So I did an rpo look up and it turns out my 98 ta only has the lowly 2.73 gears, I'm wanting to get some 3.43 or whatever the ws6 came with. How difficult a job is this? Am I going to have to replace the entire pumpkin or can I pop it open and switch out the cogs or what? How much would the Stealership charge me?

 

why would you ever even think of the stealership.
the rear end IS HEAVY !!
don't attempt doing this alone.
once you remove the rear end from what i heard it's easy.

hell my brother swap his whole rear end alone with a small help from me and car hanging in the air and a small jack to keep that fat end lifted.

 

I have 2.73's also, if you do a search there are a number of threads on this. It needs to be done by a professional or your friend who knows what he is doing.

 

I've never changed but watched a guy do mine there are shims u need to add or remove and have to set a backlash if u have never done one imo i would find a buddy or a local shop sometimes its worth the cash to have it done once and be done

 

There are two ways to do this.

You can have the rear end rebuilt with it in the car or out of the car. In the car is easier and faster. Either way, you'll need a shop that's experienced in setting up differentials. You'll need to purchase a re-build kit and the ring & pinion gear set. This way could run up to about two grand. You'll have a "new" rear end and the shop (normally) warranties their work.

The other way is to find an appropriate 3.42 rear end from another car. You'll need to be certain the rears match as there was three channel and four channel ABS systems.

Either way you go, you'll need to get the PCM re-programmed with the new ratio.

Going from 2.73 to 3.42 is a pretty good step up in performance.

 

Hello , I was looking to put a set of 3:42 gears in my hawk too it has 3:23's in it now , would I still need to have it re-tuned? I was hoping to add wheel studs & spacers at the same time.
Sorry don't mean to steal a thread .
Thanks .

 

Yessir, you'll need to reprogram the PCM for any ratio change.

 

When I bought my car, it had 3.73's in it. I wanted the stockers back in there, so I bought some and did it. IF your going to do it your self, do research. There are shims, back lash, crush washers, bearing load, ect. that need to be taken into consideration. The job takes special tools to accomplish this. If I had it to do over again.... I would get a quote from a shop. Not hard to do, but I was lucky and had the tools to measure back lash and such.

Or do method #2 from above, Find a 3 or 4 channel rearend (depending on what you have) from a salvage yard, craigslist, online ect. Then just swap the whole assembly out. BUT I would recomend that you take the newer rear to a shop and have the pinion seal replaced. This is the route I wish I would have taken.

I might be wrong, but the 3 channel does not have traction control. The 4 channel does (RPO code NW7??)

 

Well I don't have traction control so in theory it should be a 3 channel?

 

Mine does not have Traction control, and is a 3 channel. 4 channel should have a pllug w/wires on top of the rear diff??

Anyone else know?

 

3 channel is ABS without traction control. It has a sensor in each front wheel hub and one in the rear end. The rear has a plug at the top of the housing. 3 sensors total.

4 channel ABS/traction control also has a sensor in each front wheel hub but has a sensor in each rear end axle flange, at the brake backing plate. 4 sensors total. This setup does NOT have a plug & sensor in the top of the housing.

If you're swapping rears around, you'll need to get the same as you have. EG: If you have a 3 channel system, replace it with a rear from a 3 channel car.

 

Ahhh.....
Yep, thats it. When I changed out my gears, I read up on that, but it was a while back and could not recall the facts.

The following will fit the 4th generation f-bodies. However, if you're upgraded from a stock 2.73 (Auto's) rear to above a 3.23 or above, you'll need to upgrade your 2 series carrier to a 3 series carrier. If have a 3.23 or 3.42 stock rear, you can upgrade as up to a 4.10 with the 3 series carrier.
Ratio Part number -------- ----------- 2.56 : 1 26019802 2.73 : 1 26043705 2.93 : 1 26016282 3.08 : 1 14089176 3.23 : 1 26046642 3.42 : 1 26029418 3.73 : 1 14091497 4.10 : 1 26016309
The ratio's and part numbers refer to GM's ring and pinion gears