Best 3.73 gears
06-01-2005, 01:56 PM
#1
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Bettendorf, IA
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Best 3.73 gears I have a camaro with a stock 3.23 gear and looking for recommendations on gear brands for 3.73's. I heard gm gears are the strongest but looking for other opinions. if gm is the way to go, i need a part number. and is there anything else i need? install kit? bearings? etc. thanks
06-01-2005, 03:09 PM
#3
Banned
iTrader: (92)
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 7,757
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Motives are the quietest gears! I'm not kiding that Strange has gotten a bad rep from "plenty" of people. More whine and hum at speed. I have Motive 4.10's. Slight whine when you roll into throttle in 5th or 6th on the interstate. I LOVE the sound. 
06-02-2005, 10:07 PM
#6
14 Second Truck Club
iTrader: (36)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Chicago, Il
Posts: 2,633
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Motive Performance or OE GM. They all use the same 8620 steel, and most get the exact same heat treat. The OE gears get a different cut process, but that doesnt affect strength.
Trending Topics
06-03-2005, 05:53 PM
#9
14 Second Truck Club
iTrader: (36)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Chicago, Il
Posts: 2,633
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by JEB99TA
8620 steel > which has a higher nickel content
06-03-2005, 07:27 PM
#10
Well, let's begin with mallable steel, which is the type ferrite composites you are speaking of. You're speaking of old FORGED/TEMPERED iron gearing technology, which a lot of aftermarket gear manufacturers still use. And the nickel is not part of the composite process, it's the bond/plating process which makes the surfaces of the gears more durable. In other words, it's not a composite mixture. It is the bonded plating process which makes the surface stronger and less prone to surface fractures which, over time, weaken and deepen until the core material breaks and chips.
General Motors uses, not mallable steel as you are speaking of (many years ago, yes), however, they use an engineered ADI steel. They haven't used forged 8620 steel since 1977 ... when they replaced forged steel gears with ADI (Austempered Ductile Iron) for ring and pinion gears. That's why O.E. GM gears, with a higher concentrated volume of nickel surface (up to 2%), are stronger than the aftermarket products. Soon after GM switched, Cummins soon followed. Then Ford. Millions of Ford crankshafts have been produced from this material. Why do you think Ford internals are FORGED? Technically, they're not. They're simply made from ductile iron, which is stronger and cheaper to incorporate ... cutting production costs up to 50%. All major car manufactures in the U.S. who had problematic financial issues, in the 1970's, rebounded primarily because of ADI iron composite material which cut productions costs 40-50%.
In 1983, the Cummins Engine Co. began to use ADI timing gears, produced to AGMA class 8 standards, in its B and C series diesel engines. These gears were machined and hobbed from annealed Ductile Iron castings. A crown shaving operation was carried out on the gear teeth prior to austempering, and the only operations performed after austempering were the grinding of the bore diameter and shot peening. Annual production exceeds 30,000 sets and the cost savings are estimated at 30% compared to the forged and carburized 1022 steel gears previously used.
Oh, but this is VERY true. That's why a lot of people say it. Nickel is a harder metal and Richmond does surface their drivetrain components with nickel.
General Motors uses, not mallable steel as you are speaking of (many years ago, yes), however, they use an engineered ADI steel. They haven't used forged 8620 steel since 1977 ... when they replaced forged steel gears with ADI (Austempered Ductile Iron) for ring and pinion gears. That's why O.E. GM gears, with a higher concentrated volume of nickel surface (up to 2%), are stronger than the aftermarket products. Soon after GM switched, Cummins soon followed. Then Ford. Millions of Ford crankshafts have been produced from this material. Why do you think Ford internals are FORGED? Technically, they're not. They're simply made from ductile iron, which is stronger and cheaper to incorporate ... cutting production costs up to 50%. All major car manufactures in the U.S. who had problematic financial issues, in the 1970's, rebounded primarily because of ADI iron composite material which cut productions costs 40-50%.
In 1983, the Cummins Engine Co. began to use ADI timing gears, produced to AGMA class 8 standards, in its B and C series diesel engines. These gears were machined and hobbed from annealed Ductile Iron castings. A crown shaving operation was carried out on the gear teeth prior to austempering, and the only operations performed after austempering were the grinding of the bore diameter and shot peening. Annual production exceeds 30,000 sets and the cost savings are estimated at 30% compared to the forged and carburized 1022 steel gears previously used.
Originally Posted by MZOOMORA
A lot of people say that Richmond gear uses more nickle and that is where the noise complaints come from, but it isnt true.
A lot of people say that Richmond gear uses more nickle and that is where the noise complaints come from, but it isnt true.
06-04-2005, 09:39 PM
#15
All the top name gears are good gears. Poor installations do happen and even the best of gears fail. IMHO, the best gears for the money are either OE GM's or Strange. Just my opinion. A lot of people seem to be happy with their richmond's and I've heard a lot of good things about them ... no experience with them, though. Good luck with your choice. 
06-05-2005, 10:06 PM
#16
12 Second Club
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Brazoria
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
richmond gears Stay away from the Richmond gears, they may be cheaper and everyone sells them and you can even get them at Walmart 
. They are just to soft to stand up to the abuse of high RPM launches with sticky tires. They may also be loudest gears, especially after going to thr track a few times and my car is a turd compared to alot of others. I only have 330 ponies @ the tire.
. They are just to soft to stand up to the abuse of high RPM launches with sticky tires. They may also be loudest gears, especially after going to thr track a few times and my car is a turd compared to alot of others. I only have 330 ponies @ the tire. 
06-09-2005, 11:55 AM
#20
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Bettendorf, IA
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i called a gm dealer and they wanted $644 for the gear set! are you guys paying that much? i also need a part number for an istall kit.
Last edited by DynamicZ28; 06-09-2005 at 01:36 PM.