Gear upgrade for the daily driver
 

The next upgrade I'm contemplating for my 1987 Camaro is replacing the sluggish stock 2.73 gears. I'm debating between 3.42 and 3.73, but before I make any plans I should ask how this will affect its drivability on the street. I live in Illinois and face crappy weather conditions on a regular basis.

Last year I had to drive home through an ice storm on Christmas vacation from college(a camaro on ice, that's scary stuff). Fortunately the traffic on the highway gave me plenty of distance as I fishtailed down the highway. The ice covered my car so thick when I pulled over it overheated because the grill was plugged up.

Anyway will getting more aggressive gears affect my ability to keep my car under control in rain or snow? Will a 3.73 gears be inviting the grim reaper and put my car in the junk yard?

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Drew Veeneman
87' Camaro
Jasper Class II 350 (.3 over)
Stock auto 700r4
Snail like 2.73 gears
K+N
Road Demon 625cfm
Edlebrock headers
3" Cat+Flowmaster
Ugly olive drab camoflauge paint job

i would go with 323 if you drive it everyday like i do .but defintly DONT go with 373 . to much gear for an everyday driver

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91 camaro RS
- 305 TBI
Mods: Performer TBI intake, 1" TBI spacer, K+N, jet fan switch ,160 thermo,Accel control module, Jet Stage 2 chip, edelbrock TES headers, Compleate 3" Flowmaster exhaust, Edelbrock springs, KYB struts and shocks, 700R4 built by TSI, SLP tq converter, b+m trans cooler, white guage faces, megashifter..
next month: spohn LCA's and panhard rod, BMR relocation brackets, 323 gear

I have the 3.73s in my car for an everyday driver and i think that they are great. It definitely take away from your top speed, but how often do you go 130mph. I think that it really woke up my car all around. I'm happy with my choice. I live in Illinois too so I know what the wheather is like and it'll make driving a little worse in the rain and snow. You'll just have to take your time and be careful. Thats what I do.

Rob

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1991 Camaro RS, 305, Chevy 3.73's, Auburn Pro Posi, March Underdrive Pulleys, K&N Open Element Filtercharger,

I love my 3.73s. I live in Missouri and get 20-22mpg highway, but the car really jumps off the line. Actually I'm considering 4.11s.

Wish I got that gas milage, I have 2:73's and get 16 mpg.

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'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
FLOWMASTER
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
2:73 GEARS
Rebuilt 700R4, with manual valve body
B&M Megashifter
Soon to be installed
Exhaust Cut-Out
"There is nothing more addicting than speed"

3.42's are a great bet for a daily driver. You can get a quiet set from GM or a slightly louder set from Richmond Gear.

20-22 mpg!!! you don't have a 5.7L do you?

I get 17mpg but I have a Road Demon Carburator so I deserve it.

I should have specified this at the begining; what gears whould be best for a all weather street driven camaro with an engine in the 300 HP bracket with an stock automatic trans? Right now I'm tending toward 3.42 or 3.27.

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Drew Veeneman
87' Camaro
Jasper Class II 350 (.3 over)
Stock auto 700r4
Snail like 2.73 gears
K+N Air Filter
Road Demon 625cfm
Edlebrock Performer Intake
Edlebrock headers
3" Cat+Flowmaster
Ugly olive drab camoflauge paint job

if your car has stock cam and heads, stock intake, don't use 3.73's...they might feal great, but you'll lose ET and MPH...I went from 3.73 to 3.23 and gained 1 tenth and 1 mph, but I think if you calculate in the tire spin and the weather diff, it might be 2 tenth faster....anyway, the point is i went faster in the 1/4, got better mileage and still can push 120-130....

