going from 2:73 to 3:73...worth it?
going from 2:73 to 3:73...worth it? just ordered a 4000 stall for my formula ws6 and i have 2:73 gears and im wondering if it is even worth it to upgrade to 3:73's? all i have is slp lid kit w/ MAF, loud mouth, HP tuners... and people say i will be good for mid to low 12's with this setup...now will the 3:73's show improvements??? need ur insights, thanks.
Originally Posted by redformulaws6
just ordered a 4000 stall for my formula ws6 and i have 2:73 gears and im wondering if it is even worth it to upgrade to 3:73's? all i have is slp lid kit w/ MAF, loud mouth, HP tuners... and people say i will be good for mid to low 12's with this setup...now will the 3:73's show improvements??? need ur insights, thanks.
Tech Resident
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,117
Likes: 3
From: Philly
i say no. gear swaps on stalled cars are known to feel like a huge gain, then you take it to the track and you net a tenth. since you're making a big gear jump, you'll likely see 2 tenths.
but what else will you see?
well, say good-bye to 2-3mpg easy. i will never get rid of my 2.73's. i like my 21-22mpg. if i wanted 18mpg i'd get some 3.73's.
your car has a 10-bolt right? well, your 10-bolt LOVES that automatic transmission + 2.73 combo. switching to 3.73's and running at the track will cut your rear's life into a fraction of what it is now. if you're so set on gears. put that money toward a 12-bolt instead and then get the 12-bolt with 3.73's.
want 3.73's in a 4 speed auto? say hello to engine wear and a shortened engine lifespan!
you're gonna launch a 3.73 car with a 4000 stall? lol good luck getting any traction at all. i take back what i said, you may actually LOSE time on your slip til you learn how to drive that. drag radials may even be useless. if anything, 2.73's will help you get traction.
buying 3.73's is totally stupid IMO. the lost mileage and the lost life on your rear PLUS the $500+ install on a stupid 10-bolt is a waste of money. on a car with a stall as big as that, the ONLY purpose i can see is to make the stall feel tighter. you're gonna blow 3mpg and your 10-bolt's life to make your car tighter? what a waste.
but what else will you see?
well, say good-bye to 2-3mpg easy. i will never get rid of my 2.73's. i like my 21-22mpg. if i wanted 18mpg i'd get some 3.73's.
your car has a 10-bolt right? well, your 10-bolt LOVES that automatic transmission + 2.73 combo. switching to 3.73's and running at the track will cut your rear's life into a fraction of what it is now. if you're so set on gears. put that money toward a 12-bolt instead and then get the 12-bolt with 3.73's.
want 3.73's in a 4 speed auto? say hello to engine wear and a shortened engine lifespan!
you're gonna launch a 3.73 car with a 4000 stall? lol good luck getting any traction at all. i take back what i said, you may actually LOSE time on your slip til you learn how to drive that. drag radials may even be useless. if anything, 2.73's will help you get traction.
buying 3.73's is totally stupid IMO. the lost mileage and the lost life on your rear PLUS the $500+ install on a stupid 10-bolt is a waste of money. on a car with a stall as big as that, the ONLY purpose i can see is to make the stall feel tighter. you're gonna blow 3mpg and your 10-bolt's life to make your car tighter? what a waste.
i have 2.73s and i hated them.....until i got a stall. With a 3000 stall, i LOVE my 2.73. When i get a 12bolt, i may switch to 3.23, but no higher. But I'll also be running 500rwhp, with that 12bolt, so i won't need high gears.
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Wow, got a bunch of pansies in here it looks like. 
I went from 3.23's to 4.10's and I will never go back. You will notice a loss in mpg, and traction on street tires, but get some decent tires, and it's a whole world of difference. I have a 4200 stall and I'd still like to go a little looser. And btw, this is my dd car, and it drives great.
