C7 General Discussion General C7 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Gear Question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 9, 2013 | 11:58 AM
  #1  
luvlake's Avatar
luvlake
Thread Starter
Pro
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 671
Likes: 1
From: Kansas City Missouri
Default Gear Question

On the C7 order form I see a 2.73 ratio and a 2.56 ratio with the 3.42 being the standard. I intend to order a C7 Convertible Z51, I don't plan to track the car or do Top End racing. I want the best all around performance and gas mileage. What is the difference and which one should I choose?
Reply
Old Aug 9, 2013 | 12:03 PM
  #2  
CaryBob's Avatar
CaryBob
Safety Car
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,913
Likes: 395
From: Cary NC
Default

That is not something you can order. They are the result of other choices.

All manual transmissions are 3.42. Automatics are either 2.46 or 2.73 depending on whether you choose the Z51 option or not. Since you are ordering Z51, you will get 3,42 if a manual, 2.73 if an automatic.
Reply
Old Aug 9, 2013 | 12:05 PM
  #3  
robvuk's Avatar
robvuk
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,707
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles
Default

The final drive ratio will definitely improve mileage but it will be at the expense of overall performance. The meaningless 0-60 will be slower and the 1/4 mile will suffer in both top speed and E.T. However, the improvements in mileage will mostly only be realized on the highway. So if you do many road trips, it will definitely save gas. Otherwise, not so much.
Reply
Old Aug 9, 2013 | 12:07 PM
  #4  
talon90's Avatar
talon90
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 35,617
Likes: 167
Tech Contributor
Cruise-In 11 Veteran
NCM Ambassador
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
Default

Originally Posted by luvlake
On the C7 order form I see a 2.73 ratio and a 2.56 ratio with the 3.42 being the standard. I intend to order a C7 Convertible Z51, I don't plan to track the car or do Top End racing. I want the best all around performance and gas mileage. What is the difference and which one should I choose?
If you are ordering a manual transmission car, your only choice will be a 3.42 ratio.

If you are ordering an automatic transmission with the Z51 your only choice will be 2.73.

If you are ordering an automatic transmission without the Z51 package your only choice will be the 2.56.
Reply
Old Aug 9, 2013 | 12:24 PM
  #5  
Shaka's Avatar
Shaka
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,168
Likes: 1,336
From: FLL Florida
Default

Originally Posted by robvuk
The final drive ratio will definitely improve mileage but it will be at the expense of overall performance. The meaningless 0-60 will be slower and the 1/4 mile will suffer in both top speed and E.T. However, the improvements in mileage will mostly only be realized on the highway. So if you do many road trips, it will definitely save gas. Otherwise, not so much.
Correct. A lot of guys run 4:11 gears in their Vettes but often switch back to 3:42 because they have to use the over drive gears which requires more gear changes, taller overall ratios and slower lap times. The higher the ratio, the higher the temperatures also. Tire wear increases as do carrier clutches. The properties of the rear axle are second only to tires for performance.
Reply
Old Aug 9, 2013 | 12:28 PM
  #6  
robvuk's Avatar
robvuk
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,707
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles
Default

Originally Posted by talon90
If you are ordering a manual transmission car, your only choice will be a 3.42 ratio.

If you are ordering an automatic transmission with the Z51 your only choice will be 2.73.

If you are ordering an automatic transmission without the Z51 package your only choice will be the 2.56.
And yes. There really is no choice. You get the package one way or the other. So there is no comparing the mileage you get with the 2.73 vs. the 3.42 with a manual tranny.
Reply
Old Aug 9, 2013 | 12:30 PM
  #7  
robvuk's Avatar
robvuk
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,707
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles
Default

Originally Posted by Shaka
Correct. A lot of guys run 4:11 gears in their Vettes but often switch back to 3:42 because they have to use the over drive gears which requires more gear changes, taller overall ratios and slower lap times. The higher the ratio, the higher the temperatures also. Tire wear increases as do carrier clutches. The properties of the rear axle are second only to tires for performance.
I guess my post more accurately described a scenario where the user changes the final drive ratio to a 4.11 or other choice. Which brings up the question about the eDif. Talon90 may know the answer, does the eDif make changing gear ratios all but impossible?
Reply
Old Aug 9, 2013 | 02:27 PM
  #8  
Shaka's Avatar
Shaka
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,168
Likes: 1,336
From: FLL Florida
Default

Originally Posted by robvuk
I guess my post more accurately described a scenario where the user changes the final drive ratio to a 4.11 or other choice. Which brings up the question about the eDif. Talon90 may know the answer, does the eDif make changing gear ratios all but impossible?
I doubt it.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-8

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
Old Aug 9, 2013 | 03:32 PM
  #9  
Mike Mercury's Avatar
Mike Mercury
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Default

Originally Posted by robvuk
does the eDif make changing gear ratios all but impossible?
I'd imagine it would complicate the reprog process, it's more than WOT shift points this time (automatic tranny).
Reply
Old Aug 9, 2013 | 04:26 PM
  #10  
Shaka's Avatar
Shaka
Safety Car
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,168
Likes: 1,336
From: FLL Florida
Default

Originally Posted by Mike Mercury
I'd imagine it would complicate the reprog process, it's more than WOT shift points this time (automatic tranny).
I don't know if the diff has an isolated ECM or if it gets inputs from other systems, such as active handling, steering in put, braking input, accelerometers, etc.
If it only gets torque and traction signals, I don't think it would have to be reprogrammed with a pinion and crown wheel change. I would like to see a lot of tech data released on the C7 such as this but anything electronic is usually closely guarded. I think it is simply active locally unlike f1 and rally cars. I wonder if a F458 or a GT3 ediff gets info from its DCT?
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Gear Question





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:57 PM.

story-0
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-2
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-4
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-5
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE