LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Choosing Gears - Any Advice?

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Old Aug 11, 2005 | 03:10 PM
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Default Choosing Gears - Any Advice?

I've decided that I'm going to order gears for my birthday, and have them installed and all, instead of getting my exhaust. I will just buy my exhaust and headers myself because I really hate my 2.73 gears.

I think I'm going to order Strange 3.42's from Thunder Racing because they are the only ones I can find that offer a "Thick Gear" because my car came with 2.73's and a 2 series carrier. I'm also going to be ordering the Ratech Deluxe Gear Install Kit, because my rear has over 90k on it, and if I'm ordering gears I might as well order everything else and not worry about my rear giving out for ahwhile.

Anyone have any estimates on what this would cost to install? Or any advice on how hard it would be for me to do it myself? I don't have access to a lift.

Thanks in Advance.

Oh yeah, where can I get a speedo adjuster thing?
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Old Aug 11, 2005 | 03:18 PM
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You'd need Hypertech's power programer(expensive)or send you PCM out for a tune.
I was looking into gears also, and I wouldn't advise installing gears yourself. You don't want to mess anything up.
I had an estimate of 800$ installed for 4.10s, not sure if this is to high or low, though.
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Old Aug 11, 2005 | 03:19 PM
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http://www.madz28.com/9495.php
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Old Aug 11, 2005 | 03:35 PM
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My car is a 93, I thought there was a speedo adjuster or something?
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Old Aug 11, 2005 | 03:36 PM
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Originally Posted by shaolinworldwide
I had an estimate of 800$ installed for 4.10s, not sure if this is to high or low, though.
$800 is completely ridiculous for a gear install.

Shouldn't be more than 2-3 hundred.
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Old Aug 11, 2005 | 03:38 PM
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Yeah that did sound quite high, and I swore Dakota Digital and SLP made a speedo adjuster, I would rather not have my car tuned yet considering I have more plans for it. And does anyone know of a write up that walks you through changing gears?
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Old Aug 11, 2005 | 04:01 PM
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Most gearing is better than 2.73 for sure BUT and I do stress BUT.

Gearing and Stalls should be the last thing you do to your combo. Looking at your dyno sheet (if you have one), and look where you make peak power, or the majority. RUn the car at the track to get a general idea where you cross the traps (stock tach is always off).

You should be in 3rd (a4) and 4th (m6). Based on that you should pick a ratio that will get you closer to that peak power...

Now your car is reletivly stock and i dont know if it will ever be modded beyond gears, or if your going ***** out (big motor, 12 bolt etc etc)

If you wanted a over all good gear, picking between 3.42 and 3.73 should really get that car going. Pick what you feel is right for the car. I have 3.42 but i plan on running more power (hopefully 600 rwhp) and i will be forced to go into 4th if i went 3.73 so i backed off to 3.42 so i could stay in my peak power band.
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Old Aug 11, 2005 | 04:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Renegade
And does anyone know of a write up that walks you through changing gears?
I would definitely not recommend attempting to install gears yourself if you haven't done it before and especially if you don't have a lift.

You have to do a lot of really precise measurements and alignments and it's easy to break things if you don't get it right.

This thread has some more info: http://web.camaross.com/forums/showt...8&page=1&pp=15
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Old Aug 11, 2005 | 04:16 PM
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Yeah I think I might just scratch this project and go with exhaust.
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Old Aug 11, 2005 | 04:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Renegade
Yeah I think I might just scratch this project and go with exhaust.
You might be better off, if you plan on modding more you may end up breaking the rear, so it may be more cost efficient just to leave the stock gears in there for now and eventually just swap in a 12-bolt.
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Old Aug 11, 2005 | 05:35 PM
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Yeah, this car is just going to be a cruiser eventually, occasional bracket racing car. I just want to run low 12's or 11's with it, heads/cam etc. Right now I will just stick to the kiddy bolt ons, get those done, than worry about everything else. I may be better off going with a 12 bolt even if I'm only pushing 425 at the flywheel. Sometimes I just think my car needs to be faster, and I even consider selling it to buy an LS1, then I drive it and everytime It puts a smile on my face, so I decide to have patience with my baby lol.

After college I plan on bulding a pro-street 98+ SS that will run 9's all day. But by that time I will have a lot more money and know a lot more. But I want to keep the LT1 a fast street car, because it's my first Camaro. Nothing major.
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Old Aug 11, 2005 | 06:30 PM
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First of all dont sell your car. You can make an LT1 just as fast than an LS1
Exhaust would be easier because you wont have to reprogram the speedometer, which is another nightmare. You cant get a programmer like shaolin said because you have a 93. Goin to 3.42s from 2.73s gained me about 2 tenths, which is probably close to what you can gain on a catback.
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