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3.15 vs 2.73 gears

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Old Dec 1, 2006 | 08:27 PM
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Default 3.15 vs 2.73 gears

I am on the verge of buying a C5 and have a question reguarding gears.
I can get a good deal on a C5 with 2.73 gears but do not want to be dissapointed with performance. Is there a big difference between the 3.15 and 2.73 gears? I just sold my LT4 vette and would like similar performance. Thanks.
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Old Dec 1, 2006 | 08:49 PM
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If it's a good deal, buy it. Use the money you saved to change gears and converter. Ron B.
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Old Dec 2, 2006 | 01:17 AM
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Get the car with the 2.73’s and use the “saved” money to change to 3.42’s and a new torque converter. The difference will be day and night. With this change, the LT4 will feel slow by comparison.


Welcome to the C5 crowd,

Clayton from Las Vegas
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Old Dec 2, 2006 | 01:29 AM
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A buddy has a 02 with 2.73 and I have a 03 with 3.15(same mods); the big difference in acceleration is quite noticeable. I am not sure how the MPG between the two, but definitely 3.15 is better than 2.73 as far as spirited exhilaration.
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Old Dec 2, 2006 | 03:36 AM
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Old Dec 2, 2006 | 05:56 AM
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I have 3.15's in my 03 and when traveling with others running the 2.73 gears my DIC indicates that I lose about 2mpg compared to what there DIC's are indicating. However close the DIC's are, I'm really not sure, but the acceleration difference between the two is quite noticeable.
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Old Dec 2, 2006 | 09:16 AM
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don't make your decision based on the gears - there's thousands of people driving C5's with 273's and they love it. If you love the car buy it - your first mod will then be a new rear and TC ONLY IF you don't like the 273's.

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Old Dec 2, 2006 | 09:47 AM
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My car had 2.73s in it when I bought it, I loved my car. But when the mod bug bit I put 3.73s with a high stall converter in it, wow what a dif. I don't care about mpg, I am into grins per miles. So what I am saying is you can be happy with a 2.73 car if you are not into smoking tires and going sideways
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Old Dec 2, 2006 | 10:10 AM
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Originally Posted by LV Vette


Get the car with the 2.73’s and use the “saved” money to change to 3.42’s and a new torque converter. The difference will be day and night. With this change, the LT4 will feel slow by comparison.


Welcome to the C5 crowd,

Clayton from Las Vegas
Also by buying the 2.73's your most likely going to be getting a car that has not been beaten on. Somebody who races/or goes fast would usually Opt. for the 3.15 If they want auto. I would go for the cheaper 2.73 car. *Then 3.42 w/2800 stall
I almost forgot...The 3.15 Is about 2/10ths quicker overall than the 2.73
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Old Dec 2, 2006 | 02:06 PM
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Originally Posted by slolane
My car had 2.73s in it when I bought it, I loved my car. But when the mod bug bit I put 3.73s with a high stall converter in it, wow what a dif. I don't care about mpg, I am into grins per miles. So what I am saying is you can be happy with a 2.73 car if you are not into smoking tires and going sideways

Just for another "opinion"......My '04 coupe is 2.73 geared and I had a small cam and headers put on, and a 3200 TC.

Now, I can smoke the tires and go sideways at most any speed at or below 45 mph AND get 30mpg @ 75 on the highway when I feel like it. And as an added bonus, the vette runs in the mid 12's @113 in the quarter, on street tires.

Those 3.42 and higher (numerically) gears are IMHO for drag racers.....not ordinary street and highway drivers like me.

What I am saying is I could install some 3.42 gears and make some more smoke and do a 360° spin out instead of just a 180° spin out like I can do now......but what for?

Like I said....just my opinion.
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Old Dec 2, 2006 | 02:47 PM
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Originally Posted by MagikDraggin
Just for another "opinion"......My '04 coupe is 2.73 geared and I had a small cam and headers put on, and a 3200 TC.

Now, I can smoke the tires and go sideways at most any speed at or below 45 mph AND get 30mpg @ 75 on the highway when I feel like it. And as an added bonus, the vette runs in the mid 12's @113 in the quarter, on street tires.

Those 3.42 and higher (numerically) gears are IMHO for drag racers.....not ordinary street and highway drivers like me.

What I am saying is I could install some 3.42 gears and make some more smoke and do a 360° spin out instead of just a 180° spin out like I can do now......but what for?

Like I said....just my opinion.
that's a valid point; but I would of drawn the line one notch further:

Those 3.73 and higher (numerically) gears are IMHO for drag racers.

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