Everyday we see gear threads and everyday we get different answers.

4.10s, 3.90s, 3.73s, 3.42s which gear is right for you is not always the cookie cutter answer.

What I always ask a customer before suggesting any gear set is 2 questions:

1. Planned Mods for the car
2. Style of driving / your intentions of driving the car

Without knowing these answers I personally feel I am doing you an injustice by choosing 1 gear set over another.

Here's the reason and I will use me as an example.

First mod 4.10 gears. Stock HP with only cat-back and CAI change. Use of the car was street and 1/4 mile track days. 4.10s were a great match for this.

Now I decide to add H/C package. Power is now 460 rwhp / 401 rwtq. Application is still street and 1/4 mile track days. combination is still great. Love it on the street and do not hit the rev limiter at the 1/4.

Next change I decide to switch from 1/4 mile to road racing events. I leave the current setup and say to myself whats the difference. After 3 track days I found out that I was shifting way too much unbalancing the car. Hmm what to do - well still not 100% committed to RR I leave the 4.10s. Something I have to deal with on the track, but I still love the 4.10s for the street. Well the more and more I moved to RR the less and less I liked the 4.10s on the track. They had to go and in place I put 3.73s. Great middle of the road gear. On the track I was shifting alot less. Engine temps were lower, less wear / tear on the clutch and tranny. I was now 100% happy. I did give up some of 6th gear on the street, but no big deal.

Now lets move ahead 3 years to today. New ECS LS7-427 goes in my car netting 565rwhp / 540rwtq. WOW this car is a rocket ship. I take it to Pocono North this weekend and quickly find out I am in the same situation I was with the 4.10s. I have enough power now that I run out of gear with the 3.73s. I could shift into 5th gear so I can touch on 150mph in the bowl or I can just hold 4th and then do less braking, but what if I didnt have to shift at all? What if I could leave it in 4th. Heck 1 less shift to mess up and I have full speed. Sure I have to rely on my wilwoods BBK to stop me, but they have not failed yet.

What to do? Well the answer is wait. I do not run the North course that much and the real test will be Watkins Glen in April. If I find that the gearing is becoming intrusive to my driving I will back down to 3.42s, but I am not jumping the gun and making that decision right now.



Now I know we all make changes along the way so to predict what you are going to be doing in 3 years from now is dificult, but sit back and ask yourself what is your intent to do with the car. If you can answer short term and some long term questions you will be able to pick the right gearing right out of the box.

Bob

 

Thanks for the write up !

 

 

Nice write-up and it is always advisable to plan as far in advance as possible, but not always easy

 

OK WW,
Enough with the writeup.........now when do they go on sale.

 

When I race GP bikes we used to carry 15-18 different possible final gearings.

BTW: I know Mike - ALOHAC5 - ended up with 373's for his track car for exactly the same reasons. Too mcuh need for shifts.

 

Thanks Wicked- hopefully that will help out alot of drivers.

I knew I was staying H/C 346 so I opted for the best choice..4.10s
Its a nice feeling knowing that gear perfectly matches the gear ratios of the MN6. No need to smack the gas now to launch the car, just lean into it and it goes. Plus it puts me in the powerband alot faster

It is not too much for the street otherwise I would have ripped them out a long time ago

 

Better price at a non-sale price of $1395 for a mn6 3.42 swap to your choice of gears I believe we are the lowest around.

Besides the low price you are also buying them from someone that tested the quality and reliability in the 1/4 mile and road racing in their own personal corvettes there has to be something said for that right


Honestly right now we are not looking at any special pricing for gear only installs. Now if you want headers and gears or some other combination of work done I am sure we can work something out.

 

Hmmm sound like you need another Vette for different events Bob

 

Good write-up, sir!

 

Yeah dont I know that

This is for the person that says I want gear XXX and you say ok why and they say "I dont know, but I heard I need them".

 

Very nice write up and shows how different power levels require different gearing as you are able to ramp up your speed much faster

Since I went from stock to 700+ I am so glad I have stayed with my 3.42s and I am even considering going down a notch when I increase the power