I have a 04 with the Z51 performance package with 3.42 Gears 6 speed, I want quicker response and overall higher performance, would installing 3.73 gears be the right choice or should I go with 3:93 or
4:10's??


Currently I have a Vararam intake and LG pro headers and bullet exhuast?

 

I just got 3:90s. I havent got on the car yet, but I can tell they are fun.

 

DTE put 4:10s in mine and it completely changed the car. When you hit the throttle you are thrown back into the seat. When I am cruising I start in 2nd then 4th to 5th.

 

Keeping up with the Joneses...

You will love the 3.90's. Feels like the gear the car should have come with.

Not enough miles on mine to have gotten on them yet either...


Peace
Willfulone

 

What do you mean by haven’t got on the car yet?? Is there a time limit or certain mileage before you get on the car real hard?

 

You should break them for 500 miles.

 

Now I am real glad I did not say I got them in and hammered the crap out of them...

Phil, I love them and they are performing outstanding...

Peace
Willfulone

 

I'm debating 3.90 or 4.10s


I'm middle of the road kind of driver, like to go fast on highways and sometimes light to light!

I have a MN6, I'm told I'll get more use out of 6th. But don't want to shift 1 thru 4 too often, maybe 1 to 4 is now the way to go?

 

gear choice depends on 2 things really

1. Planned RWHP
2. Driving style


1. Higher RWHP cars dont need higher gears. Lower rwhp cars can take full advantage of them though.

2. light to light, street driving, and 1/4 mile driving the 4.10s are great, but go to any HPDE and you will see that the 4.10s require way too much shifting.

I swaped from 3.42s to 4.10s because before all I did was 1/4 mile stuff, but then I got into HPDEs and had to switch to 3.73s to get the most out of the gear and to keep engine temps down.

Just think of your long term plans and then match the gears.

 

My long term plans are to keep this a daily driver....and bring it to the track at times, I don't do much highway driving, and I don't want to half to shift all the time either

 

I also have a gear question, ( hope im not hijacking thread) is there a big enough difference from 315 to 373 as to not go to 390s? my car is a stock 2000 minus tune driven mostly in town just cant decide which gear, any ideas on rpm in both sets @ 70mph in overdrive


mine is a A4
thanks
Terry

 

I am at about 400 rwhp. I picked up a core recently and plan to send it to DTE over the winter for a 3.90 setup. I spent a lot of time looking into it, and the 3.90's are my final decision.

 

We just installed a set of 3.73s in Brians car from Delaware and he wishes he went with 3.90s. His is a cam only automatic with bolt-ons. brian vette is his screen name.
Phil

 

If you happen to be in DFW I'll take you for spin and show you how the 3.90's feel.....



Damn, that sounded dirty....

 

I've got cam only with bolt ons making rwhp in sig and love the 4:10's. Don't worry about having to do to much shifting, because you don't have to. Either one you'll like.

 

I have 3.90's, dynatech headers, cats and xpipe, Callaway intake, Corsa Touring, 160 stat. and dynotune on my '04 6 speed coupe. Dyno'ed 351 RWHP, 364 RWT. Love all of them but 3.90's really made the car come alive. The only drawback is that I run out of RPM's pretty quick, which is another way of saying that I shift more now. Planning a mild street cam and jacked up rev limiter for the spring. I've read that its best to stay at 400 RWHP or less with 3.90's due to traction problems.

 

does anyone also know how much the top end speed is reduced by using 3:73 or 3:90's using the headers, x-pipe, cats and exhaust set-up?

 

Are you looking for "Low End" torque (say, quarter mile speeds) or do you want “top-end” performance capability as well?

4:10 gears will give you a lot of off the line (traffic light to traffic light) torque and speed, but won’t do anything for sustained top end driving. With 4:10's you’ll be shifting gears a lot sooner and maxing out your RPMs as well with 4:10’s. If you're gonna "Drag Race" a lot and not us your Vette as a "Daily Driver" then 4:10's are your gears.

3:90 gears will give you faster off the line performance over your 3:42 gears for sure. Plus, you’ll retain more top end performance, but again you’ll reach your max engine RPM range sooner as you shift through the gears and your engine RPM’s will rev will be higher for gear as well.

3:73 gears will give you faster off the line performance over your 3:42 gears as well. You’ll maintain more top end performance also. Now, if you plan to do any engine modifications like adding a “Super Charger” later on then I wouldn’t go any higher than 3:73 gears.

For me, the 3:90 gears would be my pick. I’m over here in Germany where running on the “Autobahn” is a daily event at speeds between 120-160 mph are common place. “Top End” is King here in Germany ! If you can’t sustain at least 130 - 150 mph for an hour or so on the Autobahns, then you shouldn’t be driving a Corvette over here ! ! !

So, for me 4:10 gears wouldn’t work over here. Now, back there in the states where Speed Limits are restricted to way lower speed limets you can better utilize the "Taller" gears and still drive your Vette. But again, if you want a "Daily Driver" I would go with the 3:73's or 3:90's. . . Unless you’re gonna do a lot of "Drag Racing".

Closing Comments: If you're a "Cruiser" like me and not a "Racer" I would get the 3:90’s, but that's just me. . .

Good luck on whatever setup you decide on. . . .


____________________________________

Cecil
Heidelberg, Germany
Germany-American Corvette Club
1999 C5 Coupe
LS6 Engine ~ (With Henrik's Auto Racing 475 HP Head and Cam Package)

 

I posted a similar question a few months ago. Thanks to this forum I decided to go with 3.90’s. the new Diff from DTE is sitting on my workbench waiting to be installed as soon as I put the car away for the winter.

 

4:10's on my DD