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I didn't want to hijack the cam thread so here I am. So let's say someone had a '97 with an automatic, they don't drive the car hard but like acceleration occasionally, want to keep it a nice daily driver without screaming high rpm's, what gears do you think they might consider that would be a happy compromise? My car is red so we know it's already the fastest, just asking for a friend. Thanks in advance.
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23
Originally Posted by 81Delorean
I didn't want to hijack the cam thread so here I am. So let's say someone had a '97 with an automatic, they don't drive the car hard but like acceleration occasionally, want to keep it a nice daily driver without screaming high rpm's, what gears do you think they might consider that would be a happy compromise? My car is red so we know it's already the fastest, just asking for a friend. Thanks in advance.
I didn't want to hijack the cam thread so here I am. So let's say someone had a '97 with an automatic, they don't drive the car hard but like acceleration occasionally, want to keep it a nice daily driver without screaming high rpm's, what gears do you think they might consider that would be a happy compromise? My car is red so we know it's already the fastest, just asking for a friend. Thanks in advance.
3.42 seems to be the popular choice for that combo. The next step up would be 3.73; pair this with a slightly higher stall converter and get a real kick in the pants, but under normal driving it would behave nicely. Also, when you get it tuned, they can adjust the shift points and firmness under hard acceleration. Fun!
65 mph with 3.15 gears = 1804 rpm
65 mph with 3.42 gears = 1958 rpm
65 mph with 3.73 gears = 2136 rpm
I have run 3.73 rear drive ratio for about six years, a substantial increase in acceleration above the original 3.15 rear drive. I like it because I track the car and use only 2nd and 3rd on track, but for street, the 3.42 ratio would be a great compromise.
1st roasts tires easily unless throttle application is ramped.
The table above is reasonably accurate, with the 3.73 ratio my car runs about 2450 rpm on the freeway at 75 mph.
Going from 3.15 to 3.73 cost about 2 mpg, but that is irrelevant to me.
With a change to 3.42 or 3.73, the PCMM will have to be reprogrammed by someone who knows the system and ratios, or the shift points will be wrong at wide open and part throttle.
Thank you very much. I can see where 3.73 would be good for short tracks or autocross. Sounds like it would be a bit much for street/highway for me. So if I did go to 3.42 gears eventually, my next issue would be finding someone who can reprogram which I doubt I can find anywhere local since I live in Northern Arkansas.
Not necessarily short tracks. My favorite track of all time is Laguna Seca. Before moving to Arizona I had spent 13 days there over several years. Coming up the long straight I would hit 110 before braking for Turn 2. Stock HP but 3.73 RPM rear drive with WaveTrac differential.
One thing I would do if I had the PCM reprogrammed again would be to program the auto 3-2 downshift so that it would not auto downshift from 3 to 2 at high lateral G and high throttle. A surprise downshift like and the rear snaps out and has to be brought back very skillfully to stay on the pavement.
Ask me how I know.
Here is where you do NOT want a surprise 3-2 downshift- Note roll level.
If you also want a bit of advice to make this cheaper, instead of taking out your gears (unless you know how and can do that), just buy a whole differential with the OEM gearing in it (if doing a 3.42). this way, you can do this at home, swap in the dif, and drive.
I also like this idea because if you ever want to go back, or still want deeper gears, you can drop that off to be upgraded while you continue to drive.
I being this up because you can get quoted $1500 for a gear change. You can pick up a 3.42 dif already setup for about $700. Half price and you can switch back.
You must have your shift points reprogrammed after changing gears or entire differential from 2.73 > 3.42. You cannot put 3.42 gears in a 2.73 differential case.
Have you ever done a swap, Ray? I totally agree that swapping the entire diff is the easiest way. I think that I'd have the "new" diff gone thru with new Bellvue washers and whatever else it may need, BEFORE swapping....
Have you ever done a swap, Ray? I totally agree that swapping the entire diff is the easiest way. I think that I'd have the "new" diff gone thru with new Bellvue washers and whatever else it may need, BEFORE swapping....
Yeah we swapped my original one out at 275k miles. Had a nasty whine on acceleration. Right side shaft had more play than a Chuck E. Cheese.
Took us probably 3 hours to do on the lift. Not terrible.
Gears
