4.10 for daily driver??
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Acworth, GA
4.10 for daily driver?? I've been talking to several people and they say 4.10s are not good for a DD. They say I should go w/ a 3.73 set up.
I don't plan on driving my SS daily for much longer. So I'm having a tough time deciding on which gears to go with. What so you guys think. Also which is a good company to go w/?
Thanks
I don't plan on driving my SS daily for much longer. So I'm having a tough time deciding on which gears to go with. What so you guys think. Also which is a good company to go w/?
Thanks
4.10 gears would not be strong enough for a 10-bolt rearend. It only takes a little bit of wheelhop on the street, and you'll break either the spider, pinion or ring gears. 3.73s are stronger than the 4.10s, but you won't feel much of an increase in acceleration. At the track going from 3.42s to 3.73s are usually worth .1-.2 sec in the 1/4 mile. whereas 3.42s to 4.10s are usually more like .3-.4 sec. Looks like you have a tough decision, if it were me, I would probably go with the 4.10s and just replace them if they break, good luck!........Randy 
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
From: Chicago; South Side
I don't think 4.11's in an M6 daily driver will be that big of a deal in regards to high rpm's. You're looking at a 20% increase. If you're just loafing around the city you can easily just shift 1-3-5 or 1-4-6. Lots of options, just look at the gear charts to get a good feel.
i have 430's and 275/40/17 for daily driving and it is a little steep
i run 28" at the track, and aroud town for fun and it is absolutely perfect
28's and 430's is about equal to 26" (275/40/17) and 410's so i say go for it
i run 28" at the track, and aroud town for fun and it is absolutely perfect
28's and 430's is about equal to 26" (275/40/17) and 410's so i say go for it
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im actually going to have to disagree with the othes and say 
n: to the 4.10's with a M6 in a 10bolt. im on my second rear-end and another doesent look to far away, and currently my transmission needs to be rebuilt aswell. i have 60k. overall the wear-and-tear it puts on your car doesent seem worth it. at the track, the 4.10's are to much for the M6 and the 10bolt. you wont notice that much of a dif at the track.
n: to the 4.10's with a M6 in a 10bolt. im on my second rear-end and another doesent look to far away, and currently my transmission needs to be rebuilt aswell. i have 60k. overall the wear-and-tear it puts on your car doesent seem worth it. at the track, the 4.10's are to much for the M6 and the 10bolt. you wont notice that much of a dif at the track. 
On The Tree
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 167
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From: south county, STL
Go with the 4.10's....I love mine. They have held up very well (5000 miles) but did start to make some noise after I ran drag radials at the track. Your second and third gears will pull alot harder. The only reason I'm going to change mine are my trap speeds are too high for a 4.10......
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Acworth, GA
Originally Posted by TTtop
4.10 gears would not be strong enough for a 10-bolt rearend. It only takes a little bit of wheelhop on the street, and you'll break either the spider, pinion or ring gears. 3.73s are stronger than the 4.10s, but you won't feel much of an increase in acceleration. At the track going from 3.42s to 3.73s are usually worth .1-.2 sec in the 1/4 mile. whereas 3.42s to 4.10s are usually more like .3-.4 sec. Looks like you have a tough decision, if it were me, I would probably go with the 4.10s and just replace them if they break, good luck!........Randy
Staging Lane
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Tampa
It is the heat that really gets to these gears... it's not that the 10-bolt is "weak" ... but they don't have a high gear oil capacity and f-body's don't provide good cooling because of where the axle sits in relation to the body.
I have had no problem with my 4.10s in my DD. They have been in there for over a year now - 13,000 miles in the Florida heat and Tampa traffic.... Been to the track once with them and have had many spirited romps and a few hard downshifts. They don't make any more noise than they ever have. Gas mileage suffers only because I can't keep my foot out of it.
On long trips there is no real big difference in mileage. I can roam around town in 5th if I chose to. 6th is useable now. The car really woke up too. It is certainly quicker than it was. 
