Ok, here's the deal. Right now I have a sorry a** 305 TBI and the stock 2.73 gears. I'm currently building what I hope to be about a 400 horsepower 350. It has all forged internals and i'm thinking about a Hot Cam and Edelbrocks new E-Tec 200 heads which are supposed to be better than Fast Burn heads. It's going to be a daily driver and it's going to see some drag strip action every other weekend or so. I'm sending the power through a 700R4 (overdrive obviously) with probably about a 2500 stall converter. I'm also getting a Powertrax posi. My question is this, I want the gears in my car now, while I have the 305. (The 350 goes in in November or December) With my engine now and the engine I'm building and the fact that it's a daily driver and I have an overdrive transmission, which gears would be best for me, the 3.73s or the 4.10s? Any help would be very appreciated. Thanks.

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91 Camaro RS - Black with red tweed - t-tops - 700 watt sound system - 14x3 open element - 80 Series Flowmaster - muffler turndowns - Poly transmission mount - Future 12 second street car

88 TransAm GTA - WS6 - red with grey cloth - K&N Filters - TPIS Airfoil - Wonder Bar - Future Restoration

 

With the 700r4 tranny and stock height tires, I wouldn't go past 3.73's.

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350 with stealth intake, holley carb, 470 lift cam. 700r4 with .5 boost valve, vette servo, tci lock-up kit, B&M megashifter. Richmond 3.73 gears, powertrax locker, timkin bearings, synthetic lube. Custom 3 inch single into 2 2.5 pipes. 1 1/2 drop springs, 1 5/16 solid front sway bar, 1 inch rear bar, custom subframe connectors, custom LCA relocation brackets. Kobel ground FX, current red metallic paint. Lots of other stuff...
82camaro

 

I would really consider even 3.42 gears. The 700r4 has a strong first gear and you have alot of power. Too low a rear and the car wont move. It will spin the tires real nice though.

 

My car isn't a daily driver.

It has 4.10 gears, 28" tall tires and a TH350. I shift at 6400 and the shift light comes on as I go over the finish line.

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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

 

If its a daily driver, I'd recommend 3.42's also. Get the SLP take-off posi unit and the gears. Dont forget to change the speedo gears in your trans.

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1991 Camaro Z28
5.7L 5-Speed (originally 305)
13.23 @ 107.62 MPH
Southern California
Member: SoCal 3rd Gen F-Bodies
Webmaster: SoCal F-Bodies
-=ICON Motorsports=-

 

Also, there are no speedo gear combos for any ratio greater than 3.73s. You would have to use a Cyberdyne between the VSS and ECM if you want to use 4.10s.

 

Thanks for the replies. Now that I think about it 4.10s aren't even an option for me since I drive to Talahassee (90 miles) quite often. I would eat too much gas on the highway. It would be nice to see those tires spin though! So I guess we're down to either a 3.73 or 3.42. Who's going to convince me either way?

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91 Camaro RS - Black with red tweed - t-tops - 700 watt sound system - 14x3 open element - 80 Series Flowmaster - muffler turndowns - Poly transmission mount - Future 12 second street car

88 TransAm GTA - WS6 - red with grey cloth - K&N Filters - TPIS Airfoil - Wonder Bar - Future Restoration

 

Hey, couldn't I just go to the junkyard and get 3.42 gears from a V6 thirdgen? Wouldn't that work?

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91 Camaro RS - Black with red tweed - t-tops - 700 watt sound system - 14x3 open element - 80 Series Flowmaster - muffler turndowns - Poly transmission mount - Future 12 second street car

88 TransAm GTA - WS6 - red with grey cloth - K&N Filters - TPIS Airfoil - Wonder Bar - Future Restoration

 

Probably be better off getting the whole rear, then again it is a junkyard and you never know how the rear will hold up. I just bought 3:73's and know a guy that installs gears for $100 and gaurantees his work.

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'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
FLOWMASTER, NO CAT
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat
2:73 GEARS
Rebuilt 700R4, with manual valve body
B&M Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite
Soon to be installed
3:73 Richmond Gears and 3" Hooker Aero Chamber
Corvette Servo & .500 boost valve
15.61@ 95.2mph G-Teched, 1-2 shift slippage
"There is nothing more addicting than speed"

 

I got my 3.42 rear out of a V6 car. Word of warning, pull the cover off to check the ratio at the yard, even if it seems like a pain in the *** . I had one guy try to sell me a 3.23 rear. Also check the # of axle splines. If you intend to use a SLP posi you need 28 spline shafts to make it work. I paid extra to get a supposed 92 V6 firebird rear with 28 splines with low miles. Pulled the cover and checked the ratio and everything was cool. Got home, and after I busted the locking bolt for the center pin (AAHHH!!!) found 26 spline shafts in there. Now my "cheap" rear has cost me, $150 rear, $100 posi, $60 28 splined axles. Getting a used rear can be a great cost savings but you've got to pay attention to the details!!! If you have a U Pull It yard with later models, you could make your own if you can't find 3.42s with 28 splines! Pull the 28 splines out of a 90-92 fbody and stick them in any 2.8 V6 car. The yard will never know the difference. I guess hind sight is always 20-20.

 

whats a cyberdyne? i am looking to put in a set of 3.73 gears and i came to the conclusion i needed a 15 tooth drive and 44 tooth driven gear...i have 2.73 gears now by the way..is there a better way to do this? i have VSS so a drive adapter is not an option