Since the labor for a new cam is close to a grand in my area, I have decided to consider some other mods this winter (I've got a hole burning in my pocket :D ). For those of you that have these gears, I was wondering what your thoughts were regarding them (good, bad, indifferent, etc).

Can you also tell me where to get them for a decent price? My primary usage of my car will be some road racing and autocrossing, but I will continue to drive it on the weekends, as well as the occasional trip down the strip.

Thanks in advance,

Mike

 

What rear end do you have? I have a Dana 44 and have done some home work read my post under owenslt4. I just got 3.92's yesterday and they will be installed next week. The reason for 3.92's was not having to shift to 5th before the end of 1/4 mile. You might be happy with 3.73's though, I run NOS and making 418 rwhp and 540 rwt. My second choice would be 3.73's.

I got my gears from Randy's ring and pinion, web site http://www.ringpinion.com. I will be able to tell more after next week installation.

Also I might add that NOS is a very very cheap price for horse power. but I would not go much more that 75 or 100 shot on LT1.

Good luck

 

I have the same rear end and gears that you have (3.45's). I'm not real interested in the 1/4 mile or NOS, as I enjoy road racing and autocrossing more than running it in a straight line.

I never really considered the 3.92's before but they may be a better alternative. I'm only thinking this because I'm going with a bigger cam (Extreme Energy 224/230) than what I have now (Comp Cam 210/224) and will be losing a little bottom end.

Let me know what you think of them when you get them installed...

Mike

 

Hey Mike, how's it going?

Weren't Chuck W, Mike W, Mike G and Rich R all running 3.73s when you were up here? The 3.73s should be plenty of gear for you unless you jump up to something like the 234/242. What is the power curve on the 224/230?

I'm running a 222/230 lift with .542/.563 duration on my 86. Remember that the 86 is using the 4+3 so the gears are a little steeper for 1st-3rd. I also have the 3:07s that I am replacing this winter. 3.73s will let me come out of the corners up here at Summit on both Jefferson and the main track right in the sweet spot of the power curve.

I have an Excel spread sheet that computes speeds based on your final gear ratio and which tranny you are using. If you want it, send me an email and I'll send it back as an attachment.


[Modified by 96LT1, 9:51 PM 12/13/2002]

 

Mike,

Good to hear from you. Yeah, all of those guys are using the 3.73's, and that should be proof enough for me to just get them. :)

How's it been going with you? The club been treating you well? I have been watching your times at ODS and it looks like you're getting pretty good. Keep up the good work. :cheers:

BTW, go ahead and send me the spreadsheet to mlindsey@dewberry.com

Mike

Edit: Forgot to mention, this cam's lift is .536/.544 w/1.6 RR's. I posted a thread earlier in this section asking for Cam input, and a number of people recommended the 224/230. I went ahead and ordered it today. They told me I should sqeeze out another 20 - 25hp with it with proper tuning, and only sacrifice a little on the bottom end.


[Modified by luvmy92, 4:10 PM 12/13/2002]

 

have you considered going with a 4.09?

 

Hey Mike, just realized who you were...

For your application, the .373's should be perfect. The engine could probably handle the revs for a .409, but they generate a LOT of heat on road courses. I've gotten that from at least one well respected tuner. The only way to run those is with a full blown diff cooler and pump. You can get away without the cooler with the .373's. You won't believe the low end grunt you will pick up. It makes a huge difference coming off corners, not to mention the overall performance.

DTS- Drivetrain Specialists out of Detroit are pretty knowledgeable, and have the real Dana gearsets. Mine is the "Viper" ring and pinion. Much stronger than the OE .333 and the other .373's I had. The pinion shaft is the full diameter all the way. If you haven't seen some of the .373's they have a smaller pinion shaft and they weld a larger OD race over it where the bearing rides. The lands on the teeth ar also much longer believe it or not. It still fits in our diff. Some, like mine required a very slight clearancing of the case to clear the ring gear. No more than ~.030". Make sure whoever sets up the rear end for you has successfully done a number of C4 Dana 44's. They apparently like to be run slightly deeper than others. The first set I had sang a fair amount on coast. DTS is a good resource for that info.

Oh, BTW... while the diff is out, drill and tap a drain hole. That was a BIG benefit given how often we change our diff fluids running track events.


[Modified by h rocks, 10:02 AM 12/14/2002]

 

Tom,

Thanks for the reply. I think I will go with the 3.73's, based on yours and other's recommendations. I was looking at the Dana 3.73's sold at Ring and Pinion in Washington. Would these be OK or should I get the Viper gears? I guess I am going to also have to get the Install kit,as well as the speedo gear. As for the labor, Mike Norris at Norris Motorsports says he has a guy that can do it. I'm checking with some of the other local Corvette shops as well (we have 3 in the area).