I did some math and tests with a free drag racing simulator from Summit and for my car 3.23 gears seem the best for the 1/4 mile. According to the simulator I'd acutually do worse with 3.42 or 3.73 gears vs. my stock 2.73 gears due to spining tires! I like the idea of speed and fuel economy over burn outs so 3.23 seems I ideal. Thanks for the advice guys.

put in the 3.73's, and convert to a 6speed later on. im getting 25mpg on the highway right now with my L98. with the 2.77's

Sharky,
Considering all your given info, I would recommend the 3.42 gears. Not because I have them (I don't, I have 3.70's), but because of your mod level, your drivng habits, and your safety concerns. Anything is a vast improvement over the 2.73's, so your car will accelerate much quicker. You don't spend that much time at the drag strip, so straight line traction shouldn't be that much of a concern that stickier tires wouldn't solve if/when you race. Your top end won't suffer. It may be just enough gear to push you through the aerodynamic barrier at a higher top end. In addition, I'll bet you won't notice a difference in mileage either. Lower gears (higher numerically) will not make it more difficult to drive on slippery surfaces. Don't we shift to lower gears manually under those conditions anyway? Do you have limited slip? Whatever gears you choose, remember to change your speedo gear(s) in the trans.

To be honest I don't know if I have a limited slip; I don't know much about transmissions. My 700r4 hasn't been tinkered with at all.

I drove my car all last year in snow and everything! I have a set of 3.42's with an open rearend and I had no prob getting around. I blew the rear again so I picked up a complete rear with a set of 3.73's and an auburn posi unit for $300 so I will find out how it works. Don't worry about top speed and gas mileage is about 27MPG on the highway with my TPI setup. I have an auto and I raced a mustang 5.0 and we were dead even all the way. It really makes the car move.

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91 Z28 Camaro
305 TPI
Flowmaster 3" exhaust
700R4 with 2000 Stall and shift kit 3.42 rearend
Autometer shiftlight tach and B&M mega shifter
One sweet sounding system

That comment about 3.73 and 3.42 being too much for the 1/4 because of extra wheel spin, that's bogus man. The way you calculate the best gears for the 1/4 is to do the calculations at the END of the 1/4. You want to be at peak hp in 3rd (with our auto) right at the end of the 1/4. That will yeild the fastest ET. Gears will put your car higher in your powerband, this is good when you want to accelorate but bad if you are looking for topspeed. I would go with 3.42 gears just because they are the best compromise. Figure this though, with my street tires (26") and 3.08 I cruise at 74mph at 2000rpm. When I go to 3.73 my rpm at 74mph will be ~2500rpm. I think 3.42 put me at 2300.

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, Jon (350 TBI!)
91 Red My website

i went from 3.23 to 3.73 in my GTA, it did make an improvement in accelleration and all around i might add, like every body said anything you go with will be a vast improvement over you current gear (FYI,limited slip has nothing to do with your tranny) remember that you have a "2" series case also when buying a gear. i'm sure you can pick up a used ring an pinion cheap at a swap meet or something. examine the tooth prints though! i still have the 3.23 from GTA and snagged a 4.10 from an S-10 rear at work. that i might put in my car.

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87GTA ,10.5:1,4-bolt 355,afr 190's, super ram ,stock poerted base,58mmTB,24 lb FMS inj. ed wright chip, .510/230 (nr) 1&5/8 hooker shorty's, flow master single 3", 2800 ameri-torque non lk-up, 3.73. best to date with stk 48mm tb and lack of traction in 1st gear netted me a 12.9 @110mph :) /91 TA daily driver LB9 A4 2.73,

oh .... i figured i'd throw in my mpg's as well my daily driver (see sig) has gotten a best of 18 mpg, when my GTA was stock w/ 3.23's i averaged 18-19 mpg, now it gets much less https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/smile.gif
my bike gets 51 mpg https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/smile.gif oh yeah baby!

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87GTA ,10.5:1,4-bolt 355,afr 190's, super ram ,stock poerted base,58mmTB,24 lb FMS inj. ed wright chip, .510/230 (nr) 1&5/8 hooker shorty's, flow master single 3", 2800 ameri-torque non lk-up, 3.73. best to date with stk 48mm tb and lack of traction in 1st gear netted me a 12.9 @110mph :) /91 TA daily driver LB9 A4 2.73,