Are 3.73 worth it?
08-25-2009, 09:05 PM
#1
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Are 3.73 worth it? Ok, so I have looked around and i can't seem to answer my question. Since I am fairly new to the LT1 world, i figured I would ask you guys. Are the 3.73 worth it for me? I have been contemplating going to 3.42 because this is a street car, and I do not plan on racing it at all. I currently have 2.73 gears in it and I am hoping to get a converter over the winter. This is just to satisfy my thurst for a beast. So are 3.73 worth it for a street car? Also what else is needed when installing these gears? Kit, etc? Thanks
08-25-2009, 09:23 PM
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A friend of mine in his 6 speed car was really happy with his upgrade from 3.42's so I'm sure it'll make a huge difference from 2.73's especially from with the stall. I really don't know what all is needed but I believe I saw a kit on ebay a while back when I was going to gear my car.
thats a good thing. 
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08-26-2009, 06:12 AM
#8
On my 2nd gen way back when, I went from 2.41 to 3.42 thinking it would make a big difference-didn't notice a thing, then I went to 3.73 and made a HUGE improvement. Personal story, depends on the car I guess b/c I went from 3.42 in my 94 v-6 to 3.73 and only noticed a decrease in mpg. Of course a v-6 isn't anything to brag about. The 2nd gen had a 455.
08-26-2009, 07:07 AM
#9
I put 3.73's in my old 5.0 Stang from 3.08's. What I noticed was... in order to go any faster you had to launch much harder and traction was tougher. At that point I had went a 13.7 with the 3.08's and went 13.6 with the 3.73's. In my TA it had 3.23's and I went 12.1@112 with a 1.59 60' but with the 3.70's now it is 12.2@111 with a 1.60 60'. Also noticed it is harder to get good hook with this car and 3.70's. Now maybe if you are really trying to dial in a cam RPM range to stay in the gears MAY make a difference going to the other end. At some point I may try another gear like a 3.10 or 3.40
08-28-2009, 12:48 PM
#11
If it's primarily street driven and an A4, yes consider the 3.42s, they will serve you well.
If you want to be on the border of performance and compromise 3.73s, just dont say no one told you so.....poor gas mileage caused by higher rpms at cruising speeds. But i'ts not that bad.....a friend had 3.73s on his mustang a4 too and he didn't complain too much, and if you ask me tall gears are the only way to make those gay *** 01 GTs to at least move.
If you had an M6 3.73s would do you perfect.....and actually had they offered the 3.90s when I was swapping out gears, I might have tried those instead.
Final tidbit... taller gears tend to be weaker than shorter ones, also whine less.
Good luck....
If you want to be on the border of performance and compromise 3.73s, just dont say no one told you so.....poor gas mileage caused by higher rpms at cruising speeds. But i'ts not that bad.....a friend had 3.73s on his mustang a4 too and he didn't complain too much, and if you ask me tall gears are the only way to make those gay *** 01 GTs to at least move.
If you had an M6 3.73s would do you perfect.....and actually had they offered the 3.90s when I was swapping out gears, I might have tried those instead.
Final tidbit... taller gears tend to be weaker than shorter ones, also whine less.
Good luck....
08-30-2009, 11:24 AM
#15
WOW until this thread I heard great things about the 3.73s Tuesday they are to install 3.73s and a 3500 stall in my A4. I can however go with 3.42s. My car is a slouch until it gets into the powerband. Its no fun compared to the M6. I currently have 3.23s thats why I didnt think the 3.42s would do much more justice.
Now to make driving around town easier from what I heard the 3.73s will be better with the 3500 stall. Would that be correct? The car is just a bolt on car. LS6 intake, Long tube headers, LID, CATS!, and a powerpac. Ill be porting my TB while they are doing the installs and Ill do the bump stop mod then as well.
I have a 224 cam but I wont install it until I get springs and hardened push rods. Maybe in 2 months after the vette is finished ill have the cam installed.
Now to make driving around town easier from what I heard the 3.73s will be better with the 3500 stall. Would that be correct? The car is just a bolt on car. LS6 intake, Long tube headers, LID, CATS!, and a powerpac. Ill be porting my TB while they are doing the installs and Ill do the bump stop mod then as well.
I have a 224 cam but I wont install it until I get springs and hardened push rods. Maybe in 2 months after the vette is finished ill have the cam installed.
08-30-2009, 04:06 PM
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If you want to know what 3.73's will feel like in 4th gear (overdrive) on the highway, Simply go on the highway with your current 2.73 gears & leave the tranny in 3rd gear & drive for a while. Its the same thing.
Or you can go to www.f-body.org/gears and see for yourself the difference between the 2.
As far as the track gains go, I wouldent worry about it. Get a high stall converter for that.
Or you can go to www.f-body.org/gears and see for yourself the difference between the 2.
As far as the track gains go, I wouldent worry about it. Get a high stall converter for that.
