Mike2000Z28

I'm new to the site, but I have heard good things. I'm planning to change my gears however will there be a noticeable different with 3.43 both accel and gas mileage. I want performance but I also do alot of driving highway/city. I just think 3.73 would be to much of a lose for the day to day. Also I'm planning to do this when I pull the rearend to get the relocation brackets welded on, how hard is it to shime the axles and the gears. I understand that $2 G's I can get a bulletproof rearend but for $300 I can change my gears, just don't have the funds to mess around with. All input would be helpful.

orion565

iTrader: (4)

I believe you are thinking of 3.42 gears and I love mine.

jpscamaro

how much of a difference in et's did you notice from 2.73s to 3.42s orion 565?i have 2.73s and im trying to get aholdof some 3.42s. also did you have to get a "series 3" carrier or could you use the series two carrier for the 3.42s?

Mike2000Z28

I know you have to get the spacer or thicker gears when you go from the 2 series to the 3 series carrier. I was always pretty much sold on the 3.42s but how much of a difference all around (acceleration, top end, town) did you notice.

Mike2000Z28

How hard was it to get the axles shimmed up and install? I might be on board for that work myself. I installed my headers and suspension, so I feel that I can tackle the difficultness of the shimming or at least take it somewhere to have the rear looked over.

orion565

iTrader: (4)

I haven't taken it to the track yet so I don't know my times, i am hoping for 12.6-12.7 with my current mods.

As far as feeling a difference, I did the converter and gears at the same time so it is hard for me to tell the difference between the two except the car feels a lot, a lot faster now. First gear and second don't feel sluggish anymore and driving around town is more fun.

If you do the install yourself I would HIGHLY recommend having someone that has installed gears before, because you have to check the tolerance level of the gear fit, so that they don't shred each other. You can't just bolt it and go, it takes a few measurements and the right space length.

And yes I had to go with the series 3 carrier

Check my gear install thread

https://ls1tech.com/forums/gears-axles/349851-gear-install-pics.html

y2k_ta

iTrader: (80)

I had FLP swap my 2.73 gears for 3.73 gears back in April. You can keep the 2-series carrier, but you'll need to purchase thick gears. My 2-series had a lot of miles on it, so I swapped it for a 3-series. That allowed me to use the regular 3.73 gears. If I were you, I'd go for the 3.73 gears. 2.73 to 3.42 just doesn't seem like enough of a change to justify the time and money to swap them. If you change your mind and go with the 3.73 gears, the loss in gas mileage isn't enough to worry about in my opinion.

Mike2000Z28

I might want to think about just putting in 3.73s.

Blacker

iTrader: (3)

I went from a 2.73 to a 3.42 and knocked off 3 tenths at the track. I recently grenaded the differential and went with the 3.73's. I am still breaking in the gears but, there is a noticeable difference over the 3.42's especially in 4th. Definitely start with the 3.73's and don't look back.

markymark

I went from 2.73's to 3.73's and I couldnt be happier. It was sluggish before, but now it just takes off.....after doing headers and gears I lost over 6 tenths in et.

orion565

iTrader: (4)

congrats, you should go for a stall next..

markymark

Yea I really want a stall bad, gotta save up a little and then I will probably get one.

Mike2000Z28

I figured that you will have to get the 3 series diff but at $400 dollars its killing my budget on the gears. Can I use a truck diff 3 series or something like that. I was told by the guys at a local shop that the thick gears aren't really the way to go over time.

orion565

iTrader: (4)

You should be able to get a series 3 for about $200 new, 400=rip off, I got my used for $100.00 out of a manual, I wouldn't go with thick gears, I would only go with genuine GM gears, i heard people with after market gears end up not liking them, the quality isn't as good

Fast Eddie's 02 T/A vert.

Don't waste your $$ on 3.42 gears like I did. Get 3.73, you won't be sorry. Your car will be faster with 3.73, you do want it to go faster ....right?

orion565

iTrader: (4)

depends on how much highway driving he wants to do, right ?

markymark

the strange gears for the series 2 carrier are very good imo. I had a local guy install em and they are holding up awesome for me. The whine isnt too bad, just a little bit around 40 miles per hour when slightly accelerating. From what I read up on, Strange is the really the best way to go if you are keeping the series 2 carrier.....if you go to a series 3 then get some GM Motives.

Fast Eddie's 02 T/A vert.

3.42 @ 70 mph....2200 rpm 3.73 @ 70 mph.....2400 rpm....not much difference....right?

Mike2000Z28

Yeah I figured that there would be some whine with the Richmonds or the Strange thick gears but right now is more of cost problem. If I can find a $200 carrier then I'm set, but I'm not going to drop more $600 on my 10bolt rear. I do alot of highway driving but then again 3.73 are not all that bad highway (2200 vs 2400) if the whine doesn't make me want to turn the stereo up. Ya know what I'm saying. I need to replace the pinion seal anyways, so I figured I'd change the gears out but then I started asking about the carriers, thick gears, and spacers. Now here we are.

DaGeneral

iTrader: (3)

Sorry to sort of hijack the thread, but I have a quick question. Im looking to upgrade the gears in my 73 Camaro. Stock they have 273 and Im looking to go big, maybe 410. Will I need to make any other adjustments to the rear end ? And Ive heard I will lose out on my top end speed, how much are we talking about here ? Any info will be helpful.