I've got 2002 z28 with a ptc 3200 converter, built trans, bolt on's, and exhaust. I've got a TSP 233/239 .595/.603 111lsa cam kit sitting waiting to go in.

The car currently has a 3.23 rear gear and I would like to run 3.73's.

Basically I am going to have to do 1 and then wait 6-10 months before doing the other(due to finances). I don't race or have access to a track so I am thinking I should do the gears first then the cam later(I like to build back to front... hence the level 5 trans and stock engine)

However I've become quite bored with the car after 3 years of ownership without being able to do anything significant performance wise and I kinda want to just go right for the cam to give it a new feel and do gears later. My only concern would be drive-ability.

How do you guys think the following setup would behave in daily use situations?
233/239 .595/.603 111lsa, PTC 3200 converter, 3.23 gear. I know a lot comes down to a good tune and I have access to a fantastic tuner so take that into account. What are some possible issues I might have with this setup? How will it feel just cruising at 30, and pulling away gently from stop lights, etc etc...

 

Not even reading your post....Gears

 

Why even put that big of a cam in the car if you don't race it? Seems like a bit of a waist. Honestly I would have went with a little bit smaller of a cam with the converter you have. Something like a 228r would work ALOT better with the 3200 stall. I have a 3400 stall and matched it up with a 224r cam and I love it. If you are just looking for the chop lower your lobe seperation angle on the cam. Like a 228r on a 110lsa would CHOP like crazy.

 

Scratch the gears idea. Grab ya a bigger stall converter (something like an SS3600) first, then the cam. You won't feel a difference with Gears with a fairly sized stall, and since you don't take it to the track....I'm guessing feel is more important.

 

I agree that you should get a bigger stall for that cam. I'm running a ss3600 from Yank and It's da best. A 3.73 will make the converter feel tighter than the 3.23. Not much of a difference, but It will feel more stockish. The ss3600 with my 228R is a good combo IMO, so 3600+ is ideal for you I think.

 

Guys think about this though... He already has a quaility stall in there. Why go through the huge hasle and cost of dropping the transmission and everything when he already has a good converter. I agree he doesn't need to do gears though. He said he doesn't even race the car. I think he needs to just match his cam with his stall much better. I think a 228r would work nicely for him.

 

I agree that the 228R would be a good match with the 3200 stall he already has. I went with a ss3600 because I kept hearing that once you buy a stall you will wish that you went bigger.

 

Ok let me clarify here.

I bought the cam kit last year when I lived in indianapolis and had access to a drag strip and a good car scene, etc etc. Well now I don't live within an hour of any drag strips...hence not racing.

I had a Yank SS4000 to match this cam but after running it for a while I decided it was WAY too loose for me to drive around. I don't daily the car all the time but I daily it now and again. So I traded down to my 3200 and I love it.

Don't get me wrong I agree that I should be running a smaller cam(228 would be great)...but I already have the 233/239 and I don't know of anyone looking to trade...plus mine is new and who is going to trade new for new?

Would that stall with 3.73 gears be too tight for that cam with that overlap?

 

Umm sell the cam on here for $250 and get a new cam. That cam is way to big for the stall IMO. You really want to go from 3.23's to 3.73's? I'd bet you see less than a tenth in the 1/4 mile. It's just dumb IMO to change gears in an auto if you already have the 3.23's and a good stall... Gears or not the car would run much better/faster, get better gas mileage, AND be easier on valvetrain with a 228r camshaft. Instead of blowing money on gears, sell the cam you have and get one that matches your stall. The whole problem with your setup now is the cam you picked is to big for the stall you have. Gears is going to get you worse gas mileage and very mild gains..... You decide

 

Do the gears first unless you can do them both at same time.

I cant speak for that stall and cam but my setup is perfect for me. Maybe you should look into a 228 cam.

 

Haha made a thread on parts classifieds and got a text 10 minutes later with a trade offer for a 228r cam. Job done.

 

Perfect there you go.

 

please tell me why you would recomend going from a 3.23 gear to a 3.73 gear instead of doing a cam. The gear change 3.23-3.73 cost $, is hard to set up, gets you worse mpg, and doesn't give **** for gains

 

Gears of war!

 

I would first do cam and tune. I had 3.73s a while back and eventually went back to 3.23s.
With the amount of trq I was making, steeper gears were not necessary and I preferred the 3.23s for highway use.

 

Overlap really has nothing to do with stall speed.

Where the intake valve opens and intake valve closes really will determine stall speed more than any other factors, overlap may play a small part as it's a product of valve events and cam timing, but not as big as you would think.

I think a 226/230 .605"/.609" 114+4 would be perfect for you.

 

I am sure that would work well, outside of wanting a lower lsa for a meaner idle, but I have had 3 trade offers of 228r cams and they are very tried and true.

So here is what my setup is going to be.
228 228 .588/.588 112lsa, ptc 3200 converter, 3.23 rear gear.

I have a boddy locally that has 3.73 gears and he claims to be getting BETTER city mileage than with 3.23s and only 1mpg less on the highway at 70mph. It makes sense in town because the engine doesn't need to spin as much to move the car....less rev's=less fuel consumption. Plus you get a little better kick when you stand on it.

 

When comparing 3:73 gears to 3:23 gears the 3:73's will require the engine to rev at a higher rpm to move the car at the same speed ,,,,,,,

 

on the highway yes but not in town pulling away from lights.

 

Are you related to John Madden?