3.42 Here 
need advice on a diff swap
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 6
From: Granite Falls WA
need advice on a diff swap
i am considering getting steeper gears in my 2000 A4 coupe. only mods at this point are a Blackwing intake and NXT Step Performance catback. right now i have 2.73's with the stock tune. 
i talked to a well respected local tuner and he recommended, with my driving style (fun, sunny day driver, no track time) that i should just get 3.15's and a good dyno tune. i guess i was hoping he would recommend 3.42's, as i read alot of posts on here saying that there isn't enough of a difference between the 2.73's and the 3.15's and that most opt for the steeper 3.42's to REALLY wake up the car.
decision will be made in the next week and work done the second week of July. whatever i decide for gears will be coming from RPM - refurbed with a core swap.
this is my first corvette, and while it looks great and is fun to drive i feel like i'm missing out on that "this is a race car!" feeling.
what say you CF?
jeff
i talked to a well respected local tuner and he recommended, with my driving style (fun, sunny day driver, no track time) that i should just get 3.15's and a good dyno tune. i guess i was hoping he would recommend 3.42's, as i read alot of posts on here saying that there isn't enough of a difference between the 2.73's and the 3.15's and that most opt for the steeper 3.42's to REALLY wake up the car.
decision will be made in the next week and work done the second week of July. whatever i decide for gears will be coming from RPM - refurbed with a core swap.
this is my first corvette, and while it looks great and is fun to drive i feel like i'm missing out on that "this is a race car!" feeling.
what say you CF?
jeff
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I agree with all the above - go with the 3.42s if you are going to swap gears.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 6
From: Granite Falls WA
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 15
From: My Garage. Upstate, SC
Link to Patches excellent diff swap thread
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http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...mega-pics.html
I have 3:15's now. I plan to go with 3:42's when I do mine. A few more rev's, but a big diff in SOTP feel.
-
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...mega-pics.html
I have 3:15's now. I plan to go with 3:42's when I do mine. A few more rev's, but a big diff in SOTP feel.
Last edited by Trigger Creep; Jun 15, 2010 at 12:29 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 2
From: Outer banks North Carolina
I went from 2.73s to 3.42s in my old "97" coupe. With the dyno tune and c.a.i. it went from a real dog to a performance car! Also, the milage did not really suffer as much as I antisipated. Maybe lost 2 mpg or so! My 0-60 went from mid 5's to 4.7 and the 1/4 mile e.t. from 13.4 to 12.98. Traction will be a problem howeverDave
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 0
From: Homer Glen IL
I went from 2.73s to 3.42s in my old "97" coupe. With the dyno tune and c.a.i. it went from a real dog to a performance car! Also, the milage did not really suffer as much as I antisipated. Maybe lost 2 mpg or so! My 0-60 went from mid 5's to 4.7 and the 1/4 mile e.t. from 13.4 to 12.98. Traction will be a problem howeverDave
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
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Mainly, the 3.42 is about as radical one would go on mostly street driven C5. You still maintain great highway characteristics (engine RPM still at a comfortable level, good MPG).
Here's info on the swap:
www.tim-yvonne.com/mikemercury/342.htm
and here's a very streetable TC upgrade that does not require an added external cooler:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...-da-floor.html
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 0
From: Homer Glen IL
Mainly, the 3.42 is about as radical one would go on mostly street driven C5. You still maintain great highway characteristics (engine RPM still at a comfortable level, good MPG).
Here's info on the swap:
www.tim-yvonne.com/mikemercury/342.htm
and here's a very streetable TC upgrade that does not require an added external cooler:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...-da-floor.html
Here's info on the swap:
www.tim-yvonne.com/mikemercury/342.htm
and here's a very streetable TC upgrade that does not require an added external cooler:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...-da-floor.html