I have a 95 Vert with 254 rear gears and am looking to increase the performance somewhat without sacrificing too much comfort or driveability. I would like to get input from those who have done one or the other of these mods. I like the fact that the converter would allow a substantial spin up of the motor without increasing highway RPM but I would like some input as to how substantial the performance increase will be? I am one of those wimpy guys who wants a performance exhaust without it being too loud, Handling without it riding too hard, and acceleration without it revving too high on the highway! You know the impossible type that wants my cake and to eat it too! My concern is that the Lower rear gears will increase the RPM to the point where it will be annoying when cruising at 70. But I dont want to do a converter only and find that the increase in stomp wasnt substantial. I would probably just do the gears if thats the case. Cost of one vs the other isnt really a factor for me, I just want to be happy with the result. Thanks for any input or comparison. Roy

 

I think you will be more happy with a gear change rather than a Converter change.

 

Well if cost isn't an issue do both.......

Biggest benefit of converter is going to be "out of the hole".........

Gears help out of the hole also, but will help at speeds above TC lockup

GM uses 3.07 gears out of the factory....would be very conservative regarding highway rpm/mpg, yet would give seat of the pants improvement......

So if you just want to lightem up....converter would probably do job. but gears would probably benefit over wider speed range....

I haven't done either, but if I had to choose I would

 

Either one can drop the 1/4mi times roughly the same amount, I dont think you'll be disappointed with either.

 

A killer increase would come by doing both. If 1/4 mile times are of interest, the converter will show the biggest improvement, hands down. For daily driving, the gears are alway in play. I got better than a half second reduction in my 1/4 mile times with a converter, only.

 

As mentioned, if you do a 2,000-2,400rpm TC you will launch from a traffic signal much harder, the gain will only be there below the new TC stall point and you will not feel any difference on the highway with the TC locked.

If you do say 3.07 gears you will launch harder, have the extra torque under all conditions and your engine will run about 20% higher RPM at all speeds.

It really depends on your goals and personal preference. A lot of guys do gears but I prefer my stock 2.59s with the 2,000rpm TC upgrade.

Of course, if you take it to the strip regularly, doing both would net the best overall gains, though you would likely need DRs to hook it up. Even with my 2,000rpm TC I can't drop the hammer at a traffic signal without boiling the hides (and likely getting a ticket...lol).

BTW, if you want to improve handling without an adverse effect on ride, the cheapest but very effective route is to install polygraphite sway bar bushings front & back. It has the same effect as installing larger sway bars without the expense.

 

I just did both, but there was a few months in between, so I can tell you from personal experience about each.
First I went to a 3.07 gear set. This was great because it made the car a little more responsive everywhere in the RPM band. Also, I drove my car on a 200 mile (round trip, 100mi each way) trip the week I got finished with the gears and I kept the cruise control on the whole way to get a look at gas-milage. I got within 3% of what I got before and actually was BETTER with the higher gears. (Which either means that the original gears were TOO low for efficiency, or more likely, I had a 5% margin of error in my test). So the milage difference was almost un-noticable.

Then I went to a 2800 rpm-stall converter. I was looking to go no higher than 2600, but I got it as a package deal with other parts and figured I'd give it a try. The converter locks up in high gear, so milage is not affected in any way (on the highway). And as far as performance goes, I'd have to say that the converter made a much bigger impact. Driven 'quietly' there is no loss in civility. Since I was very familiar with how my car drove before, I can tell you it is NOT the same as before. But, while different, it is not worse. Anybody who have never driven an early C4 would never know that it is not stock. But, when you get on the throttle...... the smile-factor is clearly higher.

One factor you should consider if you are wondering which to choose is that the gears have a MUCH HIGHER requirement for the mechanical ability of the person installing them. It is easy to screw-up a gear installation. Shimms have to be installed, checked, reinstalled, rechecked... over and over until it is right. And a couple of specialty tools only lessen this. With a TC, there is a seal that everybody knows to be sure to lubricate, then there are 3 bolts, and - DONE. Changing a TC is something you could talk somebody through over the phone. Gear swaps are batched by professional mechanics all the time.

 

92 coupe + Edge 2800 10.5" Converter + 3.73 Dana 44 Gears= , and new Tires

 

93 coup 3200stall and 3.73 gears and im lovvin it. The stall lets my rpms scream up to 5800 right out of the hole. Later I added the gear and it felt like it had new legs. Serious throttle response even at part throttle. I havent been to the track yet with new mods butt figure .7 off my 1/4 time with of course a decent bite from the tires. If your not grippen the road you might hurt your times.

 

Does the polygraphite sway bar bushing improve just handling or do they also improve the ride?