gears
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 178
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From: Vancouver
gears
hey guys, my 2001 vette came with 3.15 gears. I called a few places and there trying to sell me 3.9. seems everyone here(forum) loves 3.42 Am i getting screwed? wuts the diff? thanks
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 135
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From: Lakeland FL
I don't think you are getting screwed with.
3.42 is a good all around gear for the street and turbo applications and this is why a lot of people like it.
3.90 will give good 60' times at the track on slicks.
So it depends on what you are wanting to do with the car.
3.42 is a good all around gear for the street and turbo applications and this is why a lot of people like it.
3.90 will give good 60' times at the track on slicks.
So it depends on what you are wanting to do with the car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 8,145
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From: Bradenton FLORIDA
Where are you located? What are your plans for the car? More info & we can help guide you.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Central Jersey
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3:42's are about the best all around gear for the A4's. They really do everything well. They work with many combonations and converters. You just need to tell us a little more about your plans for the car as well as what power level you will be at and I can help you choose the right combonation. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Bradenton FLORIDA
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Marlton. Increasing performance one speeding ticket at a time! NJ
I'll add another nod to ECS.
When doing the swap, add a high stall as well. Since everything is out, it's simple to swap at the same time, so you save a lot of labor.
Yank 3200 and 3.42's seem like a perfect combo for street car.
If you never plan on adding any more power, I'd also consider going to 3.73's. 3.90's are overkill on an automatic, you'll have a hard time with traction. That's if you don't add any extra power (yeah...right, the mod bug bites all of us). I plan on supercharging in the future, so 3.42's seem like a good compromise.
I just put 3.73's on my TransAm daily driver with minimal power adders. I like the combo alot.
Even better when Doug got his hands on it for the tune (Thanks ECS )
When doing the swap, add a high stall as well. Since everything is out, it's simple to swap at the same time, so you save a lot of labor.
Yank 3200 and 3.42's seem like a perfect combo for street car.
If you never plan on adding any more power, I'd also consider going to 3.73's. 3.90's are overkill on an automatic, you'll have a hard time with traction. That's if you don't add any extra power (yeah...right, the mod bug bites all of us). I plan on supercharging in the future, so 3.42's seem like a good compromise.
I just put 3.73's on my TransAm daily driver with minimal power adders. I like the combo alot.
Even better when Doug got his hands on it for the tune (Thanks ECS
)
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 178
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From: Vancouver
im so confused now !!! grrrrrr! since i have 3.15, no point spending all tha money on 3.42.Now the guys i deal with "corvette specialtys" recomend i go with 3'72 or 3.9.They say they just did a A4 with 3.9 for the first time and also thought it was a over kill.But the guy who owns the business ( 25 years) says he was so suprised how well the car moved.He swears he will always recommend the 3.9 after driving it.loves it!!! and this is a guy whos drivin many vettes.Also...the guy s charging methe same for both,but swears won regret it.but its up to me.Anyone have 3.9??? any comments would be greatly apprec.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
If I were in your shoes, and had the 315 gear already, I would not spend the money on a 342. It is a good gear for the A4, but personally from my experience there is not a big enough difference to justify the cost.
If you can get a hold of a 373 or 390, with the right stall you will be fine. One of my friends has the 390 in his A4, with a 2800 stall and the car rips, but has great street manners and stilll does fairly good on gas.
If you can get a hold of a 373 or 390, with the right stall you will be fine. One of my friends has the 390 in his A4, with a 2800 stall and the car rips, but has great street manners and stilll does fairly good on gas.
Administrator
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From: Bel Air (by way of Fort Worth, TX) Maryland
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '21
im so confused now !!! grrrrrr! since i have 3.15, no point spending all tha money on 3.42.Now the guys i deal with "corvette specialtys" recomend i go with 3'72 or 3.9.They say they just did a A4 with 3.9 for the first time and also thought it was a over kill.But the guy who owns the business ( 25 years) says he was so suprised how well the car moved.He swears he will always recommend the 3.9 after driving it.loves it!!! and this is a guy whos drivin many vettes.Also...the guy s charging methe same for both,but swears won regret it.but its up to me.Anyone have 3.9??? any comments would be greatly apprec.
Administrator
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 66,409
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From: Bel Air (by way of Fort Worth, TX) Maryland
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '21
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 178
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From: Vancouver
oh ok.i acually asked about that.mMy guy said its not a big deal.matter in fact he didnt install one in the other vette.plus after reading on this forum seems some ppl swear by it,some dont.Shold u install one preventing later problems or helps the switch gears more easily.wuts the purpose of it??? maybe a better question!!! lol
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
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From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
im so confused now !!! grrrrrr! since i have 3.15, no point spending all tha money on 3.42.Now the guys i deal with "corvette specialtys" recomend i go with 3'72 or 3.9.They say they just did a A4 with 3.9 for the first time and also thought it was a over kill.But the guy who owns the business ( 25 years) says he was so suprised how well the car moved.He swears he will always recommend the 3.9 after driving it.loves it!!! and this is a guy whos drivin many vettes.Also...the guy s charging methe same for both,but swears won regret it.but its up to me.Anyone have 3.9??? any comments would be greatly apprec.
it comes down to this... you need to make a decision. I'd never trust a shop that's pushing this hard to sell something.
But the guy who owns the business ( 25 years) says he was so suprised how well the car moved.He swears he will always recommend the 3.9 after driving it.loves it!!
And... I went from 3.15 to 3.42 and this took me to my goal; exactly where I wanted to end up at. It didn't matter how close or how far my goal was... I was determined to meet my goal; and not any less than; nor any further past.
All I can inform you of is that 3.73's with run-flat tires... you'll hafta think before punching the accelerator. And you'll need to practice/learn/master throttle control. 3.73's with non run-flats may be more controllable.
I can't help but wonder why your shop dewds are talking about 3.90's after this statement by you:
"the car is my summer car. So ill be just using in the city.No racing or anything"
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 8,145
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From: Bradenton FLORIDA
Good advice Mike.....if you are going to drive the car on the highway & not the track you will be happier with the 3.42's. We also offer the Extreme line of performance torque convertors that are probably the best performing on the market for the C5's....$799
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 178
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From: Vancouver
mike you make some good points i may have to reconsider.I do agree with the memebers that say going from 3.15 to 3.45 is not enough to justify the cost.Now about this converter.some ppl get one some pll dont.everyone seems to be happy.i