More power
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 11,268
Likes: 14
From: Honolulu, HI
Re: More power (PATISC4)
First off, welcome fellow Illinosian. Secondly, this topic comes up everyday. I suggest you search through all the threads.
Also, if you click the "search" button on the left, there's plenty of archived material to help you on your way.
:cheers:
Also, if you click the "search" button on the left, there's plenty of archived material to help you on your way.
:cheers:
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,672
Likes: 20
From: Lake Wylie SC
Re: More power (PATISC4)
This is your first post? If so WELCOME :seeya Is your C4 auto or 6spd? If it's a 6 spd go with a set of 410s. I don't know the story on automatics. There are a host of little things you can do to your LT-1 to let it run a little better, but you're right to think gears first.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,956
Likes: 681
From: Marlboro country MA
Re: More power (PATISC4)
Changing your differential will have no effect whatsoever on the power the engine develops, but it will have a big impact on the perceived power by increasing the rear wheel torque. The 2.59 gears that came with most C4 autos are designed to have a favorable impact on the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard, but they're terrible on acceleration. In addition to changing out the gears, consider adding a high stall torque converter and using drag radials.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,160
Likes: 1,733
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: More power (jodyeastman)
3.54 or 3.73 depending on what amount of hwy driving. They do offer these gears for the D36.
However, upgrading the entire rear diff to a Dana 44 with these gears is a much better way to spend your money.
Adding a higher stall TC, like 2600, can put the LT1 into the 12's. You should also think about adding a external tranny cooler with this mod.
Drag radials are ok, but real drag slicks will blow a D36.
However, upgrading the entire rear diff to a Dana 44 with these gears is a much better way to spend your money.
Adding a higher stall TC, like 2600, can put the LT1 into the 12's. You should also think about adding a external tranny cooler with this mod.
Drag radials are ok, but real drag slicks will blow a D36.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Re: More power (PATISC4)
You have to ask yourself if you just want to go faster or if you really want to make more power. Gears will give you better acceleration at the cost of top end speed and fuel economy.
Engine modifications will give you better acceleration at the cost of fuel economy. You can always change the exhaust on your car. You'd be suprised how far a little sound improvement can go towards the feeling of performance.
If you've got 2.59 gears then replacing them would certainly give you the best bang for your buck as far as accleration is concerned. If you replace the torque converter you will want to choose very carefully. Even a slightly higher stall torque converter can make the car behave pretty poorly on the street. Personally I don't like the "feel" of a loose converter. When I press the gas, even just a little bit, I want the car to move. With a loose converter you will have an RPM range where the engine just basically freewheels and doesn't do anything. :U
Oh well, that's why I drive a manual tranny. Just try to drive something with a different torque converter before you go changing that.
[Modified by Nathan Plemons, 9:47 PM 9/30/2003]
Engine modifications will give you better acceleration at the cost of fuel economy. You can always change the exhaust on your car. You'd be suprised how far a little sound improvement can go towards the feeling of performance.
If you've got 2.59 gears then replacing them would certainly give you the best bang for your buck as far as accleration is concerned. If you replace the torque converter you will want to choose very carefully. Even a slightly higher stall torque converter can make the car behave pretty poorly on the street. Personally I don't like the "feel" of a loose converter. When I press the gas, even just a little bit, I want the car to move. With a loose converter you will have an RPM range where the engine just basically freewheels and doesn't do anything. :U
Oh well, that's why I drive a manual tranny. Just try to drive something with a different torque converter before you go changing that.
[Modified by Nathan Plemons, 9:47 PM 9/30/2003]
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