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Before I bought my 2004 coupe, I test drove it. It had the 3.15's. Then I test drove other vettes at another dealership looking for price and options. The 2.73's seemed sluggish. I went back to my original 1st car and bought it. Now, the difference could have been that the dealership that I test drove the 3.15 car let me and my wife do the test drive. But the dealership with the 2.73 cars only let me drive with the 200+ lb salesman. So there was at least a 70-100 lb weight difference between the vehicle loads on the test drives. Would that have made a difference? No idea... But I like what I bought!
Changing out my '97 A-4's Granny 2.73's is my next mod. Hopefully very soon.
I am still trying to decide between the 3.42's vs the 3.73's. I want the most I can get out of my Vette, not all that concerned about Gas mileage, although I plan a drive to Texas from Los Angeles some time in the next year.
Should I wait to switch the gears until after that long drive? Its not gonna put any undue stress on the engine or anything going a long distance with the shorter gears, will it? Like I said, the extra gas wont kill me, and Id rather have the performance.
Is there ANY downside to going all the way with 3.73's besides the gas punishment? Anybody have an idea on the cost difference vs 3.42's? Will 3.73's still be under 2 grand?
I feel like if Im gonna make the change, might as well go ALL THE WAY, BROTHER!
Changing out my '97 A-4's Granny 2.73's is my next mod. Hopefully very soon.
I am still trying to decide between the 3.42's vs the 3.73's. I want the most I can get out of my Vette, not all that concerned about Gas mileage, although I plan a drive to Texas from Los Angeles some time in the next year.
Should I wait to switch the gears until after that long drive? Its not gonna put any undue stress on the engine or anything going a long distance with the shorter gears, will it? Like I said, the extra gas wont kill me, and Id rather have the performance.
Is there ANY downside to going all the way with 3.73's besides the gas punishment? Anybody have an idea on the cost difference vs 3.42's? Will 3.73's still be under 2 grand?
I feel like if Im gonna make the change, might as well go ALL THE WAY, BROTHER!
Thanks! Any advice is most welcome!~~~JadeDragon
I think the 3:73's may be a little more expensive, the reason being is that they are not a "stock" if you will gear set...thus you would have to buy just the gears and then have them installed into your carrier- also, you having 2:73's your carrier is smaller then a 3:15 carrier so not all places are willing to do the swap do to the size difference. Some threads have been going around on this very topic...3:73 into a 2:73 carrier. The main thing you would notice on the different gears is the RPM's at higher speed...the faster you go, the more the engine spins due to the gears. Right now (with my 3:15's) I can do 85MPH @ 2500RPM's...I hear that would be closer to 3000RPM with 3:73's so this would eat up your gas milage a little bit.
I was thinking about doing 3:42's in my 97- the reason being that you can buy a brand new Z06 rear from Fred Beans with hardened output shaft for a little less then a grand...this beats trying to get someone to install 3:73's into the carrier that I hear is not as easy as it was on a solid rear axel or older vette rear.
Most people will say do the gears, but while you are in there...put in a higher stall torque converter...then you have an animal on your hands!
From: Greensboro, NC "REALITY IS MERELY AN ILLUSION, ALBEIT A VERY PERSISTENT ONE"...ALBERT EINSTEIN"
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by VLVETTE
$1100 for new Z06 3.42s Used around $500
$400-$500 install
$50-$100 fluids and seals
$100-$500 Tune and set shift points and other parameters.
Any where from $1000-$2000 depending on if you go new or used and the type of tuning you get (setting shift points is a must) Basic, Handheld, Dyno tune etc.
Anyway you do it you wont be sorry my car runs like it should now it gets up and SCOOOOTS!
I went from 2.73s to the 3.42s. Going from 3.15s might not be as an impressive of a jump.
Thanks for the info. Based on those costs I will need to wait a bit. I still have 28 months of warranty to worry about as well.
Thanks for the info. Based on those costs I will need to wait a bit. I still have 28 months of warranty to worry about as well.
.
If you're interested, as I've had a H/C package installed in my car, i'll be doing a gear change this Fall/early Winter, before storing the car. I will have a set of perfect 3.15's (entire differential assembly) available, much cheaper than you can buy anything else for. PM or email me if your interested. Would prefer a local pickup, but would consider shipping.
Ed
From: Greensboro, NC "REALITY IS MERELY AN ILLUSION, ALBEIT A VERY PERSISTENT ONE"...ALBERT EINSTEIN"
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by C5XTASY
If you're interested, as I've had a H/C package installed in my car, i'll be doing a gear change this Fall/early Winter, before storing the car. I will have a set of perfect 3.15's (entire differential assembly) available, much cheaper than you can buy anything else for. PM or email me if your interested. Would prefer a local pickup, but would consider shipping.
Ed
Is there ANY downside to going all the way with 3.73's besides the gas punishment?
*exhaust drone on the highway due to the higher RPM's (mostly on cars with aftermarket exhausts).
*car can get out-of-control more easily if the driver doesn't think before mashing the pedal. (only important for those still wanting to drive a "no brainer" car).