beg my pard for being new and unexperiened, but you guys are always very helpful. My mechanic is swapping in a rebuilt 350 from 305 LG4 in my 82 T/a with everything else stock on the car. I read a lot about people here changing their gear ratios and such so i'm thinking i should start there but don't know much about it or what to convert to. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

It looks like you have a '82 TA LG4 car, that will have a sorry 2.73 rear gear. A 3.23 to 3.73 would be much better for performance.

Easiest route would be to change the whole rear axle housing. It takes no speical skills or tools. Some hand tools, jack, and jack stands and maybe 6 hours of time if it's your 1st one.

You can look around and find a used stock 3.23, or 3.42 1982-92 camaro/firebird rear end for $100-300 pretty easy.
You can also use the '93-02 F body rear but will need the 4th gen rear wheels or deal with yours sticking out as the 4th gen rear is wider.

I would also look into better exhaust... Headers, aftermarket mandrel bent Y pipe, high flow cat, good aftermarket cat back system.

 

Exhaust is probably the single worst thing on a LG4 car. EVERY PIECE from the heads to the street MUST GO. That means, manifolds, Y-pipe, cat, I-pipe, muffler & tailpipes. Every single one has part of The Bottleneck. Replace with a GOOD QUALITY set of stainless steel headers with matching Y-pipe, not just the cheeeeeeepest thing you can find that nobody went to jail for fraud because they printed the word "headers" on the box; get them ceramic coated; a good high-flow cat; and the 3" cat-back exh system of your choice. Get all this stuff for one of these cars specifically (NOT "universal", NOT "custom", NOT hand-made at a muffler shop) but NOT for LG4. I'd suggest instead looking up all the stuff for something like 88 Z28/TA 350.

The trans is about certain to cause you trouble before long, if it's anything but the T-10 4-spd. If it's an auto it's guaranteed to fail. Nice thing about that is, a turbo 350 is a direct drop-in.

As Night suggests, definitely take a look at the gear. You should change the fluid anyway; while doing so, count the teeth. (or even, just look at the numbers stamped around the edge of the ring) If it's one of the real pitiful ones like 2.73 or 2.93, a better ratio will really wake it up. I wouldn't go past 3.42 without an OD transmission though. 3.23 would probably be the best all-around choice, and is fairly common.

Not sure what that is, but if it means a person that you're paying, you need to quit that. That car is literally an ANTIQUE: unless you're made out of cubic $$$$, paying somebody else to work on it any more than absolutely necessary, will drive you bankrupt. Besides, this is a hobby; it's a way to learn stuff, use your hands, and create something YOU can be proud of. The fun in it is doing stuff yourself and experiencing that sense of pride and accomplishment. You won't get that paying people do have all the fun for you.

 

Thanks for the replies and ill definatly look i to 3.23 gears if i can find them. I forgot to note i do have a stainless steel catback but i dont know the brand. Once i get some extra resources as i am a college student working part time ill make sure to look into headers and a y pipe. The trans is a 3 speed auto so ill look into a 350 turbo trans if i can find one. If you could rank what should be done first to last what would that be? And my mechanic is a good family friend who is doing the whole swap for me for free including the 350. Thanks again for all the advice

 

1st things to do is make the car safe... Replace items like brakes, bushings, ball joints, tie rods, etc

Then for performance mods... Full exhaust, headers and all would be the 1st thing.

Next would be the rear gear if you have a high gear like 2.73 to 3.08.
Swapping from a 2.73 to a 3.23 or 3.42 will make the car feel 100% diff. Truth be told, at this point you will 'feel' more of a gain with the gear swap than you will with the engine swap.

 

I see you're in New York, Im in CT and have a 4th gen rear with 3.42 for sale. As for everything else, listen to Sofakingdom. Get a full exhaust, and you'll need a transmission, I'd recommend the T56 if you want a manual.

 

sounds like ill get some headers and y pipe then find some 3rd gen gears to make my job easier, plus i just bought new wheels. thanks for the advice everyone, greatly appreciated