Those of you who have swapped out your 2.77's or 2.73's in favor of 3.73's, how did this affect your gas mileage. Was it noticeable? Do you do most of your driving around town or on the interstate?

Second question. I'm about to subject a 10 bolt rear-end to approximately 450 flywheel horsepower and a similar amount of torque. A friend of mine who builds street rods has told me that (provided I don't ever use slicks or drag radials--this is purely a street car) a 10 bolt in good shape should stand up to the power just fine. He claims that he and his friends have dropped GM 502 crate engines in front of these rearends without ill-effect.

Is this a reasonable thing to expect, or am I asking for trouble if I try this without beefing it up. I don't care if I break my tranny, cause I need an excuse to rebuild it anyway, but I don't have much rear-end money in my budget, so I'd like to know this beforehand. If you've shredded a rear end, and you have the last dyno pull or timeslip before it happened, that would be especially helpful. Thanks,

Willie C.

 

I know a guy who is running a small block in his buick that is making 400+ HP and he has a 10 Bolt without slicks. The buzz is that if they don't blow on the first pass they'll probably last forever. I have 300+ HP going through my 10 bolt with no probs(w/ 2.77 gears).

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'87 Bird 350 .060 over 700R4 + Lots more

 

ok the 10 bolt in the buick is a better 10 than ours. bigger ring gear. but i had a 400+ hp and my 10 lived with 4.10 and a new posi. it ran 12s on motor. but when i put a 377 and glide with a brake in it it blew the first time i used the brake.

 

I use a 7 5/8" 10 bolt in my race car. If properly built and beefed up it will survive longer than a stock one will but it's still not indestructable.

The key to longer life is no high rpm clutch drops and no transbrake. The shock will rip the tiny ring and pinion apart.

When the 10 bolt finally explodes I'm going right to a 9"

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Follow my racing progress on Stephen's racing page
and check out the race car

87 IROC-Z SuperPro ET Bracket Race Car
461 naturally aspirated Big Block

Best ET on a time slip: 11.242 altitude corrected to 10.89
Best MPH on a time slip: 121.52 altitude corrected to 125.89
Altitude corrected rear wheel HP: 497.9
Best 60 foot: 1.546

Racing at 3500 feet elevation but most race days it's over 5000 feet density altitude!
Member of the Calgary Drag Racing Association

87 IROC bracket car, 91 454SS daily driver, 95 Homebuilt Harley

[This message has been edited by Stephen 87 IROC (edited July 09, 2001).]

 

what about a higher stall speed....like around 2000-2500 could that mess up a stock rear end?