[Z06] 2002 zo6 gearing question
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7
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2002 zo6 gearing question
Hey everyone. I bought a 2002 Zo6 black on black about a year ago. It is completely stock, but I am thinking about going with a heads and cam package and then installing a procharger in the future. I wanted to put in a lower rear end gear and was thinking either a 3.90:1 or a 3.73:1 gear. I don't want to go with a 4.10:1 because I think that would be too steep. I was wondering if anyone has any of these gears in their Zo6's and what you guys think is the best one. I am leaning towards the 3.90:1, but I am afraid that that may be too steep as well. Any input would be great. Thanks a lot.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 58
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I'm new to Z06 ownership (5 days to be exact) so I can't speak for the Z06, but I had a 96 Z28 with some minor bolt ons and I went from the stock 3.42 to 4.10 and my car was slower. Shifting more often and it seemed the car had the power to pull through a longer gear so I went with a 3.73 and that was the ticket for my setup. My 4.10's felt faster, but when racing the same cars before, they proved to be slower.
I would think given the cars light weight and enormous amount of HP with the supercharger, that a ratio like 3.15 or even the stock ratio would be more advantageous than going steeper. The car will have the power to pull hard through those gears and you won't be shifting as often.
Just my $.02.
I would think given the cars light weight and enormous amount of HP with the supercharger, that a ratio like 3.15 or even the stock ratio would be more advantageous than going steeper. The car will have the power to pull hard through those gears and you won't be shifting as often.
Just my $.02.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 32
From: Central Florida
The central questions are
(1) What is your objective? and
(2) How will you measure progress toward it?
Keep in mind that the Z06 has an M12 tranny with steeper 1st, 2d, and 3d gears.
1st 2.97 x 3.42 = a traction challenge with stock tires. You aggravate that with 3.90 gears.
If your focus in on the drag strip wearing ET Streets, then gears may make sense. But if the car is focused on the street, stock gears should do the job.
Most owners can get their cars to perform better by concentrating on improving the driver component. Much easier and cheaper than mods and avoids the warranty and breakage implications.
Ranger
(1) What is your objective? and
(2) How will you measure progress toward it?
Keep in mind that the Z06 has an M12 tranny with steeper 1st, 2d, and 3d gears.
1st 2.97 x 3.42 = a traction challenge with stock tires. You aggravate that with 3.90 gears.
If your focus in on the drag strip wearing ET Streets, then gears may make sense. But if the car is focused on the street, stock gears should do the job.
Most owners can get their cars to perform better by concentrating on improving the driver component. Much easier and cheaper than mods and avoids the warranty and breakage implications.
Ranger
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,685
Likes: 78
From: Winter Garden (central),FL,USA
Ranger's right--what are you going to do w/ the car? If you're a hard-core drag racer who'll be running DRs/slicks full-time and think the stock gears are too tall for some reason, then 3.90s would be a good choice (you may run out of 4th gear w/ 4.10s @ the track if your car's very fast).
Street driving w/ modded HP & street tires, I'd stick w/ the stock gear IMO. Shorter gears will only add to the wheelspin...
My .02 FWIW
Street driving w/ modded HP & street tires, I'd stick w/ the stock gear IMO. Shorter gears will only add to the wheelspin...
My .02 FWIW
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Thanks everyone for all of the help. I do not plan on drag racing the car much at all because I live in Miami Florida and the closest drag strip is about an hour and a half away in Palm Beach County. I just plan on using it as a weekend car. I was thinking that maybe it is best to just stick with the stock gears because after the heads and cam package and then the procharger goes in it will be making well over 550 rear wheel horsepower hopefully. With that kind of power I think the stock gears will be fine. Thanks everyone for the advice.
