3:55 gear swap vs v8 rear end swap

[OOLIE]

guys I think my next mod is going in this direction. I am shrinking tire radius to 27 with lighter tires so I know that will help, but should I go 3:55 richmond gears or look at a rear end transfer to the 3:73 v8. Which would be the best money for the buck.

[bmorecam]

Originally Posted by OOLIE

guys I think my next mod is going in this direction. I am shrinking tire radius to 27 with lighter tires so I know that will help, but should I go 3:55 richmond gears or look at a rear end transfer to the 3:73 v8. Which would be the best money for the buck.

seriously...if I could do it all over again I would go with 4.10's. The only reason why this would be undesirable is due to highway rpm. my 3.91's got me turning a little over 2400 rpm but that's if I was doing 70mph. Im sure the 4.10's will turn around 2800 rpm@70mph or close, sorry but a little lazy for an accurate math at this time of the night LOL. I like the change in acceleration it gave me in the low to mid rpm band with the 3.91's but if 3.91's is only this(feel) than I would definitely would have went with 4's...but that's just me. maybe im just too spoiled with power because everyone seem to enjoy their 3.73 LOL.

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[10RsCamaro]

shoot for the lsd

[lscamaro]

Oolie, I'm assuming your an auto... And if I'm correct, LSD no competition.

[OOLIE]

Thanks guys! Yes I am auto which is why my choice is to go 3:55 or just change out the rear end. That would give me LSD and 3:73 which would definately be better, but wasn't sure what the price difference would be I am assuming the rear end swap would be more expensive. I guess I am trying to figure if it would worth the added expense to change out rear end or just do the 3:55. I know there are few guys that have done one version or the other.

Appreciate the input

[KMPrenger]

If you went with an SS rear end you'd get LSD and 3.45s unless you went ahead and swapped them for 3.73s

With my auto, if I was planning on staying N/A and was hitting the 1/4 mile strip often I think I'd feel inclined to end up with a ratio that lets me finish off the 1/4 in 3rd gear instead of needing to have a shift before the end...but I'm no expert on that either.

I think the stock 3.27s are good for 110 to 112 in 3rd....somewhere close to that.

[Turbowolf71]

I would be interested in doing a swap like this as well. What all would need to be done to do this and as a complete newbie with this stuff, how much would something like this cost?

[OOLIE]

Originally Posted by KMPrenger

If you went with an SS rear end you'd get LSD and 3.45s unless you went ahead and swapped them for 3.73s

With my auto, if I was planning on staying N/A and was hitting the 1/4 mile strip often I think I'd feel inclined to end up with a ratio that lets me finish off the 1/4 in 3rd gear instead of needing to have a shift before the end...but I'm no expert on that either.

I think the stock 3.27s are good for 110 to 112 in 3rd....somewhere close to that.

Oh yeah your right I was thinking 3:73 because That number was in my head from other threads, but that was about adding them. That plays into my decision then, because the LSD is great, but one of the main reason of doing SS rear was to be able to have the 3:73. That would be an added expense that would really delay me.

[Ventmaster]

Just did a quick scan of the member classifieds and saw complete SS diffs going for $500-$600 and a couple offering $750 shipped. Many of these are sold but new ones coming online everyday

Axles were around $300 pair...

Come on OOLIE, anything worth doing...And I bet that 3.45 would pull you thru the 1/4mile in 3rd!

[OOLIE]

Originally Posted by Ventmaster

Just did a quick scan of the member classifieds and saw complete SS diffs going for $500-$600 and a couple offering $750 shipped. Many of these are sold but new ones coming online everyday

Axles were around $300 pair...

Come on OOLIE, anything worth doing...And I bet that 3.45 would pull you thru the 1/4mile in 3rd!

Well I am doing one or the other. I am just wondering if there will be much of a difference between 3:55 and 3:73 to warrant the added expense. I drive 60 percent of the time at 80mph so Bmores 3:91 may have an adverse affect on my pocket book with fuel mileage. I would be curious what your fuel mileage is at 70 mph with those gears Bmore.

I know when we think of power you we don't think mpg, but like everyone I have a budget and I drive 3k miles a month so it plays into the equation.

[bmorecam]

Originally Posted by OOLIE

Well I am doing one or the other. I am just wondering if there will be much of a difference between 3:55 and 3:73 to warrant the added expense. I drive 60 percent of the time at 80mph so Bmores 3:91 may have an adverse affect on my pocket book with fuel mileage. I would be curious what your fuel mileage is at 70 mph with those gears Bmore.

I know when we think of power you we don't think mpg, but like everyone I have a budget and I drive 3k miles a month so it plays into the equation.

when I used to drive in 6th gear before the gears I had to be doing at least over 70mph to be over 2k rpm to feel some kick. Anything under 2k rpm have no kick in 6th as you guys probably already know this. So before the gears it was easy to get in 80 mph if I wanted some pull in 6th. Now with the 3.91's I am already turning over 2k rpm by 60-65 mph. So actually its easier to drive slower with 3.91's because the car feel much faster going slower LOL. As long as you keep the rpm down you should be fine with the MPG. It help you with speeding tickets too because you are getting that same rush of acceleration of 80 mph at 70 mph gears are nice. I just wish my LPE 3.91's were cheaper with install. I could have went cheaper going with Richmond but some good peoples steered me the right way although it cost me a little more. LPE gears are made by the same company that make our factory gears, and they are the only one's that sell 3.91's and I really didn't want 4.10's at that time but didn't want 3.73's either. I say don't do anything under 3.73 unless there's really a good reason for this such as saving that's worth to go under 3.73
Guys that did 3.45 said they don't feel too much from 3.27, heck..my 3.91 is not even as I thought it was going to be LOL! I just feel like this is what the factory should of have done from the beginning in all camaros. At least the ZL1's now got the 3.91's

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[lscamaro]

Oolie, I know this is a gear thread but I'd like to give my input since I'm in a similar situation. I want more power but travel a lot so I don't want to hinder mpg too much. Have you thought about a small shot of nitrous? I figure you don't mind the loss of powertrain warranty by now so just saying. Also, you could get it completely professionally installed with all the safety measures and just use it on occassion. Seems like a better bang for the buck and you might just spend a little less than doing gears.