Gear upgrade
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 343
Likes: 10
Gear upgrade
Ok I want to upgrade my rear end gear from a 2.59 to a 3.73. The car is a 93 auto. It is going to be a daily driver and may be go to the track every now and than with street tires. Not to often may be two or three times a year. Is this change possible with a 2.59 carrier or do I need to upgrade to a 3 series carrier? I read some other posts and confused myself. I just want the bottom line. Again I will only have regular street tires, nothing real sticky.
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 430
Likes: 1
From: Austin Texas
Ok I want to upgrade my rear end gear from a 2.59 to a 3.73. The car is a 93 auto. It is going to be a daily driver and may be go to the track every now and than with street tires. Not to often may be two or three times a year. Is this change possible with a 2.59 carrier or do I need to upgrade to a 3 series carrier? I read some other posts and confused myself. I just want the bottom line. Again I will only have regular street tires, nothing real sticky.
In my case, I want 3.54, not 3.73, and Richmond Gear makes a 3.54 gear set specifically to use in a 2 series carrier on the D36 Dana we both have.
Jim G
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 343
Likes: 10
I've answered all but ONE of the questions you are asking in my recent post "Jim G's "new" convertible". Do a search!
In my case, I want 3.54, not 3.73, and Richmond Gear makes a 3.54 gear set specifically to use in a 2 series carrier on the D36 Dana we both have.
Jim G
In my case, I want 3.54, not 3.73, and Richmond Gear makes a 3.54 gear set specifically to use in a 2 series carrier on the D36 Dana we both have.
Jim G
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 430
Likes: 1
From: Austin Texas
Also, at 60 mph, the 3.54 give you almost exactly 2000 rpm, and the 3.73 will be about 2100.
Finally, the 3.73 will, I suspect, need a smaller pinion than the 3.54, since the ring size is limited by the carrier. The 3.54 has a 13 tooth pinion (with 46 tooth ring), so I suspect the 3.73 will be a 12 tooth pinion with a 45 tooth ring. The 12 tooth will be a bit noisier than the 13 I think.
I wasn't sure if you had done the math or not.
I had no idea which gear manufacturer currently has the best quality, but I read recommendations for Richmond Gear at two different forums, and Richmond makes this particular 3.54 gear set here in America, so I went Richmond. Last time, on a Chevrolet SSR retro pickup, I went with Motive Gear, and it came out loud enough that the aluminum driveshaft made it "sing" above 30 mph, necessitating a different, composite driveshaft.
Jim G
Last edited by JimGnitecki; Jul 28, 2013 at 05:25 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 343
Likes: 10
I'm not really "stuck" on get the 3.75. A friend just put a bug in my ear. I have always thought that the 3.54 was a great gear. The more that I am hearing it seems that the 3.75 may be more problems than its worth.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 104
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From: Greenville SC
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 430
Likes: 1
From: Austin Texas
3.54 > 2667 rpm at 80 mph
3.42 > 2576 rpm at 80 mph
Not much difference really, especially for a 5900 rpm engine.
Jim G
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Racer
Joined: May 2008
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From: Austin Texas
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Dale City VA
WVZR-1 has a complete brand new 3.73 D36 for $750 in the classifieds...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-p...and-seals.html
Once you buy a gear set, new brgs, new seals, set up shims, new posi clutches and pay someone (who knows what they are doing) to set it up, your gonna be more than $750 into it.
Will
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-p...and-seals.html
Once you buy a gear set, new brgs, new seals, set up shims, new posi clutches and pay someone (who knows what they are doing) to set it up, your gonna be more than $750 into it.
Will
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 430
Likes: 1
From: Austin Texas
WVZR-1 has a complete brand new 3.73 D36 for $750 in the classifieds...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-p...and-seals.html
Once you buy a gear set, new brgs, new seals, set up shims, new posi clutches and pay someone (who knows what they are doing) to set it up, your gonna be more than $750 into it.
Will
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-p...and-seals.html
Once you buy a gear set, new brgs, new seals, set up shims, new posi clutches and pay someone (who knows what they are doing) to set it up, your gonna be more than $750 into it.
Will
My total swap including the cost of the new Richmond Gear ring and pinion set, plus install kit, plus synthetic lubricant, plus LS fluid, plus shop labor will, according to the shop, hit about $1050 to $1150 (their well experienced specialist does it in 6 hours labor and insists on very precise clearances), and that's the best hot rod and custom shop in town.
So, unless the OP can find a shop to provide all labor plus syntehtic gearoil and LS fluid for $300 to $400, he'll spend more doing the complete rear housing swap, at least until he can sell the old D36, and then have to try to sell that D36 with 2.59 gears locally, since shipping it would cost a used buyer a lot . . .
Plus, it's a heck of a lot more complicated set of transactions in total.
You have to consider the WHOLE picture.
Jim G
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
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From: SF bay area C.A.
C4 of the Year Finalist
I wish I would have put in 3:73,s now that mine is becoming a dedicated autox car. But the 3:07 gears I put in worked great for the street. If you buy a pumpkin from someone figure around $80 for shipping which is not too bad.
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 430
Likes: 1
From: Austin Texas
The 3.54 has you at about 50oo to 5100 rpm at the 1/4 mile.
The above are both with stock size tires. With non-stock tires, the rpm may of course be different.
Jim G
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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The rear is easily shipped either UPS or FEDEX - there's NO freight company that needs involved. I believe the OP is actually not that far from me and contacted me regarding a buy and I told him I had no use for his 2.59 but that I'd consider cash and a trade. He never contacted me again.
OP - if you haven't contacted me I apologize for implying that you had. Are you from Hagerstown?
OP - if you haven't contacted me I apologize for implying that you had. Are you from Hagerstown?
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2015
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Do the swap. Its worth the cost. If you can't spend a grand on your car. Why do you have it? Its a hobby and that costs money. Change over to the Dana 44 while your at it. Much stronger posi unit. I would recomend staying wkth the 3.54 gear or below if you plan on any extended hwy driving. Iwent with a 3.23 gear and it is great.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,492
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From: New Jersey
Do the swap. Its worth the cost. If you can't spend a grand on your car. Why do you have it? Its a hobby and that costs money. Change over to the Dana 44 while your at it. Much stronger posi unit. I would recomend staying wkth the 3.54 gear or below if you plan on any extended hwy driving. Iwent with a 3.23 gear and it is great.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 16,287
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From: Sun city CA
You might want to consider 3.07s. The same ratio as the G92 option in your car. It definately wakes the car up. You should be able to find one intact with decent miles for less than your going to spend.