BTW, when we pulled the engine and did the top-end work, we drilled a hole in the diff, and tapped it for easy drainage. :)

Mike

 

I run 3.75's and they work out pretty good for 1/4 mile. Best abng for buck excluding NOS. Fun factor 10. I went from 2.59 to 3.75 and it was awesome. Even on the highway RPMS are not to bad, and when I drove across country with bolt on type LT-1 I got around 23 mpg.
Now with the 396 LT-1 different gears may be an option, but not really right now, and I have a LT-4 Hot Cam, which runs out about 5800 rpm with this motor.
PS IKERDS is the best IMHO. Fair price, great quality. He builds all of Mid AMericas Diffs. He is located in Indiana. Winter time is good for customer as business gets slow. ;)


[Modified by steve40th, 7:01 PM 12/14/2002]

 

IMHO, a six speed LT1/4 is better off with a 4.10, many of the folks chiming in here have L98s or LT1/auto trans, their case is different from yours. For all the money you're going to spend, 3.73 just aren't very different from your stock 3.45.

Eric

 

I agree with silver & red CE, the general consensus is that the perfect LT1 gears are auto-3.73, manny-4.10s :chevy

 

I could see where the 4.10 gears would be the ticket on the street, but my primary goal with this car is to road race and autocross it. And I think the 4.10's would be a bit much. What do you all think of the 3.91's?

Mike

 

4.10s would probably be good for around town and are definitely the ticket for the strip but you would kill yourself at a track event. Running 315/35-17 Kumhos with 4.10s will have you topping out between 142 & 150 mph in 5th depending on tq/hp curve, etc.

If you came out of turn 10 at Summit at 70mph you would be setting right at 5000rpm in 3rd gear. Of course you would never hit 140+ at Summit but you could at VIR and from what I've heard might at Watkins Glen, etc.

I'm just thinking that the sweet spot in your power curve is probably between 2500 and 5800 rpms. If that is the case and you are looking for an "all around" set of gears that will work at most tracks without really hurting you on any one track, the 3.91s are probably your best bet. That gives you a nice range between 40 and 80mph in 3rd. You would have enough torque available that you could aggressively throttle steer any of the turns at VIR, or either of the tracks at Summit.

4.10s would put you in the high end of your curve at any of those tracks and could cause you to have problems putting the power down smoothly. It wouldn't take you long to 'learn' it but you would always be right at the edge, especially on a wet track.

I'm not familiar with the tracks that you would be running down there Mike, but if it was me, I would go with the 3.91s.


[Modified by 96LT1, 8:16 PM 12/15/2002]

 

Hey Mike!
Its been a while since I talked to you.

My autocross car had 4:10 for 2 years. This
summer, Mary spread my rearend gears all over the
track at Gainesville :yesnod: My rear failed because I
had a Florida Caliper unit with Dana gears. This gearset
used a spacer that was welded to to pinion gear. The pinion
broke at the welds.
My new rear has 3:75. I believe it is a MUCH better
choice for autocross, and road racing.

Good Luck!

Russell Monks

 

Of course I meant to type 3:73, not 3:75

Russ

 

Thanks again, Mike, for all the helpful info. I think I am going to go ahead and get the Viper 3.73 gears. I don't believe they make a 3.91 ratio, but have been told their gears stand up to more punishment.

Hi Russ! I hope to see you at some local Florida autocrosses this year.

Mike

 

Monks, that bearing race that's welded on the pinion shaft of the old style .373's is what I was referring to earlier. The Viper pinion gear has the full diameter on the whole shank.

 

Thanks for everybody's help here. I went ahead and ordered the Dana HD 3.73 gears from Randy's Ring and Pinion for $217.

Supposedly, these are Dana gears in a Yukon box, and they are for 84-96 vettes as well as Vipers. They say they come with the D44 3.73 gears, but with the larger pinion and yoke splines from a D60. They also sell the install kit which comes with bearings, seals and shims for another $111.

I spoke with Al Kindler first and he does not sell the Dana Super 44 gears in a 3.73 ratio. Only 4.10 ratios and higher.

I'll let you know what I think when I get them installed...

Mike



[Modified by luvmy92, 7:19 AM 12/20/2002]

 

Mike I got the car back today and WHAT a difference. Sixth gear is now usable. Also when Taking off in 1st there is no hesatation and 2nd comes real quick. I am planning a trip to the track Friday nite weather permitting. That will be the real test. You might be better off with 3.73's though for auto cross and road racing, the wheel spin might come into play. I would say that your driving habits would change with the 3.92's.

Good luck and happy holidays

Owen

 

Thanks for the heads up, Owen. I'm really looking forward to getting these on the car, and can't wait to get it out on the track. Let me know if your times are any better with the new gears...

Mike