2.73's to 3.42's
#1
2.73's to 3.42's
I have a TA with 2.73's and was wondering if $300.00 for a used 3.42 complete rear end is worth the money? I guess what I wondering is is that about what you could expect to pay or is that a good deal?
#4
Complete rears are fairly easy... on a lift and with a trans lift to put it in place while you bolt it all up. On the ground with floor jacks, a little harder, no more than 4 hours even if you have to stop and figure out what you're doing every few minutes.
200-300 without the DS is fair, IF the posi works perfectly on the 3.42 rear. Otherwise, you'll be spending 400+ on a new posi unit. (Or 800 on an ARB air locker)
200-300 without the DS is fair, IF the posi works perfectly on the 3.42 rear. Otherwise, you'll be spending 400+ on a new posi unit. (Or 800 on an ARB air locker)
#7
Yeah I would jump on the complete rear if it is the same channel as yours. I swapped to 3.42's from 2.73's a few weeks ago and it cost me $199 for the gears and like $120 for the install kit with doing my own labor. So do the complete rear if it is in good shape, that way you got a spare as well in case you break.
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#9
Originally Posted by THE CHOP SHOP
Yeah I would jump on the complete rear if it is the same channel as yours. So do the complete rear if it is in good shape, that way you got a spare as well in case you break.
#10
Originally Posted by MyTA99
Thats exactly what I was thinking. So whats this channel thing? Anybody wanna school me on this. How do I know by looking if it had traction control? I'll do a search in the meantime.
#11
I did 2.73 to 3.42 via a full diff swap last summer.
$300 is a little high, if you trust the seller to know it has a good posi and quiet gears, then it might be worth it. But if you are unsure it is a little high. Higher gears are more likely to make noise, my 3.42's have a noticeable whine (not bad, but it's there) from 45-55. The seller of course promised it was dead silent (I have it in writing) but by the time you get the thing installed, are you really going to take it back?
Don't forget the cost of tuning, and all the hassles associated with it. How you handle that is every bit as important and is a whole nother can of worms.
I have no pride, I will admit a full axle swap took me closer to 7-8 hours, taking a couple breaks, being very careful, and working on a driveway and jackstands, hand tools. I had a buddy help only with the actual removal and lift of the replacement, and had a few stubborn bolts that accounted for an hour or two of that.
I could see under 4 hours with a nice garage setup, air tools, and a helper.
Also there is no better time to deal with other things back there (shocks, u-joints, etc.).
I kept my steel driveshaft, and swapped the yoke over. I have no vibration problems. My MPG went from 22-24 to 20-21. It doesn't sound bad on paper but it means 40 miles less per tank, so it adds up.
In the end I traded some mpg and quieter highway cruising for stronger launches and easier burnouts. I am not sure if I would do it again starting over - but I don't regret it. I use the car alot more as a highway cruiser than a street toy nowadays, so that definietly influences my opinion.
$300 is a little high, if you trust the seller to know it has a good posi and quiet gears, then it might be worth it. But if you are unsure it is a little high. Higher gears are more likely to make noise, my 3.42's have a noticeable whine (not bad, but it's there) from 45-55. The seller of course promised it was dead silent (I have it in writing) but by the time you get the thing installed, are you really going to take it back?
Don't forget the cost of tuning, and all the hassles associated with it. How you handle that is every bit as important and is a whole nother can of worms.
I have no pride, I will admit a full axle swap took me closer to 7-8 hours, taking a couple breaks, being very careful, and working on a driveway and jackstands, hand tools. I had a buddy help only with the actual removal and lift of the replacement, and had a few stubborn bolts that accounted for an hour or two of that.
I could see under 4 hours with a nice garage setup, air tools, and a helper.
Also there is no better time to deal with other things back there (shocks, u-joints, etc.).
I kept my steel driveshaft, and swapped the yoke over. I have no vibration problems. My MPG went from 22-24 to 20-21. It doesn't sound bad on paper but it means 40 miles less per tank, so it adds up.
In the end I traded some mpg and quieter highway cruising for stronger launches and easier burnouts. I am not sure if I would do it again starting over - but I don't regret it. I use the car alot more as a highway cruiser than a street toy nowadays, so that definietly influences my opinion.
#12
Originally Posted by todddchi
I did 2.73 to 3.42 via a full diff swap last summer.
$300 is a little high, if you trust the seller to know it has a good posi and quiet gears, then it might be worth it. But if you are unsure it is a little high. Higher gears are more likely to make noise, my 3.42's have a noticeable whine (not bad, but it's there) from 45-55. The seller of course promised it was dead silent (I have it in writing) but by the time you get the thing installed, are you really going to take it back?
