Some idiot mechanic (Phil Burhart) installed 4.11 gears in my nearly stock 305TBI camaro without consulting me first. The gears were not adjusted properly and now they need to be replaced...I'm wondering if i should go down to something reasonable like 3.73?....how would that change make my car drive differently? Will it feel a bit slower or faster accelerating. Thanks. (the car has some minor mods, but i plan on an LT1 cam, headers, and chip)

 

the 3.73's will make the car much more streetable. you will notice a slower take off , but you will use less fuel and will have a lower rpm on the hiway. if car never is raced or is a true daily driver with the occical race might be better with 3.42's

 

so, the gears go from 3.42, to 3.73, to 4:10/4:11....something like that? The mechanic tried to fool me by putting in relaly low gears and then not doing a cam and other work...i was really pissed off...so 3.42s or 3.73 would probably be my best bet?

 

If i were you i would go with 3.42 or 3.45.Are you sure he didnt install 2.73.If you have 3.73 it kills mileage and performance.

 

3.73's won't kill performance. they are better than 2.73. the 2.73's are a great highway gear but as far as performance the 3.73's are much better. IMO 4.11 are too much gear for a street.
I agree with 91drag 3.42's would be better.

 

with 4.10 mileage will suffer and would be best on the strip. that is what i run on my drag car . 3.73 will give you good take off but the rpms will be high for hiway driving. if you want the best for driving i would stick to 3.42 . my 65 mustang has 2.80 and gets 21-25 mpg with a 289 but sucks to play with at the strip . so if the car is used for driving only and you dont care about performance go with 2.73 and get you butt handed to you by any car that comes along

 

hmm...well, i only drive my camaro about once or twice a week in the summer...i definitely think 4:11 are too much, but I don't want to lose too much performance by going down to a lower gear...I will soon have headers, LT1 cam, and some other mods....so i don't know if that makes any difference...

 

i would go with the 3.73's then and get a little stall convertor around 2800-3000 rpm and it will help put the engine in it's power curve after you change the cam and the other things you are getting

 

He does have a 305 though!!373 wont do anything good for him.3.42or3.45 will be an all arouind good gear for him.you wont lose performance you will gain performace.THAT is a l03 305 tbi 3.73 suck mileage wise!!!!!!!!!!!!! With a L03 305 tbi he would be dead off the line.

 

I have a 3.73 in my 87 Trans Am. I love it. I used to have the 2.72 gear. What transmission do you have. Because the 700R4 the 1st gear is really low. I like the 3.73 alot. I think the 4.11 would be a little too much. But depends on how you drive. I dont really think it matters that you have a 305 or not. Thats what I have a 305 TPI. Its a really fun gear! So speaking from someone who just had one installed.....go for the 3.73!

 

anything over 3.5x is too much for the street. But then again, some people have different ideas of streetable. Some could manage with 3.73's, but on the highway even with overdrive you would be tackin about 2200 rpm and gas mileage would be so so.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Crusin' 1980's
[B]hmm...well, i only drive my camaro about once or twice a week in the summer


he only drives it one or two times a week in summer 3.73 would be fine and he will still have better performance then 3.42 and will be streetable

 

3.73 is a fun gear all around, specially if he has a transmission with overdrive for the highway. I was at 1500 rpm's going 80 mph with my old 2.72 gear. I wanted a 3.73, I'm not worried about gas, Its not dailey driver.

 

I vote for 3.73's as well.
I had them when my car was auto and made a huge difference over the 3.23's.
i've got 4.10's with my T5 and I love them as well, I just don't like the fact that 130mph is as fast as I can go.

 

LO3 are pigs,under 200 horsepower,Swap heads add a tpi or stealthram heads,cam,He would have to do sirious work to justify 3.73 on a LO3.165horsepower

 

Well my 87 is sitting stock with 210hp. (thats without the bolt on's I have) I've got the sales books on them. You take a look at a 5.7 350 for the same year, its got 215hp. But more torque as well.
I agree that the TBI was a lower horsepower motor. But alot of people when they build a car they forget about the rear end. You take a built car with 400hp. and a stock car and stick a 4.11 gear in it....haha its going to give it a run for its money.
I hope you pick a gear that you will enjoy and have a good time with. Thats what having a sweet car is all about! Having Fun!

 

I like this race for example,
http://www.transamws6.com/video/race.wmv

Me with T5 and 3.73 gears stock motor etc.... vs LS1 with bolt ons. I got the kick and it took him awhile to run me down.

 

haha...thats a great vid! Thats what I'm taliking about. People are suprised. I bet that guys jaw dropped big time. I would have loved to see his face when you left the line.