I went from 3.23's to 4.10's and I will never go back. You will notice a loss in mpg, and traction on street tires, but get some decent tires, and it's a whole world of difference. I have a 4200 stall and I'd still like to go a little looser. And btw, this is my dd car, and it drives great.
Tech Resident
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,117
Likes: 3
From: Philly
Originally Posted by Roarin_8
When I go to a 12 bolt, I may opt for 3.08s
Tech Resident
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,117
Likes: 3
From: Philly
Originally Posted by monicaz28
Wow, got a bunch of pansies in here it looks like.
Originally Posted by ChocoTaco369
not pansies, we just know better than to **** away $600 for something that nets us a tenth in the quarter mile, beats up our rear, ruins our tires and kills our mpg (when paired with a stall). i believe you meant geniuses instead of pansies
I drive more highway miles than city especially my trips from NYC to FL and back (can't wait for that to finally end). Filling up 4 times for that trip is great!! 
Originally Posted by ChocoTaco369
not pansies, we just know better than to **** away $600 for something that nets us a tenth in the quarter mile, beats up our rear, ruins our tires and kills our mpg (when paired with a stall). i believe you meant geniuses instead of pansies
Originally Posted by Roarin_8
That's the great thing about lockup.
11 Second Club
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
From: tampa fla
You guys are missing the whole point !!If you overthink every mod u will never have fun with your car.There are pro and cons to every mod,i put a big cam in and i know the motor wont last as long as it would with the stocker.Same thing goes for a converter,you will eventually have to rebuid you trans,BIGGER,BETTER ,STRONGER.Mod and have fun.
Originally Posted by HaulinHawk
You guys are missing the whole point !!If you overthink every mod u will never have fun with your car.There are pro and cons to every mod,i put a big cam in and i know the motor wont last as long as it would with the stocker.Same thing goes for a converter,you will eventually have to rebuid you trans,BIGGER,BETTER ,STRONGER.Mod and have fun.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 345
Likes: 1
From: TX
I was disappointed when I found out my newly acquired 98Z had 2.73s. But after researching the boards, I think it's a blessing in disguise. Guys are getting excellent times w/2.73s, and the threads I found where guys said they got very little going from 2.73 to 3.42s/3.73s were real eye openers. The greater strenght of the physically larger 2.73 pinion gear over the necessarily smaller 3.73 pinion gear is an added bonus. Makes it much more likely the 7.5 10 bolt will live.
I ended up liking the way the 2.73s feel around town. I used to have an 89 Formula 350 w/the 3.27 9 bolt. I used to hate making a right turn onto a street with traffic coming. Too much gas and the tires would just spin, rear would try to swing around. Too little and the tranny would short shift into 2nd = blah acceleration. The 2.73s are an improvement. I can moderate the throttle much better to prevent excess spin without having to worry about an early shift into 2nd.
Better gas mileage and less wear on the engine are an added bonus. I've come to think I really lucked out getting a car w/2.73s.
I ended up liking the way the 2.73s feel around town. I used to have an 89 Formula 350 w/the 3.27 9 bolt. I used to hate making a right turn onto a street with traffic coming. Too much gas and the tires would just spin, rear would try to swing around. Too little and the tranny would short shift into 2nd = blah acceleration. The 2.73s are an improvement. I can moderate the throttle much better to prevent excess spin without having to worry about an early shift into 2nd.
Better gas mileage and less wear on the engine are an added bonus. I've come to think I really lucked out getting a car w/2.73s.
I say do what you want. There are obvious pros.....there are obvious cons. I agree with the comment about the 4000 stall and gas mileage...must not be too big of a deal. I have 3.23's with a 3500 stall and I get 23 MPG on the highway. City I'm not sure of yet, but it certainly isn't what I used to get. I may have seen a 2-3 MPG loss, but the gain is well worth it. If you think 3.73's are for you, do it. There are many on here who have them and love them. If you are worried about the added wear to engine/rearend, then skip to a cam. Even though a cam will sacrifice gas mileage as well.