$1400 for gear swap???
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 149
Likes: 1
From: clearwater fl
$1400 for gear swap???
I've got a 2000 coupe with 3.42 stock gear ratio. I called a local performance shop and they gave me a quote for $1400 to swap my gears for 3.90 or 4.10. Is that a good competitive price or should I be looking someplace else? Also, while I am doing that can anyone suggest I upgrade or change anything while the rear end is out?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: American Canyon Lethal Injection
Originally Posted by chanderson
I've got a 2000 coupe with 3.42 stock gear ratio. I called a local performance shop and they gave me a quote for $1400 to swap my gears for 3.90 or 4.10. Is that a good competitive price or should I be looking someplace else? Also, while I am doing that can anyone suggest I upgrade or change anything while the rear end is out?
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
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From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Originally Posted by chanderson
I've got a 2000 coupe with 3.42 stock gear ratio. I called a local performance shop and they gave me a quote for $1400 to swap my gears for 3.90 or 4.10. Is that a good competitive price or should I be looking someplace else? Also, while I am doing that can anyone suggest I upgrade or change anything while the rear end is out?
I wouldn't want your Corvette to be the "learning" car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 1
From: Rugby North Dakota
buy a different differential already set up w/ the gears you want for that price - also, if that shop is not experienced in swapping Getrag gears, don't let them practice on yours - very few shops set up to correctly do this
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,060
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From: winter haven florida
St. Jude Donor '12
if it includes the diff. and they have done installs in the c5 before then it sounds like a good price. what is the name of the shop if you dont mind saying?
if they use a well known supplier for the diff. and have done the install in c5's then i would go for it.
Last edited by 2000FRCZ19; Jul 6, 2006 at 12:35 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 8,629
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From: York PA
Are they swapping the whole rear ?
If so are they suppling the rear ? new/used ?
Do you keep your old rear ?
Are they rebuilding your rear with new gears ?
If so, are they qualified ? Warrenty ?
You may want to add harden output shaft & or DTE strut brace
If so are they suppling the rear ? new/used ?
Do you keep your old rear ?
Are they rebuilding your rear with new gears ?
If so, are they qualified ? Warrenty ?
You may want to add harden output shaft & or DTE strut brace
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 149
Likes: 1
From: clearwater fl
The name of the shop is called Allen's gearworks. They specialize in rear ends only...that is all they do. I did some research and asked around at the track and these guys come highly recomended from other C5 owners I've talked to. The price includes ONLY the ring and pinion plus total labor time. He told me that the price would be between 1300-1400 out the door done. I also asked him if the shop was experienced with doing C5s. He told me he has done several (20), but I wish I could find several more of his customers with C5 to talk with. Oh, one other thing...with 3.90 gears, will there be noticable whinning? because he told me there was no noise warranty with this gear swap.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,826
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From: Central NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'08-'10
The price is not bad. I'd consider a hardened output shaft and possibly a strut brace, but there should not be any noticable "whine" from the rear. The no noise warranty might be a red flag. 
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,012
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From: Jensen Beach FL
Originally Posted by EdsC5
The price is not bad. I'd consider a hardened output shaft and possibly a strut brace, but there should not be any noticable "whine" from the rear. The no noise warranty might be a red flag.
I would buy a new differential from a vendor like DTE and have the whole diff installed. Check with DTE to see if they warranty against whine. I think they do.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 439
Likes: 1
From: Fort Worth TX
yes that is a good price. My change cost $1500 installed and they changed out the whole rear with a DTE 4:10s. Then i broke them at the track and the shop replaced it for free and DTE warranty the rear.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Central Jersey
Cruise-In II Veteran
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Cruise-In V Veteran
Originally Posted by chanderson
because he told me there was no noise warranty with this gear swap.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Now in God's Country, the Big Sky, Montana!
Cruise-In 7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
That price is insane if it is just the ring and pinion swap. Send your diff and new gears to me and I'll have them swapped for $300 by someone I've used twice now. No whine or problems. Only one in Houston that works with Getrags.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,550
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From: Now in God's Country, the Big Sky, Montana!
Cruise-In 7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
If this includes the removal labor, that is still too high. I would R/R a rear myself for $350.00 to $400.00.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 766
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From: Mooresville NC
Originally Posted by dndrsn
I think the shop doesn't give a "No Whine" warranty because the shop installing the gears can't be guaranteed that the owner will properly "break in" the differential.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
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From: Flagstaff Az.
gears
I would buy a complete diff from a good forum sponsor for $1100-1200, pay some one to change just the diff and sell your old diff on the forum- probably get $400 for it as the auto guys will buy them. Would be cheaper in the long run and you will have new bearings, posi, seals, etc.
My .02
My .02
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
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From: Haymarket VA
Originally Posted by Wicked Weasel
3.90s and 4.10s should not whine if they put them in correctly and if you break them in correctly.
My 3.90's are as quiet as stock. No whining at all. Done by RPM and broken in perfectly.