How much difference will bigger gears make?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 179
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From: Sacramento CA
How much difference will bigger gears make?
I was wondering how much difference in hp or quarter mile times would it make if I changed my stock gears to a 3.73, I have a 98 6sp coupe? Any daily driving difference and how much will it cost with parts and labor? Any feed back is welcomed.
Thanks in Advance.
Thanks in Advance.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,011
Likes: 9
From: Dublin GA
MP98
Although gears and TC (on an auto) are proably the best mods you can make in my opinion, if you have a 6 sp., you should already have 3.42s, and changing from those to 3.73s proably won't make a real big difference.
Although gears and TC (on an auto) are proably the best mods you can make in my opinion, if you have a 6 sp., you should already have 3.42s, and changing from those to 3.73s proably won't make a real big difference.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 12,634
Likes: 15
From: IL, Chicago area.
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16
Dont go 3.73 if you have a 6spd go with t e 4.10's. No discernable diff in gas milage and makes the car accelerate like a whole new animal, 6th gear is actually useable.!! 
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
3.73s would cost effective unless you plan to be over 600 rwhp.
400 - 500 rwhp 4.10s
500 - 600 rwhp 3.90s or 3.73s
when I switched from 3.42s to 4.10s my 1/4 mile time dropped about .3 tenths (I went from low 13s to high 12s). I did have a run of 12.66 with the 4.10s, air intake, and cat-back. Most stock vettes are in the 13.3 range....
400 - 500 rwhp 4.10s
500 - 600 rwhp 3.90s or 3.73s
when I switched from 3.42s to 4.10s my 1/4 mile time dropped about .3 tenths (I went from low 13s to high 12s). I did have a run of 12.66 with the 4.10s, air intake, and cat-back. Most stock vettes are in the 13.3 range....
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 424
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From: Va, Beach VA
Originally Posted by PHPD7102
Dont go 3.73 if you have a 6spd go with t e 4.10's. No discernable diff in gas milage and makes the car accelerate like a whole new animal, 6th gear is actually useable.!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,207
Likes: 27
From: Sun Diego CA
The easiest way is to change the complete differential rather than swapping the internal gears. Most wil agree that DTE is the gear vendor of choice, and they get ~$1200 for the 4.10 in stage 1 config. If you already have 3.42's, they can be sold on the forum for ~$500. I suggest buying someones older core cheap (~$1-150) and using that for the core charge @ DTE.
You can find gear change write-ups if you search. There is good stuff on LS1tech.com too. Figure on $500-1000 for labor if you have someone else do it.
I am installing 4.10's in my car in 2 weeks, along with a LS7 clutch assy. It doesn't look that hard, just time consuming.
You can find gear change write-ups if you search. There is good stuff on LS1tech.com too. Figure on $500-1000 for labor if you have someone else do it.
I am installing 4.10's in my car in 2 weeks, along with a LS7 clutch assy. It doesn't look that hard, just time consuming.
