Gears vs. engine mods
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Reno NV
Gears vs. engine mods
Okay, I think this will open a "can of worms" opinion-wise BUT, what do you all think is the best way to go for an initial investment (say under $2,000) in performance upgrades:
1. Replace the 2:73 differential with a 3:15 (or maybe a 3:42) and do a dyno-tune. I have the A4 transmission in my 2004 CE coupe.
OR...
2. Add an cold air intake, cat-back exhaust and then dyno-tune.
I want to keep the car pretty "tame and sane" as a driver, don't plan on racing it...mostly cruising, trips, etc.
thanks in advance for the opinions!
Sully
1. Replace the 2:73 differential with a 3:15 (or maybe a 3:42) and do a dyno-tune. I have the A4 transmission in my 2004 CE coupe.
OR...
2. Add an cold air intake, cat-back exhaust and then dyno-tune.
I want to keep the car pretty "tame and sane" as a driver, don't plan on racing it...mostly cruising, trips, etc.
thanks in advance for the opinions!
Sully
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,770
Likes: 0
From: Sahuarita AZ
There's no question that you'll feel more of a difference changing gears to a more aggressive ratio. If I were you, I'd do 3.42s. The cat-back exhaust, however, would certainly make it sound nice, which really does add to the effect of a sports car. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,003
Likes: 249
From: Tampa Fl
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Originally Posted by boatboatboat
It isn't worth your $ to do gears unless you do 3:73's.
yes 3:42's will be an upgrade......... but 3 weeks latter you will be wishing you had done 3:73's or higher.
yes 3:42's will be an upgrade......... but 3 weeks latter you will be wishing you had done 3:73's or higher.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,088
Likes: 61
From: NY- 2013 Corvette Challenge Champion-2013 Index Combo Champion 2015 CC/MM Champion
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by boatboatboat
It isn't worth your $ to do gears unless you do 3:73's.
yes 3:42's will be an upgrade......... but 3 weeks latter you will be wishing you had done 3:73's or higher.
yes 3:42's will be an upgrade......... but 3 weeks latter you will be wishing you had done 3:73's or higher.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,294
Likes: 2
From: Suffolk, Long Island NY
Originally Posted by boatboatboat
It isn't worth your $ to do gears unless you do 3:73's.
yes 3:42's will be an upgrade......... but 3 weeks latter you will be wishing you had done 3:73's or higher.
yes 3:42's will be an upgrade......... but 3 weeks latter you will be wishing you had done 3:73's or higher.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,405
Likes: 26
From: Whippany NJ
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Originally Posted by boatboatboat
It isn't worth your $ to do gears unless you do 3:73's.
yes 3:42's will be an upgrade......... but 3 weeks latter you will be wishing you had done 3:73's or higher.
yes 3:42's will be an upgrade......... but 3 weeks latter you will be wishing you had done 3:73's or higher.
Plus no need for a dyno tune unless you do at least headers
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 699
Likes: 0
From: Vettemod.com For the C3 People
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by boatboatboat
It isn't worth your $ to do gears unless you do 3:73's.
yes 3:42's will be an upgrade......... but 3 weeks latter you will be wishing you had done 3:73's or higher.
yes 3:42's will be an upgrade......... but 3 weeks latter you will be wishing you had done 3:73's or higher.
Thanks in adavance.
tt
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 51,896
Likes: 39
From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
3.73 gears and a tranny tune (delete torque management, change shift points, speed and pressure).
Your PermaGrin(tm) will be so wide your face will hurt
EG
Your PermaGrin(tm) will be so wide your face will hurt
EG
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Reno NV
Any recommendation on purchase?
Okay,
It looks like the consensus is toward the gears (at least 3:42 and maybe 3:73). Where would you all recommend I look...used vs. rebuilt vs. new?
Also, what is the "hit" on drive-ability? I would assume less than the current 18/25 MPG to begin with.
thanks again for all the opinions! You all are great!
Sully
BTW, I live in Reno, NV so probably somewhere in Northern "Kalifornia" or possibly LA.
It looks like the consensus is toward the gears (at least 3:42 and maybe 3:73). Where would you all recommend I look...used vs. rebuilt vs. new?
Also, what is the "hit" on drive-ability? I would assume less than the current 18/25 MPG to begin with.
thanks again for all the opinions! You all are great!
Sully
BTW, I live in Reno, NV so probably somewhere in Northern "Kalifornia" or possibly LA.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,622
Likes: 0
From: Savannah Georgia
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Originally Posted by EnglandGreen
3.73 gears and a tranny tune (delete torque management, change shift points, speed and pressure).
Your PermaGrin(tm) will be so wide your face will hurt
EG
Your PermaGrin(tm) will be so wide your face will hurt
EG
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
Originally Posted by Sully0212
Okay,
It looks like the consensus is toward the gears (at least 3:42 and maybe 3:73). Where would you all recommend I look...used vs. rebuilt vs. new?
Also, what is the "hit" on drive-ability? I would assume less than the current 18/25 MPG to begin with.
thanks again for all the opinions! You all are great!
Sully
BTW, I live in Reno, NV so probably somewhere in Northern "Kalifornia" or possibly LA.
It looks like the consensus is toward the gears (at least 3:42 and maybe 3:73). Where would you all recommend I look...used vs. rebuilt vs. new?
Also, what is the "hit" on drive-ability? I would assume less than the current 18/25 MPG to begin with.
thanks again for all the opinions! You all are great!
Sully
BTW, I live in Reno, NV so probably somewhere in Northern "Kalifornia" or possibly LA.
Chris
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,556
Likes: 276
From: Marshall Texas
Originally Posted by sdnet
There's no question that you'll feel more of a difference changing gears to a more aggressive ratio. If I were you, I'd do 3.42s. The cat-back exhaust, however, would certainly make it sound nice, which really does add to the effect of a sports car.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,613
Likes: 0
From: Spring Tx
If you are a good driver, gears will improve your times, but Ive seen a 2.73 rear car run in the 12s with just bolt-ons, no headers. Wheelspin is not a factor, as it would be with 3.15,3.42 or 3.73s.Putting sticky tires on changes the whole equation and you can expect .5 improvement with gears, add a torque converter and you can get more. Ive seen a Ls1 Camaro with less than 350 rwhp run in the 11s with just gears TC and bolt-ons. but more $ was put in the suspension and tires than in the motor to get those times.It depends on what you want, in other words there is more than one way to skin a cat!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Reno NV
Gear update
Right now I'm leaning toward the 3:42's. I can get a used unit with less than 10K miles for under $1,000 from Mallet. I think that this plus a good dyno-tune should put the "PERMA-GRIN" on my face for awhile. It should also keep me under the $2,000 budget I have set aside for mods. Cat-backs and CAI will have to wait for now.
Next, I have to find a shop to do the swap...any ideas? Northern Cal or maybe LA? I've heard of Synergy Motorsports (Fremont) and A&A Corvette (Oxnard).
thanks again for all the advice!
Sully
Next, I have to find a shop to do the swap...any ideas? Northern Cal or maybe LA? I've heard of Synergy Motorsports (Fremont) and A&A Corvette (Oxnard).
thanks again for all the advice!
Sully
