need some guidance fellas, I have a 98 auto. and am trying to get a good combo. im planning on making around 400 hp to the tire and was trying to figure out if 342 or 373 would work best with 3600 conveter, not a daily driver so not worried about mileage just trying to get the best seat of the pants feel and 1/4 times.

 

I have 3.73 gear with a Yank SS3600 TC. IMHO you can't get a better combo.

 

do you know if a 373 ring and pinion will go in a 273 case

 

It will not. Nor will a 3.42.

Unfortunately, you are pretty much stuck. DTE will accept trade in on a 2 series case, and you can buy a completed diff from them.

Ring and pinion swaps are not that common (or easy) for the Getrag rears in our vettes. I've swapped out my ring and pinion and whole axle out of my TA so many times I can do it in my sleep now, but didn't want to attempt trying on the vette.

In any event, that point is moot since you still have a 2 series case and need to get a 3 series to do the swap, so that means buying a whole new pumpkin. Here you can go used, or get a new Z06 carrier. Used you can get either a 3.15 or 3.42 sizes, and then upgrade to 3.73's if you choose to. The new Z06 carriers only come with 3.42's. That's the route I took and am very happy.

For my TA, I have 3.73 with a Yank SS3600 stall. For the vette, it's 3.42's with Yank SS3200. With the 3.42's, I can barely get traction as it is and couldn't imaging going with lower gears. 3.73's, IMHO, would be overkill, especially if you plan to add a lot of power later. The only exception would be if planned on a large cam that had a really poor low end and you needed some extra gear to get you through that range.

 

Plenty of forum members running 3.73 with a 3600 stall.The combo you have is also very popular.I have been running the 3.73 gears with the SS3600 TC for five years with no problems.My car is a dd and I average about 12k /year.

I run DRs (Nitto 305/35/18 ) full time and have no problem at all on the street with traction.At the track I run MT 270/40/17 DRs for a better hook up.I have run a 1.59 sixty foot with my setup. Looks like I am getting some traction. My mods are in my sig.

 

I have 420 to the rear wheels and 3.42's. I really, really wish I had gone with 3.73 or higher.

 

3600 stall and 3.42 here. I'd much rather have a 3.73. BTW, make sure to go with a Yank converter. Hands down the best converter for the vette.

 

Since the OP was asking pretty simple questions, I wanted to give a simple answer.
Running DR's for a daily driver is not something that most here do.

I plan to go FI later, so too much gear later on would definately hurt me.

 

That's awesome Dick!
How have ya been?
I've got to talk to you now that I have time.
And by the way, to the OP, when I didn't know which gear to put in my car, Dick let me drive his Vette and I immediately went out and bought the 373 gears but I only put in the 2800 stall converter because I like to run the mountain roads......bob.

 

3.73 and 3600 vig is the combo that took me to 10 sec et with my old h/c setup made about 430 rwhp. fastest 10.974 same setup with 3.42 and 3200 stall got me 11.311 et