Don't forget the cost of tuning, and all the hassles associated with it. How you handle that is every bit as important and is a whole nother can of worms.
I have no pride, I will admit a full axle swap took me closer to 7-8 hours, taking a couple breaks, being very careful, and working on a driveway and jackstands, hand tools. I had a buddy help only with the actual removal and lift of the replacement, and had a few stubborn bolts that accounted for an hour or two of that.
I could see under 4 hours with a nice garage setup, air tools, and a helper.
Also there is no better time to deal with other things back there (shocks, u-joints, etc.).
I kept my steel driveshaft, and swapped the yoke over. I have no vibration problems. My MPG went from 22-24 to 20-21. It doesn't sound bad on paper but it means 40 miles less per tank, so it adds up.
In the end I traded some mpg and quieter highway cruising for stronger launches and easier burnouts. I am not sure if I would do it again starting over - but I don't regret it. I use the car alot more as a highway cruiser than a street toy nowadays, so that definietly influences my opinion.
$300 is a little high, if you trust the seller to know it has a good posi and quiet gears, then it might be worth it. But if you are unsure it is a little high. Higher gears are more likely to make noise, my 3.42's have a noticeable whine (not bad, but it's there) from 45-55. The seller of course promised it was dead silent (I have it in writing) but by the time you get the thing installed, are you really going to take it back?
Don't forget the cost of tuning, and all the hassles associated with it. How you handle that is every bit as important and is a whole nother can of worms.
I have no pride, I will admit a full axle swap took me closer to 7-8 hours, taking a couple breaks, being very careful, and working on a driveway and jackstands, hand tools. I had a buddy help only with the actual removal and lift of the replacement, and had a few stubborn bolts that accounted for an hour or two of that.
I could see under 4 hours with a nice garage setup, air tools, and a helper.
Also there is no better time to deal with other things back there (shocks, u-joints, etc.).
I kept my steel driveshaft, and swapped the yoke over. I have no vibration problems. My MPG went from 22-24 to 20-21. It doesn't sound bad on paper but it means 40 miles less per tank, so it adds up.
In the end I traded some mpg and quieter highway cruising for stronger launches and easier burnouts. I am not sure if I would do it again starting over - but I don't regret it. I use the car alot more as a highway cruiser than a street toy nowadays, so that definietly influences my opinion.
#14
Originally Posted by staringback05
i think youd like the 3.73s better
#15
Originally Posted by koolaid_kid
Is this on topic? Just curious, this post is about a rear end swap, not about what gear might be best. Just a thought.
#16
I dont have any pics to show ya. But I know that the pics of the rear in the sticky Keliente did the gear sawp in is a 3 channel with out TCS. So if you look at yours and the pics in there hopefully that will help with the difference.
#17
Originally Posted by MyTA99
Thats exactly how I was planning on doing my install, on the floor with jacks. I trust the guy I'm getting it from he is also my tuner. He's throwing in the tuning for free. I'm kicking myself because a year ago he offered to swap my rear end with his 3.42's for free and I didn't do it. Oh well now I'll have a spare. Oh and I mostly use my car on the weekends around town lookin for trouble.
#18
3 channel has a sensor in the top of the housing and a reluctor ring (looks like a gear that doesn't mesh with anyhitng) inside the housing.
4 channel has no sensor on the top of ths housing and instead uses reluctor rings on each of the rear axles and sensors on the brake backing plates.
FYI.. you can use a 3 channel rear on a 4 channel car. just use the 4 channel axles and you may have to notch the housing mounting flanges to clear the ABS sensors. At least I had to on mine when I put a 3 channel rear in my 4 channel car. all this info is in the Stickys at the top of this forum too.
4 channel has no sensor on the top of ths housing and instead uses reluctor rings on each of the rear axles and sensors on the brake backing plates.
FYI.. you can use a 3 channel rear on a 4 channel car. just use the 4 channel axles and you may have to notch the housing mounting flanges to clear the ABS sensors. At least I had to on mine when I put a 3 channel rear in my 4 channel car. all this info is in the Stickys at the top of this forum too.
#19
Originally Posted by sixvi6-camaro
FYI.. you can use a 3 channel rear on a 4 channel car. just use the 4 channel axles and you may have to notch the housing mounting flanges to clear the ABS sensors. At least I had to on mine when I put a 3 channel rear in my 4 channel car. all this info is in the Stickys at the top of this forum too.