I have a stock 90 Camaro RS with the 3.1L V6 and the TH-700R4 Auto and that means 3.23 gears, but lately ive been wondering about 3.73 gears, how would this affect my car? Like I want to be able to do more with less RPMs and cruise at lower RPMs, plus I want to go faster, not top end, but get going quicker, and not have it affect my mileage.

Can you guys give me any insight on where to go with this? A bigger engine is not an option in this case, I want to do something with the drivetrain, so I was thinking a different rear end, or maybe a torque converter with the same stall speed that would give me more power? I was thinking the torque converter from the 350 Auto, but I have no idea, PLEASE HELP!!!!

 

sorry to say but none of those things go together. going to a 3.73 gear will give you more acceleration. it will raise your rpms for any given speed. it will effect your mileage in a negative way but will be minimal. A tq converter will not give you more power, period. A tq converter from a 350 will not fit for a few reasons. I higher stall converter will give you better launches and probably won't hurt your mileage but the performance gains with a stock motor will probably be minimal.
Unfortunately this is one of those situations where you can't have the best of both worlds...you can't (easy) get better performance and better fuel mileage.

 

3.73's will raise your cruise rpm, but that's not neccecarily bad either. Could potentially improve your city mileage if you keep your foot out of it. I doubt you'll see a difference in highway mileage. I didn't. You can lock the torq converter sooner with better gears which should improve your mileage. A different torq converter won't give you more power, it changes the stall speed (rpm that the converter stops 'slipping') letting you change the rpm you launch at. A 350 converter won't work. Your converter's decent as is- it has a pretty high stall for oem stuff which is why gm came up with the 'launch mode' routine for the '730 ecm. Look into tuning.

Edit- AM91Camaro_RS got to it first.

 

maybe a 3.42 would be my best option? lol

 

3.73s are fine. Better acceleration and no noticable difference in mpg. If you're going through the pain of a gear swap, don't go for small gains.

 

I want to mod my car without people being able to know that I did so....so sleeper i guess, the entire car is original, and its in good shape with only 60,000 miles on it, i want to keep it classic and the way that Chevy intended it to be.....with my own personal touches so this is why i figure that if i put different gears in it it wont be noticeable unless someone with a very keen eye looks at it

 

I havn't posted to this third gen board much ( this may be the first of many, I haven't got my 3rdgen home yet) but the 3.73 is the optimum gear for the 700r4 trans mission, If my low posting number make you question my knowledge check with the streetrod guys they have been using 700r4's for years

 

depending on what you want to do with the car. if you want the absolute best fuel mileage or absolute top speed (and have a mile or two to get there), you'll want a 2.73 or 3.23. If you want more acceleration, 3.73 or 4.10 will get you that.

 

You could drop in a 3.4 block as well. Not many people could tell the difference.

 

That engine is in great shape and has 60,000 miles on it, its number is original to the carand its a "T" Code and shouldnt be messed with, IMO

 

Doesn't mean you have to throw away the original.

 

I dont want it out of the car unless its gonna really need it

 

Thanks to jensen73110 for helping me figure out what gears I want, I'm gonna go with the 3.73. Any gain in acceleration would be spectacular, and with the engine speeds that his car can hold cruising speeds at, its perfect. I'm going to hunt down a 3.73, make it posi, and get the axle beefed up.

Any suggestions for where to go? Brands?

 

The torsen type helical gear posi isn't that much more than a rebuild able eaton clutch type posi but there is nothing to wear out and you don't have to add the friction modifier either,can't go rong with richmond gears. or you could scope your local pull your part for a 4th gen 3.73 rear with possibly a posi to boot if not while your there ****** the posi from a blazer 4wd, those are typically woman vehicles and aren't beat on, if the blazer has a 3.42 or 3.23 put your ring gear from the 3.73 use the spacers(or shims) from your 3.73 housing and put it back together all should be fine check the back lash before you take it apart then check again after you put it back together, those posi's don't require friction modifier either,,Timmy