8.8" diff lets talk gears
 

If you've noticed my whipple build thread, I've got a low compression supercharger build underway. I'm also close to ordering parts for an 8.8" diff swap.
Now is the time for me to consider what gears to go with.
Stay with the stock 3:73 ratio, which should make for a very short 1st gear, or I've been contemplating 3:55 which would probably make 6th gear rather obsolete (i pretty much only use it at 65mph+ as is)
I also don't want it to feel like a dog going down to 3:55's
I know the whipple will give me mad torque relatively early in the rpms.
But after dropping compression to 9:1 and max boost not kicking in untill 3000+ rpm I'm wondering if it would bog off the hop, with 3:55 gears.
I know 3:55 vs 3:73 isn't major, but I'm looking for an ideal set up.
Need some input, exspecially those with FI?

I have 3:55 gears on my na stroker

That's nice

On the street a 3.55 would probably be more practical... on the track with sticky tires I'd stay with the 3.73's... unless you're trapping past 4th gear limit

I've got a Maggie doing near 500rwhp, and I went with 3.55s. I use 6th from 55 or so. I damn near wish I'd went higher. No bog at all. I'm prolly faster because of the wheel spiny not being as bad.

Didn't we go over this in the DIY 8.8 thread? 3.31 or 3.55 with FI.

3.55's will be going in mine next weekend...if the diff makes it to me. Uess you plan on changing the 1st and 2nd ratios, go with 3.55's. 3.31's would work well with an auto and a turbo, but not a manual and a supercharger.

Higher as in 3.31 higher

We didn't, you did.
I actually just read the last few pages of posts and saw that. Good stuff

Good info. I like the 3.73 gears we have, but that would probably change after FI. I wouldn't go 3.31's personally, but like you said, might work well with a turbo.
I don't use sixth much because of drone I get a running too low in the Rpm's. Long hwy trips to save gas is about it.
I don't mind a quick 1 to 2 shift, but I'm seriously thinking 3.55's.

I deff lost some of the seat if the pants feel going with 3.55's.

I don't like the sound of that.
I like the way 1st 2nd and 3 rd feel, don't want to kill that.

I don't see how "seat of the pants" and the differential gear ratio have anything to do with each other. Please elaborate.

NA non-cammed car and I have trouble keeping traction in first even on a dry summer day. I would think 3.55s would be just what we need.

i have the stock sized 3.72s in mine and it pulls like a monster and would be fine for mild boost or a nasty N/A setup but i wish i had gone with 3.55s for mine.

yo tommy check out this ole thread. some more good info in here. https://ls1tech.com/forums/cadillac-...-v-3-55-a.html

3.73s in mine with bolt-ons... with that monster i would go 3.31 haha

I would think a steeper gear would help, 4.10

This conversation is going the wrong direction. We have a wide gear ratio (2.97 vs. 2.66 for normal T56s). Even with a 3.31 or lower differential, we still have a lower gear ratio than a Corvette or Viper. But even more fundamentally, adding a blower improves low end torque, which will make your traction problems worse. Adding a 4.10 on top of that will basically mandate that you start everything in second.

This thread has settled the debate for me. 3.55's will be going in and hopefully this will be the last time I touch the rear end (except for oil changes).

I think a 600 rwhp positive displacement car will be fine with 3:55s. I have 3:27s with 700 plus in my cobra.

I don't/won't have a blower. I do not have a high torque 500CI stroker. I don't see where 1st would be too low for me. Gear selection boils down to driving habits and personal taste. I will eventually have to go through my trans and I will do a 8.8 so I will decide at that point.

Ya good thread too, but as this one the consensus is all over the place lol

Glad it helped you decide, I'm even more torn.
I drove an auto 2010 ss camaro when they first came out, it felt lame with 3.42 (or whatever) they have in it. I'm pretty sure it was the gearing making it feel like a slug.