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

What gears to get ?

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Old Oct 14, 2004 | 09:14 PM
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Default What gears to get ?

What is the best gear upgrade for an automatic 1989?
It has 2:59s now.
The car is basically stock now with just open lid, air foil, and Borla mufflers.

Upgrades in the future will probably just be bolt-ons, and that may be a year+ ? from now, maybe longer, so I want to go with gears I can live with now, and not have to change when I get around to future mods.

This car is street use only. I know a 3:07 would work well but how about higher, like 3:55s? Any suggestions?
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Old Oct 14, 2004 | 10:19 PM
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i'd do the 3.55's
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Old Oct 14, 2004 | 10:24 PM
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Originally Posted by CTYANK2
What is the best gear upgrade for an automatic 1989?
It has 2:59s now.
The car is basically stock now with just open lid, air foil, and Borla mufflers.

Upgrades in the future will probably just be bolt-ons, and that may be a year+ ? from now, maybe longer, so I want to go with gears I can live with now, and not have to change when I get around to future mods.

This car is street use only. I know a 3:07 would work well but how about higher, like 3:55s? Any suggestions?

i have an 88 4+3 with a 3.07 stock gear, i am going to a 3.54 gear out of a 95 manual car.......i know i have a dana 44, and you have a dana 36, but a 3,54 is close to a 3.55.

if i were you i would go a little higher then a 3.07, i think a 3.73 is too much for a stock L-98.
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Old Oct 14, 2004 | 10:30 PM
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3.54 would be the only one really worth upgrading to, but it still is too much gear for the L98.

I think your money would be better spent by buying a higher stall TC, like 2200rpm.
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Old Oct 14, 2004 | 10:39 PM
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Originally Posted by vader86
3.54 would be the only one really worth upgrading to, but it still is too much gear for the L98.

I think your money would be better spent by buying a higher stall TC, like 2200rpm.
u think that is tt much gear? scorp seems to think so. my mods are in my signature......will 3.54 bring my e.t. down............a have a 4+3.
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Old Oct 14, 2004 | 11:38 PM
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Originally Posted by 88BlackZ-51
will 3.54 bring my e.t. down............a have a 4+3.

It wont affect your 1/4mi times in a positive way, no. It may even raise your time.

Unless you switch to a Miniram, there is no need.
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Old Oct 14, 2004 | 11:41 PM
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Going from a 2.59 to the 3.07 should makes a huge difference with a stock L98. The #s may not be all that different, but the engine likes it. It should bring the car into the 14.0 range if not a touch better.
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Old Oct 14, 2004 | 11:42 PM
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Originally Posted by 88BlackZ-51
u think that is tt much gear? scorp seems to think so. my mods are in my signature......will 3.54 bring my e.t. down............a have a 4+3.
3.54 is not worth it on a stock L98 unless you plan on getting rid of the stock TPI intake system later.
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Old Oct 15, 2004 | 12:45 AM
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Not that it matters just wondering if you're for sure that 95 has 3.54......stock they had 3.45 so I assume the gears have been swapped but then I thought who would swap 3.45 to 3.54.....
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Old Oct 15, 2004 | 09:07 AM
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Originally Posted by scorp508
3.54 is not worth it on a stock L98 unless you plan on getting rid of the stock TPI intake system later.


what about if i siamese the stock unit scorp?
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Old Oct 15, 2004 | 09:14 AM
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Siameseing and portwork will not change our opinion on that, even fully ported youll run flat out of breath up top, so quickly with 3.54s that youll probably lose time.

You have to change to a totally different intake to take advantage of lower gear ratios.
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Old Oct 15, 2004 | 10:09 AM
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Originally Posted by vader86
Siameseing and portwork will not change our opinion on that, even fully ported youll run flat out of breath up top, so quickly with 3.54s that youll probably lose time.

You have to change to a totally different intake to take advantage of lower gear ratios.

you have msn messenger? so if i go with the superram, then i would be fine with the gear? u see i can get the gear installed for about $600 CDN, and i think that is cheap, that is about $500 U.S.

but i have one more outing to the track oct 23rd, and the guy wants to install them on tuesday.......i don't know what to do.....gee!!
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Old Oct 15, 2004 | 10:23 AM
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Originally Posted by vader86
Siameseing and portwork will not change our opinion on that, even fully ported youll run flat out of breath up top, so quickly with 3.54s that youll probably lose time.

You have to change to a totally different intake to take advantage of lower gear ratios.

first off i am not saying you are scorp are wrong, because u guys know way more then i do.....just trying to understand that's all.

http://www.f-body.org/gears/ on this site it states that if i was to get 3.54 gears i would cross the line at this rpm's at these mph's...


4200- 91 MPH
4300- 93 MPH
4400-95 MPH
4500- 97 MPH
4600- 99 MPH
4700- 101 MPH
4800- 104 MPH


and with 3.07's it is like this in 4th....

3900-97 MPH
4000-99 MPH
4100-102 MPH
4200-104 MPH
4300-107 MPH

my last time slip was 14.02@100.60 MPH, so i guess i am crossing the line at around 4000 rpm's.

i figured the 3.54's would get me to the line quicker, and i could hold 4th to 4700 RPM's, that is all.......i am probably wrong, but u cant blame a guy for asking, or researching the heck out of it.
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Old Oct 15, 2004 | 10:48 AM
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Originally Posted by vader86
Siameseing and portwork will not change our opinion on that, even fully ported youll run flat out of breath up top, so quickly with 3.54s that youll probably lose time.

You have to change to a totally different intake to take advantage of lower gear ratios.
even with port job etc.....why is that?
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Old Oct 15, 2004 | 11:05 AM
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So, on a stock L98 automatic, it sounds like a small improvement with the 3:07s and questionable improvement with the 3:54s. (I guess the 3:54 would take off quicker? and loose some pull at higher speeds?)

If that is the case, is there anything inbetween that would make sense?
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Old Oct 15, 2004 | 01:48 PM
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I picked up 1/2 sec by switching from 2.59 to 3.54. The diffenerce between the two is night and day.
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Old Oct 15, 2004 | 03:38 PM
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what rpm's are u changing at?
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Old Oct 15, 2004 | 03:44 PM
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James, are you running the stock 1,500rpm TC and did you raise shift points from the stock settings after the intake & RR mods?
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Old Oct 15, 2004 | 03:54 PM
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Originally Posted by scorp508
Going from a 2.59 to the 3.07 should makes a huge difference with a stock L98. The #s may not be all that different, but the engine likes it. It should bring the car into the 14.0 range if not a touch better.

on an L98, with stock heads and cam, I've always read that the 3.07 was the best....
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Old Oct 15, 2004 | 03:59 PM
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Originally Posted by mikey whipreck
on an L98, with stock heads and cam, I've always read that the 3.07 was the best....

well i guess i should just buy the gears, and get them installed after some motorwork.....is that a better idea vadar, and brian?
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