Headers or gears
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 34
From: King George Virginia
You don't have to go to a stall converter with 3:42's. I have in excess of 420 to the wheels and the stock converter. Been doing that for 3 years and 50K miles with out any problems. Changing the gears is a great bang for the buck. You will wonder where the car you are driving came from.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
Likes: 298
From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
If you have 2.73s you will want to upgrade the entire carrier which will have 3.42s already. Then you just need to find someone who can switch carriers and someone to change the shift points.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 34
From: King George Virginia
To save heartache later just get a new one. You are taking a big chance buying used. New Pumpkins cost more but it is money well spent.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,333
Likes: 2,880
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Gears will be a better bang for the buck and you will only loose mpg on the higway as you will gain torque multiplication for accelerating the car more easily around town. Rick@RKT56 is a sponsor here, just moved to Maryland and should be able to get you taken care of on the gear swap.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 812
Likes: 2
From: Metairie Louisiana
If you think you might do both eventually, do headers first, then the improvement in actual power output will let you know how radical (or not) your gearing should be. If you're sure its one or the other only, do the gears.
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 399
Likes: 3
From: jacksonville fla
The stock converter stalls at about 1300 rpm. For example a Yank ss3600 stalls at 3600. Your engine produces alot more power at 3600 than it does at 1300 rpm. A high stall t/c allows your engine to spool up instantly to a higher RPM where it is making much more power. It also gives you higher shift extention, meaning when your tranny shifts at WOT your rpm does not drop as low between shifts. When your tranny shifts at WOT a converter like an SS3600 will only allow your engine drop to about 4800 rpm. The stock converter will be about 3800 rpm. And no you don't have to rev your engine to 3600 to get your car to move. The SS series Yanks are tight converters and feel alot like the stock converter when you are driving normally. I hope this helps.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,826
Likes: 221
From: Hillsboro OR
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
I put a vararam CAI and headers with high flo cats, x-pipe, and tune MPG was as high as 32 on highway. Then put in 3.42 gears and a small cam , MPG fell to 27 Was it worth it? Oh heck yeah! 373rwhp 369tq
As mentioned, be sure to put in at least a yank 3200 stall. Keep an eye on trans temp while in traffic- it may need a trans cooler.
As mentioned, be sure to put in at least a yank 3200 stall. Keep an eye on trans temp while in traffic- it may need a trans cooler.