Someday I'll install a TA girdle so I can change the oil quicker.
I have had no problem with my 4.10s in my DD. They have been in there for over a year now - 13,000 miles in the Florida heat and Tampa traffic.... Been to the track once with them and have had many spirited romps and a few hard downshifts. They don't make any more noise than they ever have. Gas mileage suffers only because I can't keep my foot out of it.
On long trips there is no real big difference in mileage. I can roam around town in 5th if I chose to. 6th is useable now. The car really woke up too. It is certainly quicker than it was. Someday I'll install a TA girdle so I can change the oil quicker. 
I just put my 4.10 in my daily driven '02. I wish I did this years ago! I dont run sticky tires. I dont plan on spending much time at the track.... maybe once or twice. I do drive spiritedly from time to time. I do spend an awful lot of time in stop and go traffic and on the highway. The big jump between 5th and 6th takes a little getting used to, but its not bad once you do. First gear is so easy and smooth now in traffic. I love these gears from a drivability standpoint. From a duability standpoint, well that remains to be seen, but I think ill be okay as long as I dont abuse them too much.
Edit: I did this mod cause there was a deal on GM gears. I did my own install and I have HPTuners so I didnt have to worry about the speedo being off. All said and done, it was just about $230 - Gears, install kit, and two changes of gear M1 lube. I didnt wait and save for the 12 bolt for a couple of reasons. First was cause this was so cheap to do. Secondly because I cant run sticky tires on my daily (and winter) driven car.
Edit: I did this mod cause there was a deal on GM gears. I did my own install and I have HPTuners so I didnt have to worry about the speedo being off. All said and done, it was just about $230 - Gears, install kit, and two changes of gear M1 lube. I didnt wait and save for the 12 bolt for a couple of reasons. First was cause this was so cheap to do. Secondly because I cant run sticky tires on my daily (and winter) driven car.
Last edited by GuitsBoy; Sep 30, 2004 at 01:44 PM.
To echo some of the prior comments, 4.10's are a very reasonable choice in an M6 even for a DD. The 6th gear makes it very liveable on the highway. I would, however, recommend against 4.10's in the 10-bolt. IMO, you're best move would be to go with an aftermarket rear axle (12-bolt, 9") and get the 4.10's at that time.
Originally Posted by atljcope03
If the 4.10s aren't strong enough for a 10-bolt, what rearend should I go with? Unfortunately I don't have the cash flow to replace a rear often. Plus, should I just leave well enough alone, because I definately don't want to start changing things and have them break and just cause more problems.
The cheapest route looks to be buying a used Moser or Strange from someone at a good price, which is probably gonna be $1000-1500 depending on how much abuse the rearend has taken.
I had 3.73s in my 10-bolt for 3 years with the motor making 420rwhp/390rwtq, made 200-300 1/4 mile passes and they never broke. Then one day just driving to work in the morning, let the clutch out taking off from a light, snap!, the pinion broke! Same thing happened to Tony (Nineball) when he had his Formula!
If you want peace of mind about your rearend, then start saving now for a 12-bolt or 9" because you'll never have it with the 10-bolt. The good news is that I don't know anybody that has broken the 3.42 gears, and I know a guy who has a 422 motor in his TA w/3.42s. He beats on it all the time on the street, and the 3.42s are just fine!
Sorry, but us old-tiimers have been down this road before you, good luck!
i've had both 4.10 and 3.73. i prefer the 3.73 because i only take the car to the drags a couple times a year.the nice thing about the 4.10 is if you get lazy you can start in 2nd gear around town with no problem or skip gears when shifting.on the freeway at 70 mph you'll be at 2000 rpm with the 4.10 with the 3.73 you can be at 80mph@2000rpm.
my suggestion is if you drag race alot go 4.10 if its more of a street car go 3.73.
my suggestion is if you drag race alot go 4.10 if its more of a street car go 3.73.
