I have a 7.5" 20 bolt out of an 98 RS that my friend's dad is rebuilding for me right now, I want to get either 3.42s or 3.73s, but I can't decide which. With the 700R4's steep 1st gear (3.06:1), won't the car just blow through 1st gear in a split second and shift right away, and also, won't it have some trouble hooking up leaving the line? If those are both true, I want the 3.42s, anyone else have an opinion??

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1987 Chevy Camaro IROC-Z
L98 TPI 350 (5.7L)
TH 700R-4 Transmission
Borg Warner 7.75" 9 Bolt Rear End

Current Mods: LT4 Hot Cam, Comp Cams 1.52:1 Roller Rocker Arms, Edelbrock TES 1 5/8" Headers, Hooker 3" Aerochamber Cat-Back System, Gutted Catalytic Converter, Performance Resource Chip, Accel Ignition Coil, Cap, Rotor, 8.8mm Wires, K&N Filters, JET TPI Air Foil, Ported TPI Plenum and Base, All Free Mods, Falken ZIEX Z-Rated Tires.

Best ET (w/o LT4 cam): 14.32 @ 97.7mph
(corrected for elevation)

7.5" 10 Bolt with 3.42s soon to come!

 

I love my 3.73's. You will learn to control your right foot with them.

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1989 IROC-Z 5.7L

 

Anyone else, anyone have any thing to say about 3.73s with the 700R4 and street tires?

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1987 Chevy Camaro IROC-Z
L98 TPI 350 (5.7L)
TH 700R-4 Transmission
Borg Warner 7.75" 9 Bolt Rear End

Current Mods: LT4 Hot Cam, Comp Cams 1.52:1 Roller Rocker Arms, Edelbrock TES 1 5/8" Headers, Hooker 3" Aerochamber Cat-Back System, Gutted Catalytic Converter, Performance Resource Chip, Accel Ignition Coil, Cap, Rotor, 8.8mm Wires, K&N Filters, JET TPI Air Foil, Ported TPI Plenum, All Free Mods, Falken ZIEX Z-Rated Tires.

Best ET (w/o LT4 cam): 14.32 @ 97.7mph
(corrected for elevation)

7.5" 10 Bolt with 3.42s soon to come!

 

I wonder about that myself,....Anyone?

 

You just have to throttle it a bit. I run about 35mph when I shift to second. It's alot of fun around town'stoplight' racing. Cars that would easily beat me in the quarter I can tie and beat in a short race--traction becomes much more important. LCA relocation brackets helped a lot. What is a 20 bolt rear? I'm sure you know the 98 rear sits wider than a third gen rear. 3.42's isn't a huge jump in ratio to 3.73's. It doesn't take much power to have traction problems with 3.42's if all you do is floor it. The thing to check with gear ratio is what rpm will you be running at the end of the quarter mile in third gear--you don't want to run out of rpm before you hit the end.

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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, currant red metallic paint. Lots of other stuff...
82camaro