may be the answer in one of your prior posts (Apr of 12):

From WVZR1: "Corvettes and early Viper builds were 216mm (8.5). Spicer/Dana always referred to this build as D44 /216 ICA Rear Axle. Later in '99MY the D44 was revised for CMC/Jeep and the ring gear became 226mm (8.89) and the build became known as Super 44 /226 ICA Rear Axle for Jeep. I've never seen a Spicer/Dana Viper build referred to as a Super 44 226 and CMC didn't actually offer service parts for the early Viper but only complete differentials.

When did the 226mm ring gear become part of the Viper 44 build? Don't know but I'd guess maybe something later than '99MY likely late 2000MY builds and it would seem the earlier ones would have still used the D44 hardware. D44 hardware: 3/8" ring gear bolts, Super 44 7/16" ring gear bolts. The first service parts for the Viper rear appear '03MY and of course they share the Super 44 hardware.

Regarding differences CMC or GM builds - the OE builds are done to the OE specifications. Differences? end "

So the new gears and housing are from Jeeps, Trucks or Vipers? Something besides a Corvette, it appears.

Do these new plethora of gearing options fit the stock Corvette Dana 44 carrier or does the OP have to buy a new carrier to use 4.10s?

 

Does this help?
http://www.ringpinion.com/b2c/Produc...rce=DiffWizard