Fixed rear end....and changed gears.
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 48
Fixed rear end....and changed gears. Couple of weeks ago, I went and got a little too brave with the ole 10 bolt at the track....and the results were disastrous. Busted the posi, but was able to limp the car home. Sourced a carrier very cheap, and figured I would do my first rear end rebuild and quit sourcing it out. Well, turns out....it's really not complicated at all. Now, with that said....trying to preload the pinion bearings while on your back was EXTREMELY hard, hard enough to where I couldn't do it. So I went to home depot and grabbed tla Milwaukee 1/2 inch impact.....the one with 700ft/lbs forward 1100 reverse....it is the ultimate cordless impact without question. Anyways, got everything together and went for a test drive, gears were whisper quiet...so I was happy that I set it up right. Now, the gear I was running before was 3:42 with 315 35 17 (25.6 inch) tires. Car didn't really like it, as I was going through the traps at 6,700. Wasn't worried about it coming apart, but it just doesn't make power up that high. So this go around I went with 2:73s, and now.....it's not even the same car. For those that don't beleive that tall gears help a turbo car, I PROMISE you they help. Car would only run 137 before, but I'm saying a minimum of 142ish now. It's also a joy to drive now, with the tall gears..and pulls ENDLESSLY.
And to top it off, those gears having more teeth/contact will help the rear to stay together better than a numerically higher geared unit. The car doesn't feel like a turd out of boost just putting around?
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 48
One would think that the car would be soggy out of boost, but these gears have no effect whatsoever in that respect. The car is heavy handed torque wise, so that may be what's saving me. I've busted this rear end before (3rd to second fiasco) and what I've noticed is, it seems that the posi unit is the weak link with these 10 bolts ...as both times the gears have come out unscathed.
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 48
I can't explain it, and I agree...it doesn't make sense. I never did check the teeth, which now that I think about it....I can check easily since the gears are out of the car now. And you guys may call BS, but I can assure you....the car is MUCH faster than before.
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TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 48
It's a 6 speed, clutch is solid...no slip. And I just verified that the old gears were indeed 3:42. All I know is, before with the 3:42....the car just blew through the gears. Now, I actually spend more time time in each gear. Now that I spend more time where the car is making power, it pulls much harder....for longer.
Agree. I had a 3.50 gear in my 9 inch in my old 6 speed car. Full weight and cut 1.5x sixty foots more than once but it was not trivial.
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 48
If you lived in my area, I would bet you money that the car is faster now than it was with the 3:42 gear set.